APM is a well-known method used throughout businesses and organisations worldwide to effectively manage projects. In this article we look at what a project is, how to identify a successful and unsuccessful project, and how APM certification is able to benefit your organisation. APM has a well-established Body of Knowledge that almost everyone working within project management has heard of, but not everyone has training in it yet, which is a shame, because it truly does strengthen the chance of achieving project success; from the basic APM Project Fundamentals Qualification right to the highest accreditations available to the professional project manager.
So, What Is A Project?
A project is a process you go through to get a specific outcome. It is not just an everyday business process though, it has a specific and important objective that requires several steps to achieve.
What Causes An Unsuccessful Project?
Unsuccessful projects may be because:
● Management did not support the project which in turn causes the project to have a lack of resources and funding.
● Resources are not there when they need to be because there aren't enough dedicated team members involved
● The roles and responsibilities of those involved are not defined properly leading to milestones being missed, conflict in the team and a lack of morale
● Communication is very poor leading to confusion, conflicts, unhappiness and concern from stakeholders
● The leadership is not strong enough possibly because the project manager has not had project management training, because the goals and roles are undefined, because the project was not planned properly, because there are no clear processes
What Causes A Project To Be Successful?
Common reasons a project is successful are:
● The project is planned properly and well in advance
● Leadership is excellent and committed, support of senior management is strong
● Relationships with all involved in the project are maintained and strong
● The project objective is met
● Stakeholders are happy, because their expectations are met
● The project is completed on time, within budget and having achieved its objective
Why APM Can Help You Gain A Successful Project And Avoid An Unsuccessful Project
To improve the chances of projects succeeding in any environment, organisation or context, the APM knowledge-based approach is commonly introduced. It is recognised across the world as a standard PM method, providing processes that are both flexible and easily applied to any type of project.
APM Training
Many organisations are providing APM training for their staff members because of the huge benefits this qualification can bring. If you are interested in APM training, you could approach your employer to see if they provide it, or if they would consider fitting it into their budget. Alternatively, you can invest in the training yourself, which will be beneficial to your project management career. APM training provides training on how to ensure a project succeeds by using processes, techniques and skills that can apply to any type of project. Training can be done online, rather than in a classroom, which means you will be able to enjoy completing the training in your own time, around your current job.
