Project Management Process by IPMA – The Process

The process

The project management process by IPMA provides the framework and methods to achieve the project goal within the triple constraint (time, scope and cost/quality). The process itself is lighter than the PMI approach and is focusing on people skills. Project management competences are outlined in the IPMA Competence Baseline (ICB). It is divided into: Technique, Behavior and Context. I want to lead you through the process by building a family house as example.

Project Management Process

Project Start (aka Project Setup)

It is about defining the projects plans (P-Plans) and phases of the project based on the inputs of the Project-Charter (P-Charter).

Project-Charter	Family house
Description:	Family house with flat roof and a few doors and windows build within 3 months after contracting.
P-Start Date:	January 20, 2014
P-Start Event:	Signature on the contract
P-End Date:	April 20, 2014
P-End Event:	Acceptance by Fred the customer
P-Objectives:	Whole construction from basement to roof
P-Non-Objectives:	To build a skyscraper
P-Category:	Small project
Main Tasks:	Basement, first story, roof, installations
Resource:	Bob the builder
Costs:	1 million USD (estimate)
Project Sponsor:	Fred the customer
Project Manager:	Barney
Project Team:	Barney, Ted the architect, Bob the builder
Date and Signature:	Barney

These are the tasks which are critical for the setup of the initial phase:

• Outline the project regarding scope, time and social context and boundaries
• Defining the phases of the project
• Defining the project organization
• Defining the project start process (kick-off meeting)

Inputs:

• Project charter

Methods:

Brainstorming, kickoff meeting, expert teams, estimating techniques, workshop, etc.

Outputs:

• Project handbook with the project plans

Minimum recommendation (small projects):

• Work Breakdown structure,
• Roles
• Organizational chart
• Milestone plan
• Schedule (Gantt chart)
• Resource plan
• Cost plan

 Links & Books:

John Hermarij, Better Practices of Project Management based on IPMA-C and IPMA-D- 2nd. Edition, Netherlands, Van Haren, 2001

ICB and pm baseline 3.0, Austria, IPMA, 2013