Project management manual

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According to DIN 69901-5, a project management manual (also: PM manual) is a " compilation of regulations that generally apply within an organization for the planning and implementation of projects. " In contrast, a project manual describes all the standards required for a specific project.

Possible contents of a project management manual are:

  • Project criteria (what is a project?)
  • Project types and categories
  • Project organization and roles
  • standardized PM process
  • Procedure models for project types with a repetitive character (e.g. development projects, customer projects, IT projects)
  • Methods and instruments of project planning and control (PM methodology)
  • PM glossary with company-specific terminology
  • Forms, templates, checklists, work aids, etc.

It is important to ensure that a PM manual is kept as pragmatic and understandable as possible. Overly complicated and extensive manuals are rarely accepted and used in practice. In addition, the creation of a PM manual should be embedded in a higher-level organizational development process to professionalize and optimize project management. The creation of a PM manual alone is not enough to introduce project management methods in the company. It is particularly important to win over managers to the topic, to adequately qualify project managers and team members and, if necessary, to introduce software tools to support them.