Project management in a nutshell...

Project management is an organizational skill whereby a project manager communicates with the relevant and influential stakeholders and co-ordinates the work that is to be done, assigning resources and preempting risks according to a diligent process.
The three steps that are typically part of a project plan include:
1. Initial meetings with project sponsors and assigning of roles, responsibilities and stakeholder influence, along with risk assessment.
2. Drawing up the project plan and making estimations of the time, costs, and, quality objectives. In software projects and in engineering projects an approach that embraces quality assurance objectives at the outset is recommended, in software engineering practice this is known as test driven development (TDD). Training and research is part of the planning stage, and, this might be borne by the client or the project managing organization for novel projects, should the client accept the initial estimate, terms and conditions. A contract (and a statement of works) is usually signed and agreed upon by the project sponsor and the project managing organization.
3. The project needs to be implemented with the resources available and within the scope agreed, accommodating any changes according to careful evaluation of the different options and changes to the project. Quality assurance, audit, or end-user testing usually marks the end of the handover process as part of a managed change programme.
After the successful implementation of a project and at times during the course of the project - depending on the issues and risks at hand - lessons learnt reports (post-project), highlight reports which complement progress report and highlight priority issues (i.e. cup of coffee for the project manager) and investment appraisals (planning stage and post-project) are useful to evaluate the success of the project and gather learning points from points of project failure. Usually there is an expectation that projects have a start date and an end date, but nevertheless it is up to the smart organization skills of the project manager to see the progress through the planned milestones, and, to report any factors delaying the delivery communicating them with the project sponsors.
Formal project management methodologies used include PRINCE2, and, other project management methodologies specific to different industries and specializations. Project monitoring is based on matching expectations to actual results including financials, customer satisfaction, organizational learning and growth, along with quality and cost management criteria. Nevertheless, we have to appreciate that rationality is important when we take decisions that have an influence over others.
If you wish to engage me as a project manager you can contact Jon on camilleri.jon@gmail.com outlining your requirements in brief. We will revert initially with a tariff of charges and a request for a deposit that covers initial research costs. We may optionally give you a free initial meeting, however that is the discretion of the project manager.
Due to our open mentality towards innovative projects that might require novel technologies, we consider market factors and innovation as part of our projections and evaluate the risks of the project accordingly, based on academic knowledge.