How can project management be defined?

Project management is defined as the process of planning, executing, and closing projects effectively, which encapsulates a broad range of activities and skills necessary for successful project completion. This definition emphasizes the critical stages of a project:

1. Planning involves setting clear objectives, defining project scope, identifying resources, and creating a timeline. This ensures that all team members understand their responsibilities and the goals of the project.

2. Executing refers to the implementation of the project plan. This stage includes coordinating people and resources, managing stakeholder expectations, and making necessary adjustments to keep the project on track.

3. Closing involves finalizing all activities, delivering the completed project to stakeholders, and conducting a post-project evaluation to assess what went well and what could be improved for future projects.

This comprehensive approach to project management recognizes that effective project management goes beyond just coordinating schedules or tracking expenses; it involves a holistic view of all phases of a project to ensure its success. Other options, while they touch on aspects of project management like scheduling or financial tracking, do not capture the overall process and multi-faceted nature of managing a project from start to finish.