Today's corporate organizations have developed a completely new way of doing business that has overturned the rigid, hierarchical and divided system of labor in years past. This new model hinges on projects: distinct activities grouped together with the aim of attaining a specified goal – whether it's a new software package, a marketing strategy or a new brand of toothpaste.
Modern organizations are characterized as dispersed, technology driven, human focused and skill based. Rather than relying on pigeonholed workers to conduct single routine tasks, they rely on teams of connected experts to work together on holistic projects, focusing their energy on one goal at a time.
Projects are completed by teams of people who are specially chosen for their skills, knowledge and potential to contribute to the final result. The team is led by a project manager. He or she is responsible for keeping the project tasks on schedule, communicating with all stakeholders and managing resources – the people, money, tools and time needed to achieve the goal. The project manager is the center of the project and the driving force behind the team.
The discipline of project management is extremely versatile and can be adapted to any business or industry. Its strength is focused teams of experts who can quickly adapt, organize and troubleshoot, meaning that most problems can be resolved efficiently.
Ruffin discusses the three primary reasons why project management is important to modern businesses along with professional and organizational best practices, tools, techniques, guidelines and disciplines.
Ruffin Veal III has been an information technology and management professional for over three decades. His industry related articles can be seen in the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Virtual Library as well as in national and international publications.
Ruffin is a recognized and well established project management professional whose experience and ever-increasing responsibility has included such industries as banking, manufacturing, retail and government. This has allowed him to become a well-respected resource of information and knowledge to his fellow management professionals. He is a highly regarded speaker/presenter and is active in the project management community as a volunteer and mentor for the Project Management Institute Minnesota Chapter.
He is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science and an M.S. degree in Project Management.
