To conduct a project and all included parts of a project, it is a first important to know what exactly a project and project management is. This helps you to avoid to have wrong expectations and to do bad planning.

A successful managed project always needs a well structured and organized project management. Project management includes various aspects of a project, such as planning, organizing and controlling, but also staffing and directing. To provide these , a system of four factors are very important. These are know-how, practices, procedures and technologies (Figure 1). For successful project management, the aims and objectives have to be in your focus. The real project management is supported by various other activities (team development, communication, conflict management, etc.). Also external factors, such as department structure or the general environment you have to include in your managing concept (Figure 2).

The project management cyle describes the life cyle of a project.