(Information, 2002) Project is an undertaking to meet established goals within cost, schedule, and quality objectives. The project manager is the person who has the ability, skills, and talents to manage a project.

Project Management brings together and optimizes the resources necessary to complete the project successfully. These resources include the skills, talents, and cooperative efforts of a team of people, facilities, systems and tools, technology, techniques, information, equipment, insight, knowledge, and experience.

Stage 1: Defining

The success of a project depends on a clear definition.

• Starting with discussion and analysis
• Writing the project definition
• Setting the final objective
• Listing imperatives and desirables
• Generating alternative strategies
• Evaluation of each alternative
• Testing the primary strategy
• Choosing a course of action

Stage 2: Planning

A successful project produces an outcome that performs as expected, on deadline, and within cost limits. 

• Establishing the project objective
• Choosing a strategy for achieving the objective
• Breaking the project down into sub-units or steps
• Determination of the performance standards for each sub-unit
• Deciding on the time required to complete each sub-unit
• Planning the stages of the project and a detailed time table
• Designing the cost of each sub-unit and aggregate costs into the total project budget
• Planning the staff requirements, including the number and kind of positions, qualifications, duties, and responsibilities.
• Deciding on the training needs of the project team members
• Developing the necessary policies and procedures
• Documenting the project plans and procedures

Stage 3: Implementing

When the project begins, the project manager has many responsibilities.

• Establishing standards
• Monitoring performance
• Providing feedback
• Taking corrective action

Stage 4: Completing

The project is to deliver an outcome to the client; according to the established project parameters.

• Testing the project outputs before final delivery
• Delivering the project output to the internal or external clients
• Assessment of the project output with the client
• Documenting the problems encountered, solutions, methods, lessons learned
• Performance assessment of project staff 
• Preparing recommendations for future projects