successful project management - Commonwealth of Learning

allowed effective resource allocation and mobility, whilst the telecommunication
system increased the speed of communication. Additionally, the job specification,
which later became the basis for work breakdown structure (WBS) was widely used.
One of the major projects during that time was construction of the Hoover Dam in
1931 – 1936.
1958 – 1979 Application of Management Science
This was the period of significant technology advancement such as the first
automatic plain-paper copier by Xerox in 1959, and the rapid development of
computer technology. Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft. This facilitated the
emergence of several project management software companies including Oracle in
1977. An example of a project undertaken during this phase is the Apollo project
initiated in 1960 with the objective of sending man to the moon.
1980 – 1994: Production Centre Human Resources
This era is characterised by a revolution in the development in the information
management sector with the introduction of the personal computer (PC) and
associated computer communications networking facilities. The result was availability
of low cost PCs that had high efficiency in the management of project schedules. An
example of major projects undertaken then (for there were several) is the Space
Shuttle Challenger project of 1983 – 1986. The projects of the time focused on risk
management, group dynamics, and quality management.
1995 – Present: Creating a New Environment
This period is characterised by developments related to the Internet. The facility has
provided fast, interactive, and customised new medium that allows people to browse,
purchase, and track products and services online instantly. Many of today’s project
management software packages have an Internet connectivity feature. This allows
automatic uploading of data so that anyone with a standard browser can:
• input the recent status of the assigned task within a given project;
• find out how the overall project is doing;
• be informed of any delays or advances in the schedule; and
• stay in the loop for their project role while working independently at a remote
site.
From the foregoing, it is clear that the evolution of Project Management as a
discipline has interesting pointers for all those who engage in projects. To give your
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