The story: I

Posted by Claudia Moser on 6:07 AM in Alphabet

Another Monday morning, another letter within the A to Z contest. And my idea (no, not the I word) is Input, a part of Project Management concept.

Where can you find the inputs?

A project management plan is a formal, approved document that defines how the project is executed, monitored and controlled. The project manager creates the project management plan following input from the project team and key stakeholders.
(as defined in Wikipedia)

Input is a term that refers specifically to any particular item, product, or mechanism that refers to an internal or external device that can be used for the purposes of triggering the progression of a particular process. This form of input is always a requirement before the process is actually able to proceed as such. Input can come in many different means such as such as specific types of data that can be entered into the system, the results of which can trigger the process to begin again. Input can be derived in many cases as a resultant output from a previous work schedule activity or a previous work process. Input can be the result of a compilation of various phases of a particular project, it could be the result of one specific work activity, or it can be data that is entirely independent of the overall project processes but no less essential to the continuing progress of the overall activity.
(as per Project Management Knowledge Definition)

Stakeholders are individuals and organizations who have a vested interest in the success of the project. The identification and input of stakeholders help to define, clarify, drive, change, and contribute to the scope, cost, timing, quality and, ultimately, the success of the project.
(as per here)

These are a couple of definitions you will find by simply browsing the Internet or by reading various books on the Project Management topic.

My conclusion: without proper input, you will get no real results. If the inputs are perverted (no matter the reasons), you will not be able to reach your goals.

I believe that the below graph summarizes this nicely:

plus it announces another good Project Management concept, Output!

Motto

"A story is not like a road to follow … it's more like a house. You go inside and stay there for a while, wandering back and forth and settling where you like and discovering how the room and corridors relate to each other, how the world outside is altered by being viewed from these windows. And you, the visitor, the reader, are altered as well by being in this enclosed space, whether it is ample and easy or full of crooked turns, or sparsely or opulently furnished. You can go back again and again, and the house, the story, always contains more than you saw the last time. It also has a sturdy sense of itself of being built out of its own necessity, not just to shelter or beguile you."
by Alice Munro

Belle says:

6:14 AM

My daughter, who has worked in big business for years, has talked to me about project management. Yes, good input is what the manager needs, that is for sure. I think it would be hard work, yet fun to manage a project. Do you find it fun and interesting?

Desiree says:

8:10 AM

I must say, you're giving us quite an education in project management :) At this rate, I'll be able to set myself up in business ;)

Claudia Moser says:

8:20 AM

@Belle - yes it is really fun. I am linked with project management for my whole professional life (more than 10 years now) and I must admit I find out each day new meanings. Never bored!
@Desiree - thank you, my intention is to give some samples, a true training must go into more depth. Maybe one day who knows?

Karen M. Peterson says:

7:20 PM

What I love about this A to Z Challenge is learning about a whole lot of new things. Thanks for sharing!

9:12 PM

@Karen - thank you, I truly do my best!