General Guidance and Information

The terms project and project management mean different things to different people. A project, however, is generally understood to be a one-time endeavor, undertaken to achieve an objective delivering a unique product or service. A project is initiated when a unique requirement is identified, and ends when that requirement is met.

Because a project has a definite beginning and end, it is distinguished from ongoing operations. A project is completed when its objectives have been met, while operations have ongoing objectives and are a part of everyday business.

Delivering a successful project on time and within budget requires the assignment of a qualified project manager and the use of consistent, repeatable project management practices. The Department’s guidelines for project manager qualifications and policies and best practices for project management are provided below:

• Department of Commerce Project Manager Qualification Guidelines
• Department of Commerce Project Manager Resume Format
• Department of Commerce Scalable Project Management Methodology