Why do we need project management?

1. Keep solvency through

   • avoiding project delays
   • avoiding budget explosions
2. Satisfy programmers through

   • enough time for proper implementation
   • best tools available

• specify in-depth
• plan realistically
• implement efficiently
• control continuously

Things change when one-man bands delve into the world of team-work. Bigger projects with more developers mean

• less direct collaboration with customers (information gets lost / needs to be relayed)
• projects no more manageable „in one head“
• need for project management (and software development) tools/processes
• less flexibility with working hours and travel time/cost
• more expenses → more turnover needed for big earnings
• less flexibility towards changes in schedules made by customers
• more organizational overhead
• more responsibility

Reasons for project delays:

• project planning non-existent or too vague
• project controlling non-existent or too vague (as a result of no planning)
• no knowledge of actual project standings (as a result of no controlling)
• no corrective measure possible (as a result of no knowledge of actual project standings)

This all leads to two things at the end of the day:

• low cash-flow
• less-than-satisfied customers

These are the two worst things that can happen to a company, because both make you react instead of act!