The differences between Project
Management and Operations Management are a matter of perspective. From the Project Management
Institute (PMI)
point of view, the differences are clear and distinct. However, from a
practitioner's view, it appears to be a matter of management style where the
best practices from project management and operations management can be
combined for better efficiencies and effectiveness.
The Project Management Institute's
PMBOK Guide provides the following differences between Project Management and
Operations Management:
- Temporariness vs Permanence
- Definite Beginning and End vs Repetitive Cycle
- Scope, Time and Budget Constraints vs Supply Chain Constraints
Differences between Project Work and Traditional Functional Work
Project work and traditional functional work differ in many ways. It is
important to understand these differences.
Functional work is routine ongoing work. Each day machine operators, car
salesmen, secretaries, accountants, financial analysts and quality inspectors
perform functional work that is routine, notwithstanding some variations from
day to day. The functional worker gets training from a manager assigned to the
specific function, and the manager supervises and manages the worker according
to standards of productivity and quality set for the particular function.
In contrast to functional work, project work is a temporary endeavor
undertaken to create a unique, non-routine product or service. A project
manager manages a specific project with people and other resources assigned to
him only for project management support on the specific project, and not on an
ongoing basis. The project manager is responsible for the approved objectives
of a project such as budget, schedule and specifications. Project terms are
typically not organised in the same hierarchical structure as that of
functional group.
