ABSTRACT
Projects in healthcare are undertaken for a variety of reasons. Projects can be for personal, financial, competitive, safety, and regulatory reasons. A functional organization is probably the most difficult structure for a project manager. It is characterized by a hierarchy that is organized by discipline. While a functional organization structure may be the most difficult for the project manager, a project-focused organization is the easiest for the project manager. One of the areas that should be carefully considered is the area of regulations and standards. This area is often overlooked in the early stages of project planning and can have significant impact on whether or not to choose a particular project. Another reason that projects in healthcare are proposed is for safety reasons. Safety can affect the general public, patients, and employees. Information that is critical to a project is the relevant data from standards and regulatory agencies, industry best practices, and the organization’s own policies, procedures, and standards.
