Project Management: Integration

Integration management is defined by the PMBOK as a collection of processes required to ensure that the various elements of the projects are properly coordinated. It involves making trade-offs among competing objectives and alternatives to meet or exceed stakeholder needs and expectations. But what exactly does this mean in practice?

In small businesses, it is very common that many employees wear multiple hats and perform many duties that would typically belong to different departments in a larger company. Often it is easy to overlook how these various roles all contribute to the success of a project. Integration Management focuses on getting (and keeping) everyone on the same page during the project to guarantee success.

The project manager should be very familiar with all the companies processes and procedures to assimilate them into the project management plan. This will allow the project initiatives to make sense in the context of each department and perform according to the company’s established processes rather than reinventing the wheel. The integration of the Project Management Plan with the Accounting Department can often be a critical connection. Though the project manager is responsible for tracking performance to budget and controlling cost scope, the accounting department can provide valuable insights that can possibly affect other aspects of the project, such as time management. Accounting monitors cash flow and tracks other large expenditures the company has planned. Depending on the type of contract the project manager is working on, cash may not be immediately available based on their timeline. Working with accounting at the start of the project to develop the timeline can help the project run smoother overall.

One of the most valuable tools and techniques in project management is Expert Judgement and team skills that aid in communication. Understanding how project work impacts other departments and other areas of project management is key to success. If a change is made to the scope of the project that impacts procurement, how does it affect the cost, quality, or timeline? It is important to think of the project, as well as your company, as a whole and how the machine operates together.