Web-Based Project Management and Project Selection

The five factors that affect a property management windsor ca are commonly categorized as scope, time, cost, risk, and quality. Analysis of these five categories will guide a project to completion. However, they weave in and out of each other so frequently that it is often difficult to observe each category exclusively or objectively. That said, I wish to suggest that when it comes to the selection of a project, these categories are preceded by three other elements. Adapted from the book An Introduction to Project Management, author Kathy Schwalbe explains that one “method for selecting projects is based on their response to a problem, an opportunity, or a directive” (56). These are the first elements that arise in the selection of a new project. These three factors are especially important in today’s web-based project management world, where businesses encounter problems, opportunities, and directives at an almost instantaneous speed. Below, I wish to explore these three factors of project selection, particularly in their relationship to web-based project management.

First, a project may be selected due to a problem that faces a business. The problem is then addressed according to the five factors of project constraint as addressed above. In her book, Schwalbe provides an example of a problem. She writes, “problems are undesirable situations that prevent an organization from achieving its goals. These problems can be current or anticipated. For example, if a bridge in a major city collapses, that problem must be addressed as soon as possible. If a bridge is known to need repairs to prevent a collapse, a project should be initiated soon to take care of it” (56). In other words, Schwalbe suggests that the bigger a problem, the more important the project. When a problem is addressed and a project is selected, then other factors will be taken into account.

With web-based project management, problems are much easier to address, and the shift from problem to project is much more efficient. For one, the problem is communicated faster. Secondly, because project details, documents, etc, are stored on a single web-based all-accessible system, project managers can collaborate between each other, offer feedback, and always know what resources are available. Additionally, executive level can view the company’s problems as a whole, and more informed decisions can be made.

Second, a project may be selected as business opportunities arise. Schwalbe writes that “opportunities are chances to improve the organization. For example, a company might want to revamp its website to attract more visitors to the site” (56). When an opportunity arises in which a project is created, then the analysis of project scope, time, cost, etc. follows.