The Evolution of Project Management - Part 2

Four periods in the development of modern projectcontrolling complex project schedules. During this
management.period low cost project management software for
[1] Prior to 1958: Craft system to human relations.PCs became widely available that made project
During this time, the evolution of technology, such as,management techniques more easily accessible.
automobiles and telecommunications shortened theExamples of major projects undertaken during this
project schedule. For instance, automobiles allowedperiod that illustrate the application of high
effective resource allocation and mobility, whilst thetechnology, and project management tools and
telecommunication system increased the speed ofpractices include: (a) England France Channel project,
communication. Furthermore, the job specification1989 to1991. This project was an international project
which later became the basis of developing the Workthat involved two governments, several financial
Breakdown Structure (WBS) was widely used andinstitutions, engineering construction companies, and
Henry Gantt invented the Gantt chart. Examples ofother various organisations from the two countries.
projects undertaken during this period as supportedThe language, use of standard metrics, and other
by documented evidence include: (a) Building thecommunication differences needed to be closely
Pacific Railroad in 1850's; (b) Construction of thecoordinated; (b) Space Shuttle Challenger project,
Hoover Dam in 1931-1936, that employed1983 to 1986. The disaster of the Challenger space
approximately 5,200 workers and is still one of theshuttle focused attention on risk management, group
highest gravity dams in the U.S. generating about fourdynamics, and quality management; and (c) xv
billion kilowatt hours a year; and (c) The ManhattanCalgary Winter Olympic of 1988 which successfully
Project in 1942-1945 that was the pioneer researchapplied project management practices to event
and development project for producing the atomicmanagement.
bomb, involving 125,000 workers and costing nearly[4] 1995-Present: Creating a New Environment. This
$2 billion.period is dominated by the developments related to
[2] 1958-1979: Application of Management Science.the internet that changed dramatically business
Significant technology advancement took placepractices in the mid 1990's. The internet has provided
between 1958 and 1979, such as, the first automaticfast, interactive, and customised new medium that
plain-paper copier by Xerox in 1959. Between 1956allows people to browse, purchase, and track
and 1958 several core project management toolsproducts and services online instantly. This has
including CPM and PERT were introduced. However,resulted in making firms more productive, more
this period was characterised by the rapidefficient, and more client oriented. Furthermore, many
development of computer technology. Theof today's project management software have an
progression from the mainframe to theinternet connectivity feature. This allows automatic
mini-computer in the 1970's made computersuploading of data so that anyone around the globe
affordable to medium size companies. In 1975, Billwith a standard browser can: (a) input the most
Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft. Furthermore,recent status of their assigned tasks; (b) find out
the evolution of computer technology facilitated thehow the overall project is doing; (c) be informed of
emergence of several project management softwareany delays or advances in the schedule; and (d) stay
companies, including, Artemis (1977), Oracle (1977),"in the loop" for their project role, while working
and Scitor Corporation (1979). In the 1970's otherindependently at a remote site.
project management tools such as MaterialAn example of a major project undertaken during
Requirements Planning (MRP) were also introduced.this period is the Year 2000 (Y2K) project. The Y2K
Examples of projects undertaken during this periodProject, known as the millennium bug referred to the
and which influenced the development of modemproblem that computers may not function correctly
project management as we know it today include:on January lst, 2000 at 12 AM. This was a global
(a)Polaris missile project initiated in 1956 that had thephenomenon and was highly problematic because
objective of delivering nuclear missiles carried byresolving the problem at one's organisation did not
submarines, known as Fleet Ballistic Missile for the U.Sguarantee immunity, since a breakdown in the
Navy. The project successfully launched its firstorganisation's supply chain could affect the
Polaris missile in 1961; (b) Apollo project initiated inorganisation's operating capability. Many organisations
1960 with the objective of sending man to theset up a project office to control and comply with
moon; and (c) E.I du Pont de Nemours chemical planttheir stakeholders regarding the Y2K issue.
project commencing in 1958, that had the objectiveFurthermore, use of the Internet was common
of building major chemical production plants acrosspractice that led to the establishment of the virtual
the U.S.project office. The goal of this virtual project office
[3] 1980-1994: Production Centre Human Resources.was: (a) to deliver uninterrupted turn-of-the-century;
The 1980s and 1990's are characterised by the(b) monitor Y2K project efforts; (c) provide
revolutionary development in the informationcoordination; (d) develop a risk management plan; and
management sector with the introduction of the(e) communicate Y2K compliance efforts with various
personal computer (PC) and associated computerstakeholders. Thus, the virtual project office was a
communications networking facilities. Thisfocal point for all the project works, and it increased
development resulted in having low cost multitaskingthe awareness and importance of risk management
PCs that had high efficiency in managing andpractices to numerous organisations.