5 Steps to Implement ISO Standard Project Management Process

Five-stage project management process according to ISO

Stage 1: Initializing

Initialization in project management is the first stage. During this period, the main objective is to define and establish the basis for the project. Some important activities to perform during the Startup phase include:

• Clarify and define expected outcomes, scope, risk, benefits, other project-related factors
• Assessment of the organization's accessibility to implement the project. Consider factors such as finance, resources, human resources, manageability, etc.
• Identify stakeholders (stakeholders), including internal stakeholders (such as departments within the organization) and external stakeholders (such as customers, partners, regulatory agencies, communities)
• Assess project feasibility and feasibility from technical, financial and environmental aspects
• Create an initial plan for the project, including defining phases, assignments, and estimating required resources. This initial plan will be revised and supplemented in the next stages of project management
• Identify project managers and other project team members, ensuring clarity of each member's roles and responsibilities.

Phase 2: Planning 

In project management, the Planning stage is an important stage for detailed identification of activities, resources and schedules needed to achieve goals. Some of the work that needs to be done during this period includes:

• Defining project objectives: Establish clear and specific objectives that the project should achieve. This objective should be measured and be able to determine when a project is considered a successful completion.
• Scope of project: By defining the work to be done, the product or service to be developed, the customer and project binding.
• Identify steps and tasks: Analysis of the steps required to complete the project and identify specific tasks. Create a task map or use the PERT, Gantt charts to support time and resource management.
• Resource identification: Human resources, materials, tools and equipment, financial resources, etc.
• Schedule a project: Determine the start - end time of each project and the completion time of the project.
• Estimate the resources required for each work and determine the project budget.
• Risk definition: Propose risk management plans to minimize their impact
• Identify stakeholders who influence the project and determine how to interact to ensure support and commitment from them
• Identify the criteria for evaluating project success, as well as the test plan to ensure these requirements and criteria are met
• Communication planning for information exchange between project participants and stakeholders.

Phase 3: Deployment (Executing)

The Implementation phase is considered the most important phase of the project management process, as the activities undertaken during this phase directly affect the final outcome. This is a period in which project management needs to be carried out in a close manner and to ensure cooperation among stakeholders in order to achieve the goals.

The Project Implementation (Executing) phase consists of the following activities:

• Implement project activities in accordance with the established plan: Product production, software development, infrastructure construction, project-related tasks.
• Monitoring and monitoring project implementation: Ensure that the activities undertaken during this period comply with the standards for performance, on-time and resource utilization provided effectively.
• Manage Changes: Provide projection of time and cost for project implementation. These include evaluating and controlling change requirements, prioritizing important work, taking measures to adjust the schedule and ensuring project progress.
• Communication and coordination: Ensuring alignment and coordination between activities, project team members and stakeholders.

Stage 4: Monitoring and Controlling

Monitoring and Control  is the fourth phase of the project management life cycle. This phase is intended to ensure that the project is on track and achieving the objectives set out. Specifically, at this stage, the project manager needs to perform the following tasks:

• Monitor project progress: Monitor the progress of each task periodically and periodically to promptly detect problems and take action.
• Quality control: Ensure project meets previously defined quality requirements
• Cost management: Monitor actual project costs to ensure that they do not exceed budget.
• Risk management: Monitor potential risks that may affect the project and take preventive measures and limit risks
• Stakeholder Management: Maintain good relationships with stakeholders to ensure their support and cooperation in the project.

Phase 5: Completed (Closing)

The Closing phase is the final phase of the project management process. This phase includes activities such as completing the remaining project tasks, checking and reporting the results, distributing, evaluating the results and drawing experience.

Specifically, activities to be undertaken during this period include:

• Test and report results: Includes information on goals, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Assess results and gain experience: Assess project performance, project strengths and weaknesses and propose solutions to improve the performance of subsequent projects.