Project Management Principles

As per Wikipedia,

A principle is a proposition or value that is a guide for behavior or evaluatio. In common English, it is a substantive and collective term referring to rule governance, the absence of which, being “unprincipled”, is considered a character defect.

However, when it comes to a profession like Project Management, principles serve as a foundational guidelines for,

• Strategy
• Decision Making
• Problem Solving

Principles are the basis of professional standards and methodologies. Principles of project management are non-prescriptive and broadly based so that individuals and organizations can align with them.

The 12 Project Management Principles

The Global community of Project Management practitioners from different industries, cultures and working in different roles submitted their feedback regarding principles and thus the below principles were finalized,

1. Be a diligent, respectful and caring steward
2. Create a collaborative project team environment
3. Effectively engage with stakeholders
4. Focus on value
5. Recognize, evaluate and respond to system interactions
6. Demonstrate leadership behaviors
7. Tailor based on context
8. Build quality into processes and deliverables
9. Navigate complexity
10. Optimize risk responses
11. Embrace adaptability and resiliency
12. Enable change to achieve the envisioned future state

Important to note that since principles are just guidance, the degree of their applicability isn’t defined. This can be influenced by several factors like organization, kind of project, stakeholders etc. Also, the principles may overlap and are consistent such that no principle contradicts the other.

Relationship between PMI Code of Ethics and Project Management Principles

While code of ethics are related to ‘morals’, project management principles may or may not reflect ‘morals’. Code of ethics can be adopted to establish moral conduct for individuals or profession.

PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is based on 4 values,

1. Responsibility
2. Respect
3. Fairness
4. Honesty

Relationship between Project Management Principles and General Management Principles

Both projects and business focus on delivering value so it is natural that there will be an overlap between Project Management Principles and General Management Principles

Infact “Focus on value” is one of the twelve project management principles. Obviously the methods of managing projects and, for instance, managing operations will be different but underlying principles could be the same.

Check more articles on The Standard for Project Management