Project Management History of Project

Project Management

History of Project Management Prior to Classical Antiquity

The current definition of project management is the very deliberate orchestration of people, resources, money and time to complete a specific project. The first step is the development of a project plan, which includes a task breakdown, a list of resources needed, a budget and a timeline. The planning phase is then followed by the implementation phase, the actual organization and use of resources to accomplish the specified goal.

Project management has evolved over the ages; as culture, knowledge, and construction skills, tool and techniques evolved so did the purpose and construction of buildings. This essay looks at the societal, the managerial, and the scientific changes, which took place prior to classical antiquity. The impact of these changes on project management will then be evaluated.

A review of pre-classical antiquity requires an examination of Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. For each time period, the following factors will be investigated:

1. The ancient cultural environment is which project activities were performed.

2. The ancient knowledge environment, which facilitated problem solving, decision making, development of the right skill and tool to get the project done.

3. The general management of a project during ancient times, which determined how resources were allocated and optimized

4. The ancient techniques and tools used to complete the project and the resulting impacts on time, scope and cost of the project.

5. The ancient professional traditions, which includes the organization of labor.

6. The ancient project activities, which includes an examination of historically valuable buildings.

History of Project Management Prior to Classical Antiquity

Conclusion

During each time period prior to classical antiquity, humans built upon the knowledge and traditions of the previous period. This intellectual growth produced many enhancements to life, project management and to the construction of buildings.

The basic elements of thinking and reasoning were created through the study of mathematics, written communication, law, medicine, production optimization, astronomy and science. Many of the discoveries and creations of these time periods produced intangible and tangible infrastructures for society to organize itself, such as the concept of time based on astronomy and mathematics. The Mesopotamians were the first to create a theory of disease epidemiology. The Egyptians created the first alphabet. Ancient Greece was the first to have the political organizational form of democracy. The Roman Empire was the first to transport water for domestic and agricultural use.

Mesopotamian's used written codes and laws to organize its society and to organize their understanding of the natural world with the gods, which controlled nature. Written codes were used to manage relationships, daily life and business transactions. Ancient Egypt expanded management to include planning and implementation of vast undertakings such as the pyramids. Egyptians developed methods for planning, organizing and controls to manage decision-making. In ancient Greece, Socrates defined management as separate from technical mastery and documented the importance of delegation. Additionally, ancient Greece developed the concept of leadership with checks and balances to limit the power of an one individual leader. The Roman Empire use managerial delegation and alliance formation provided them with the structure to manage its large geography and populace. By create a chain of command it was able to create a transportation network, to develop a disciplined military and to expand its government to include executive, legislative and judicial branches.

Through the ages building techniques, tools and materials evolved. The Mesopotamians used mud bricks to build homes and buildings with columns, domes and arches. Later on they invented tar to reinforce the brick structures. Changing from a nomadic society to an agricultural society created population clusters, which needed permanent homes. This facilitated the need for civil engineering and the use of the wheel and pump for the transportation of water. Ancient Egypt contributed new construction methodologies, the distinction between craftsman and engineers and the use of stone as a replacement of mud bricks. The Egyptians used ramps of various types to construction the pyramids; creating the methodology for buildings to expand in height.

Changes in knowledge, societal organization, and managerial practices influenced the tools, technology and materials used for construction. In turn, the tools, technology and materials changed the role the master-builder, project management and the structures that were built. During these time periods the master- builder was the architect, the engineer and the builder. Crafts people worked with the master-builder to improve and specialize their skills. The master-builder also engineered tools to improve transportation of materials to the work site. By the times of the Roman Empire, the master-builder had new material, such as concrete, to use in construction. Additionally, the role of master-builder was beginning to emphasize the architectural skills and was the beginning of the separation of architect from builder.

The buildings constructed during the pre-classical antiquity increased in size, purpose and complexity. The Mesopotamia time period began the construct evolution with the development of ziggurats and bridges. The Egyptians created the pyramids as resting places for their kings. The ancient Greece created and mastered the use of columns as part of the support structure of their temples. The Romans advanced building design and construction by improving upon the column and found ways to strength and utilize arches. These improvements were used to quickly build bridges and the construct massive public buildings like the Colosseum.

Project management is the successful use of resources to construct a building. With limited tools to mine materials, to transport the materials and to utilize the materials, projects spanned many lifetimes. Often, the original purpose for the building changed as the leadership of the empires changed. The designs for the building changed as master-builders retired and new techniques and tools were created. The master-builder was responsible for the design and construction of buildings. The master-builder created tools and machines to reduce the length of time it took to build. Many of the building projects during the pre-classical antiquity period took generations to complete. They knew their labor force would need to be replaced on a continual basis. The master- builder needed to orchestrate the transition of learning and skills between the generations.

As master-builders perfected the art of ziggurats, columns and arches, building expanded from strictly homes and religious structures to infrastructures to facilitate the transportation of people, raw materials and water. The creation of these infrastructures improved life for themselves and all generations that followed.

History of Project Management of the Medieval Periods

Introduction

The current definition of project management is the very deliberate orchestration of people, resources, money and time to complete a specific project. The first step is the development of a project plan, which includes a task breakdown, a list of resources needed, a budget and a timeline. The planning phase is then followed by the implementation phase, the actual organization and use of resources to accomplish the specified goal.

Project management has evolved over the ages; as culture, knowledge, and construction skills, tool and techniques evolved so did the purpose and construction of buildings. This essay looks at the societal, the managerial, and the scientific changes, which took place during medieval times. The impact of these changes on project management will then be evaluated.

A review of the medieval era requires an examination of the Byzantine Empire, the Islamic golden age, the Crusades and the Romanesque period. For each time period, the following factors will be investigated:

1. The medieval cultural environment is which project activities were performed.

2. The medieval knowledge environment, which facilitated problem solving, decision making, development of the right skill and tool to get the project done.

3. The general management of a project during medieval times, which determined how resources were allocated and optimized

4. The medieval techniques and tools used to complete the project and the resulting impacts on time, scope and cost of the project.

5. The medieval professional traditions, which includes the organization of labor.

6. The medieval project activities, which includes an examination of historically valuable buildings.

History of Project Management of the Medieval Periods

Conclusion

The medieval time period marked the increased use of religion as the basis for society. During this time period the clash between Islam and Christianity began. Expansion and contraction of knowledge, science, law and trade influenced society's design and construction of both public and private buildings.

The Byzantine Empire was strategically located on the trade route between Europe and the East. Much of the Roman Empire's leadership structure and the advancement of knowledge continued in the Byzantine Empire. As the Roman Empire collapsed and the Dark Ages set upon Europe, Constantinople became the center of knowledge. Due to its location Constantinople was able to integrate the learning of the Arab culture with the knowledge in Europe.

With fragmented politics and culture across the Middle East, religion and the rise agriculture became the basis for the Islamic Golden Age. While Europe struggled with the Dark Ages and feudalism, the Muslin world expanded its knowledge of the arts, engineering, philosophy and medicine. The Islamic Golden Age contributed to the methodology of scientific study included quantitative, empirical and experimental methods of research. The study of physics, optics and biology of the eye contributed to the development of the quadrant and sextant. The Islamic world also created the concept of a library.

The Crusades of the eleventh century brought the learning of the Islamic world to Europe unfortunately this information was acquired by the act of war. The Crusades also increased the flow of trade, bringing new spices, gemstones and foods to Europe. The Crusades marked the beginning of religion as the basis for society. The Pope and the Catholic Church emerged as the leaders of society and religion as the unifying morality.

Rather than a change in politics, a mini-renaissance occurred during Romanesque period. The study of art, science and culture brought about a change in architectural styling and building materials; increased use of rounded arches and barrel vaults emerged at the same time as the use of metal, enamel, ivory, bronze, gold, stain glass and embroidery were being used to decorate clothing, art and buildings.

The Romanesque period lead to the Gothic period, which transitioned to the Renaissance. The Gothic period saw a continuation of the power of the Church. The church was the patron of the arts and this was reflected in the biblical stories told in art and architecture. During the Romanesque period the acquisition of knowledge came to a complete halt due to famine and the plague.

During the Byzantine Empire religion was the focal point of individual and collective life. The Byzantines are remembered for their ability to create alliance, which extended their power. The Islamic civilization focused on the humanistic notions of individualism, liberalism, religious freedom and cross-cultural exchange. The art of management focused on a leader and their establishment of a moral conduct for the community. During the Crusades, management evolved to code of behaviors for the knights. Chivalry created the manners and mores of society and guided the behavior of knights. The knights treated each other with respect and managed as a group of equal partners. This respect and equal partnership carried over to the Romanesque period as households combined to create cottage industries. Each neighbor was in charge of a specific process in the creation of a final product and they worked as a unified team without a formal leader. During the Gothic era cathedrals became the center of town where citizens gathered for religious services, town meetings and markets. The size of the cathedrals created complex projects over many decades of construction. The Gothic period introduced the art of long-term project planning and systematic project management.

The tools and techniques of construction grew more sophisticate as time progress. Builders during the Byzantine Empire utilized ramps, levels, levers, pulleys and winches as well as the mathematical concepts of angles and arches. Byzantine builders improved the supporting structure of domes and the use of buttresses. The Islamic Golden Age added cranes to the toolkits of builders. Additionally, the Islamic community contributed to the craft of sculpting and the use of marble, composites and metal as building materials. During the Crusades the main purpose of buildings was protection against invaders, which including very thick exterior and interior walls and the creation of motes. The need for security brought about innovations in cranes, ramps, pulleys and winces. Complementing these innovations were improvements in stone masonry including faster production and shorter construction timeframes. The Romanesque period saw the creation of interior design, creating rooms for specific purposes. Comfort of the residences became a focal point with innovation in heating and cooling, plumbing and running water. During the Gothic period builders began to interior lighting study the use of building height to create better lighting in the cathedrals. Gothic architects began to develop small-scale models to test the stability of the buildings. The creation and use of flying buttresses, rib vaults and pointed arches created tall structures that maximized the availability of interior light. To construct these cathedrals the crane became a treadmill, which allowed for control of the compass and clasp arms providing more control of horizontal and vertical movements.

From the Byzantine Empire to the Gothic period, the master-builder as architect expanded to include both functional and decorative design. The design process began to take into account the proposed use of the structure, the impact of nature's elements to the building and the residents and the desire for comfort. The mater builders became the conduit for communications between the client, usually the Church, and the workers. The master-builder was becoming the project manager. Master-builders began to document their architecture designs and worked to educate each other on construction techniques and project management. During the Romanesque period, the works began to organize themselves into guilds of specific crafts and trades, which created monopolies and its co-respondent power.

The master-builder continued as the master architect, designer and planner and the structures they created became more complex. The master-builder's role as project manager increased with the increase in complexity. The selection of materials and design focused on strengthening the support structures of the building. The need for specialized crafts and trade, the master-builders added the role of educator to their list of responsibility. The complexity of the building also created the need for the master-builder to develop skills in long-term planning.

History of Project Management from the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution

Introduction

The current definition of project management is the very deliberate orchestration of people, resources, money and time to complete a specific project. The first step is the development of a project plan, which includes a task breakdown, a list of resources needed, a budget and a timeline. The planning phase is then followed by the implementation phase, the actual organization and use of resources to accomplish the specified goal.

Project management has evolved over the ages; as culture, knowledge, and construction skills, tool and techniques evolved so did the purpose and construction of buildings. This essay looks at the societal, the managerial, and the scientific changes, which took place prior to classical antiquity. The impact of these changes on project management will then be evaluated.

A review early modern project requires an examination the Renaissance period, the Baroque period and the Industrial Revolution. For each time period, the following factors will be investigated:

1. The early modern cultural environment is which project activities were performed.

2. The early modern environment, which facilitated problem solving, decision making, development of the right skill and tool to get the project done.

3. The general management of a project early modern times, which determined how resources were allocated and optimized

4. The early modern techniques and tools used to complete the project and the resulting impacts on time, scope and cost of the project.

5. The early modern professional traditions, which includes the organization of labor.

6. The early modern project activities, which includes an examination of historically valuable buildings.

History of Project Management from the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution

Conclusion

The period between the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution was all about reviving and improving upon the Greek and Roman knowledge of science and mathematics. The acquisition of new knowledge produced significant changes in how people worked, how and where people lived and how quickly products could be produced.

Society began to question the theories of the earlier generations and acquiring new knowledge through empirical evidence and the integration of science and mathematics. Sir Francis Bacon introduced the process of inductive reasoning, which required scholars to consider all the evidence. During this time period, the scientific revolution occurred and contributed new instruments of measurement, such as microscopes, barometers and calculators. Scholars began to understand the principles of natural phenomena such as gravitate and motion.

One very important change occurred during Renaissance period, feudalism was dying and capitalism was emerging as the fundamental basis for organizing societies. This switch to capitalism encourage Europe to find new sources of raw materials and new markets to sell their increased output, thus began to colonization of the world by European powers. Another important change occurred during the Baroque period - a movement from religion to secularism. The Industrial Revolution expanded upon these two important changes by the utilization of new knowledge to create of new machinery, which reduced the need for human labor and increase the amount of output while decreasing the time it took to manufacture the output.