Project Management, 5th Edition

CHAPTER 1THE EVOLUTION OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT¹

In the beginning God created the universe. All subsequent projects have been of lesser significance.

Anonymous

1.1 INTRODUCTION

In the early 1970s it was stated in the project management community that “project management is the accidental profession.” This statement has been quoted many times since, with all the implications that a discovery had been made and a new profession had been defined in the late twentieth century. Recognition of project management as a discipline and the use of this management approach have varied over several thousands of years.

The treatment of the subject of projects and project management in this chapter encompasses several thousands of years where evidence exists ...