Home » Business & Work » Business » Business Ethics

Learn Simple Project Management

Ranked #3,350 in Business & Work, #118,162 overall

Project Management Can Be Easy!

Despite the popular belief that project management is a difficult skill, the truth is that basically it is simple. So simple that children can, and do, manage projects. The problem with project management is that the working environment imposes complexity upon the project. This often makes the management more difficult. In order to understand project management, and why it is perceived to be difficult, you must learn about simple project management. This is a concept that starts from the most elementary project tasks and explains these as a foundation. Only when the basis of project management is fully understood should the project manager attempt to handle the more complicated aspects of project management.

If you truly analyze many projects that have had trouble, you may find that they became bogged down in complexity. Perhaps they were trying to implement a plan that was used before but was overly specific. Perhaps the requirements were overstated. There is nothing wrong with a project paring down the work to the basics. After all, the goal of all projects should be to completed successfully. Complexity can be brought in by subsequent phases of a project or by additional projects.

Introduction to Simple Project Management

Children should start here

Simple project management triple constraintsSimple project management is an easy concept. Children can understand the basics easily. Adults quickly lose track of the simple concept and become mired in complexity. Start with the following simple project management ideas:


  • Scope - what work will be performed?
  • Schedule - when will the work be finished?
  • Cost - who will do the work

That is all there is for simple project management.

Scope - what work will be performed

The simplest part of a project

Simple Project Management ScopeScope is often a major problem in projects but it is actually the easiest concept. Or it should be. The simple project management view of scope is:

  • What is the project going to do?
  • How are we going to do it?
  • How do we know when it is done?

If you can't answer those questions, then you haven't done a good job with the project. These are mainly planning steps. A project is a temporary effort that a team, (of 1 or more), will do. Each project hasn't been done exactly like this before. "Knowing when the project is done" is still a planning step. Consider that the project will build a new web site. Here is the simple project management scope, now expanded:

  • What is the project going to do?

    • The team will build a web site
    • The web site will provide advice to photographers
    • A gallery of photographs will be displayed

  • How are we going to do it?

    • We are going to use a web content management system
    • Our company did a similar web site for painting

  • How do we know when it is done?

    • The web site will be displayed to international users
    • Each page will display properly
    • The company president will receive a report showing the site usage during the first week.

Schedule - when will the work be finished

Another simple concept

Simple Project Management ScheduleThe schedule is often a difficult project aspect to manage but it shouldn't be. There are only two things to consider: does the project have to be completed on a certain day, (like Thanksgiving), or is it finished when all of the work is done? Having a set completion date is likely easier. No extensions are possible, so don't ask for one. The other case lets people hope for schedule extensions to cover for project task problems. The project manager simply has to keep making sure that the scope can be completed in the required time. Keep the project from having to do more tasks than the minimum necessary. Each time a new task is specified, the project manager should defer the task to a later project or obtain permission to include it in the current project. Often the most difficult part of the project manager's job is to prevent extra work from being added to the project.

Is this lens helpful?

This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.

Add this to your lens »

Simple Project Management Plan

Get it in writing

The project plan is a description of the project scope, schedule and cost. It documents what will be done, by whom and when. The project plan is the document that the project manager uses to get the authority to proceed. It should be signed by the highest person in the company who hasan interest in the project results. This will be dependent on the size of the project, of course. A small project to improve a particular item might have a light plan and may be authorized by a junior company manager. A major project that requires a lot of people, equipment and money will need to have a fully specified plan that is authorized by a company executive. Other projects fall in between these extremes. Project managers should start with the basic three project principles and have these fully specified in the project plan:

  • What is the project going to do?
  • How are we going to do it?
  • How do we know when it is done?

When you discuss the project plan with the team and the company management, you may need to expand the plan in each of these areas. There may be a section of the plan that handles additional scope items. There may be a risk section to handle delays that are encountered. There may be a quality section that specifies how task completion is verified. These are aspects of a project that must be addresses but which are not part of the simple project management approach.

Project Plannning Materials on Amazon

Get the help that you need

Loading

Projects are all about communication

Add your communications here

  • agoofyidea Aug 16, 2011 @ 2:03 pm | delete
    A nice way to explain project management. Great lens.
  • Jamed May 23, 2011 @ 9:20 am | delete
    Great informative lens.Project management is a difficult skill, basically it is simple.Thanks for sharing. Project Management Services
  • wikiAnswer Jan 5, 2011 @ 2:51 am | delete
    You are invited to write & share you articles on our dofollow link website. http://wiki-answer.org
  • Sojourn Dec 31, 2010 @ 4:30 pm | delete
    I could not have performed my previous job nor could I run my current business without at least some basic project management skills. Which reminds me that I need to help my kids understand how these skills could help them with things like chores, homework, and other responsibilities. Good tips!
  • Phillyfreeze69 Dec 30, 2010 @ 11:52 pm | delete
    I enjoyed seeing the graphs that accompanied this very interesting article. The medical facility that I work at just completed a building project(October 2010) 5 buildings on a 20 acre site.
    Because it is a medical facility there are still sub contractors on campus adding the interior finishes and various medical equipment. The rigorous regulations has delayed some residents from being admitted. Project management is quite interesting when you can see the process unfold on a daily basis for 2 years.
  • Load More
Show All

by

javrsmith

I am a PMP project manager with additional certifications in procurement, interviewing and contract management. My background is in computer technology... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags