Project Environment Interface Concepts

A project management methodology is central to the project management environment. As such, it should be responsive to the needs of all project stakeholders and guide them through the key activities of project management. An effective project management methodology conveys to all stakeholders "how we manage projects" in the project management environment. It accomplishes this by establishing a common frame of reference for everyone participating or having interest in project performance. To that end, it should support all interactions among business, technical, and project management participants. It also provides an immediate reference for those stakeholders on the periphery of or outside the immediate project involvement to inform them and set expectations about what will be achieved through specified project management activities.

Accordingly, the project management methodology introduces the relevant organization's philosophy, concepts, standard approach, and common terminology for project work. This allows cross-functional project managers and project team members to understand and share the same project management experience. Consequently, each project manager does not have to create and convey a tactical approach for each new project and for each new team member. As a result, over time, cross-functional teams become more efficient, more productive, and more successful in producing project deliverables and in accomplishing project objectives.