As a management discipline, Project Management has evolved in order to enable managers to successfully plan, coordinate and control the often complex and diverse activities of modern industrial and commercial projects. Projects can range from organising a company's move into new premises to such activities as the building of a multimillion dollar petrochemical plant, the development of a new hotel complex, or the implementation of a new computer system.

The ability to manage projects is an essential skill which major employers expect their senior and middle managers to possess. As a guide to the importance of the subject, Project Management now forms part of many MSc and postgraduate programmes.