ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses project management and its life cycle. It groups all projects into four generic types, all of which occur in the aviation industry. Those are civil engineering and construction projects, manufacturing projects, projects associated with management change and new IT systems, and projects for pure scientific research. In business projects the hopes and wishes will undoubtedly include the realization of strategic, financial and operational benefits. The purpose of project management is to visualize all the activities that lie along the path to successful project completion, and then to plan, organize and control those activities so that the project is completed successfully in spite of many hazards and risks. The book introduces many different project stakeholders but it is convenient and necessary here to introduce four key players in the project life cycle. These are: customer, contractor, end-user, and project manager.
