THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Managing projects is certainly not a new concept; there is an infinite number of examples of small and great projects through the ages that have been managed—often very effectively. As other aspects of living on Earth have changed over time, the needs and methods for managing projects have changed. In the last half-century, the approaches to managing projects have changed dramatically.

Project management as a unique career and profession is barely forty years old. Its origins can be traced to efforts such as the United States Department of Defense major weapons-systems development, National Aeronautics and Space Administration space missions, and major construction and maintenance efforts, as well as comparable efforts in Europe. The magnitude and complexity of these efforts were the driving force in the search for tools that could aid management in the planning, decision-making, and control of the multitude of activities involved in such projects, especially those with many activities occurring simultaneously.