Abstract
M.Comm.
Project management as management discipline is still very young when compared to other components of the management discipline. From the literature studied, it is clear that there is a current upsurge in the interest in project management. More and more books and publications about this topic are being published. Various organisations are being formed to support the project manager and project management. Even certification for project managers was recently introduced. This study aims to give a theoretical basis to the project manager. A project is defined as a once off unique task that is comprised of an interrelated set of activities. The tasks in a project are of a non-repetitious nature and a project has definite goals, which must be achieved. The project manager has to be able to manage change if he is to be successful in his career as project manager. Three basic concepts which are prominent in project management are time, cost and quality. A project can be broken up into various distinct phases which when combined form the project life cycle. The life cycle of a project is of importance because the different phases within a project give the project manager the ability to structure the management process. The different phases each require different resources from the organisation. Project planning is to a great extent the lifeline of a project. Without planning a project is doomed to failure. All parties involved need to participate in the planning phase of a project. The result of the planning phase is the project plan, which combines the effort of all the parties into a set of documents. Organisational structures play an important role in the success of projects and project management. Each organisation has to decide which organisational structure is suitable for their application according to their project requirements. There is no definite structure that will work for every organisation. It is recommended that anagers are exposed to project management. Theoretical as well as practical knowledge is essential to the manager who wishes to become a successful project manager