Project Management is the discipline of planning, organizing, and managing tasks and resources in accomplishing a goal in relation to a deadline, budget, and scope. Basic planning includes defining a project, setting project activities, gathering resources, estimating project costs, preparing for quality and risks, and establishing security and communication. Projects have several tasks and activities from planning, implementation, and evaluation. It can get highly stressful and lost during the project period. This why Microsoft came up with a software application called Microsoft Project (Custom Guide, 2011; Microsoft Corporation, 2000a).
One of Microsoft’s product releases is Project 2010. It is a project management system that allows the users to plan, adjust, and accommodate business and personal schedules conveniently. The users would be able to stay organized and keep track of their projects. It is compatible with other Microsoft applications. It follows the idea of an executive planner. However, the program is more comprehensive in that it enables the user to access multiple projects.
Projects have three categories. The first is the task information. It is followed by resource information. The last is the scheduling information. A schedule is created for every task listed. Resources are then allotted to finish the task (Microsoft Corporation, 2014b).
Moreover, the software is capable of organizing projects by scope, whether it's a main project or a subproject, through the Master Project. Meanwhile, the Tracking feature allows for monitoring. Thus, the users can respond quickly when problems occur (Microsoft Corporation, 2000a). Through these task, time, and resource management capabilities of the software, any project would become more tolerable. Even the most complex venture would be managed well. To explore this, we would look into the probable application of Microsoft Project in the healthcare industry.
The Rice Building Institute, a research organization, sought to improve the construction process in building new hospitals. Joe Powell, the CEO of the institute, together with the industry leaders and research partners, discussed how complex and inefficient the process in planning, design, and construction is. They found that the old way of doing projects was too linear that every division has to wait before executing the next task (Wagner, 2007).
This process could not quickly adapt to the changing needs of the client. Moreover, the complexity of the project has not made the work simpler. This is prone to miscommunications and miscalculations. Thus, it can become expensive.Fortunately, with the use of Microsoft Project, the tasks can be done simultaneously.
The Project software has an outlining capability. It is for determining tasks and subtasks. The outline follows a hierarchical framework that shows how tasks fit in comprehensive groupings. Tasks occupy the highest level in the outline when keyed in. Users would know which tasks to prioritize when an item is further indented to the right of the Gantt Table (Microsoft Corporation, 2000a).
Thus, in the given case, the software’s capability would substantially aid the project management team. It would improve the construction process of new hospitals. Using the Project, the tasks are broken down to simpler activities.
With this, the instructions are clearer and the calculations are more accurate. Also, when the clients want to change anything, the efforts are easier to shift since each task is portioned to manageable bits. Most importantly, seeing the list of tasks in a prioritized manner would enable the workers to move forward to the necessary jobs. No one would get stuck in an item, waiting for others to proceed.
In another case of project management in healthcare, health service investors and providers have a growing concern about environmental risk factors. They believe that risks must be considered and handled through project management. The project manager plays an important part in collaborating with his team and satisfying the stakeholders. In the end, the discussion concluded that risk, as part of project management, is a combination of art and science. It must be managed in relation to people, processes, structure, and information to realize a measurable business outcome (Sheppy, Zuliani, & McIntosh, 2012).
Nonetheless, the most notable realization from the case is the need for competent project managers. They must have “the ability to use their soft skills, along with their artistic risk identification and management talent” (Sheppy, Zuliani, & McIntosh, 2012). Having many aspects to manage, MS Project 2010 would help the project managers in managing their time. This is because they could format their own activity set, whether it’s for business or personal tasks. In this regard, they would be able to clearly focus on the tasks at hand.
In conclusion, regardless of the time, budget, and scope, any project -- through the use of such project management tool -- is doable. Here, we have a scenario of a complex industry, that is, the healthcare industry.This particular industry involves sensitive risks. The way to manage it is through competency. MS Project 2010 would back up its users and allow them to come prepared. This is how the project managers, researchers, and any other users become competitive in project management.
References
Custom Guide. (2011). Project quick reference. Retrieved from https://www2.viu.ca/technology/docs/project_quick_reference_2010.pdf
Microsoft Corporation. (2000). Microsoft project.Women in Business, 52(5): p36.4p.
Microsoft Corporation. (2014). Getting started with Project 2010.Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-help/getting-started-with-project-2010- RZ101831071.aspx?section=1
Sheppy, B., Zuliani, J. D., & McIntosh, B. (2012). Science or art: Risk and project management in healthcare. British Journal of Healthcare Management, 18(11): 582-586.
Wagner, S. K. (2007). Group aims to improve hospital construction process. Health Facility Management, 20(11): p5-6. 2p.
