Projects and project management represent the future of organizations across the planet and are at the heart of implementing organizations' goals (Pinto & Kharbanda, 1995).
In order to understand the oncept of project management, it is necessary to comprehend the concept of project. The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines a project as a temporary effort undertaken to create a unique product, service or result (PMI, 2017). These deliverables can take various forms such as: a new product, achievement of a strategic objective, improvement of processes, exploration of a new market, modification of an existing product or service, development of new processes, among others (PMI, 2017).
In this context, project management reflects the use of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques in the activities of a project in order to satisfy the requirements of the project. It is project management that allows projects to be carried out effectively and efficiently, making it, therefore, a unique challenge that requires its own strategies and methodologies (Pinto & Kharbanda, 1995).
The high rate of change in technology and the market (Kerzner, 2009), the changing characteristics of contemporary society (Belzer, 2001; Meredith & Mantel, 2009), consumer expectations (Meredith & Mantel, 2009; Turner, 1999) , the need for multifunctional knowledge (Pinto & Kharbanda, 1995), the expansion of human knowledge and the growing competitiveness of world markets (Meredith & Mantel, 2009) caused enormous tensions in the existing organizational forms (Kerzner, 2009), requiring the development of new management methods (Belzer, 2001; Meredith & Mantel, 2009) and more sophisticated systems to control processes and results (Meredith & Mantel, 2009).
The traditional, highly bureaucratic structure does not allow organizations to respond quickly to a changing environment. Therefore, organizations tend to replace this traditional structure with a dynamic and organic structure such as project management, in order to provide quicker responses to possible situations with an internal or external origin to the organization (Kerzner, 2009).
In this sense, FLM Têxtil has been investing in project management, as a powerful tool in terms of achieving the objectives and maximum satisfaction of its customers, allowing it to work in an agile and effective way on the different needs of customers reflected in the form of project.
The company's management challenges its employees to present both the problems they face on a daily basis, as well as proposals for solutions in the form of a project. This mind set allows each employee to get involved and commit to the company's overview. In addition, it allows employees to acquire fundamental skills for the company's success, such as leadership and communication.
In the last month, several projects received the "ok" from the administration and are being managed and implemented by project teams made up of volunteer employees.
The project management knowledge area has been an ally in achieving the company's strategic objectives and vision. Allowing FLM Têxtil to act proactively, and not reactively, in the face of the constraints of an international market in constant change and evolution.
by Elisa Tinoco
