Project Management - The Easy Way
Ranked #31,156 in Business & Work, #464,459 overall | Donates to Squidoo Charity Fund
Managing Projects Successfully (and easily...)
Great overview of project management for business people, vice presidents and managers. Plus lots of handy tips for anyone who's tasked with delivering more results with less resources ...
Insider tips for budding and experienced project managers alike.
For more detailed help and tips, please register for my free teleseminar series.
Insider tips for budding and experienced project managers alike.
For more detailed help and tips, please register for my free teleseminar series.
The Bare Bones
So what is project management?
There are lots of different definitions, but basically project management is all about successfully achieving certain specified results within given parameters.
Parameters?
Otherwise known as the Project Management Triangle:
* Time
* Cost
* Quality
As any experienced project manager would say to their client:
"Time, cost, quality: Pick two!"
The reality is that on large complex projects, and even on small straightforward ones, things often don't go as planned. It doesn't mean you can't deliver, it just means that in one of those key parameters you need a little leeway.
So if your contractor is delayed by bad weather for example, can you handle a short delay (or make it up elsewhere)? could you spend more money on a waterproof awning so they can stay on time? or could you compromise on the quality of finish they might get if they proceed despite the weather? It all depends on what the priorities are on the project.
So tip number 1 from your Project Manager Mentor: Find out your client's top priorities, and where the leeway is in the project management triangle
There are lots of different definitions, but basically project management is all about successfully achieving certain specified results within given parameters.
Parameters?
Otherwise known as the Project Management Triangle:
* Time
* Cost
* Quality
As any experienced project manager would say to their client:
"Time, cost, quality: Pick two!"
The reality is that on large complex projects, and even on small straightforward ones, things often don't go as planned. It doesn't mean you can't deliver, it just means that in one of those key parameters you need a little leeway.
So if your contractor is delayed by bad weather for example, can you handle a short delay (or make it up elsewhere)? could you spend more money on a waterproof awning so they can stay on time? or could you compromise on the quality of finish they might get if they proceed despite the weather? It all depends on what the priorities are on the project.
So tip number 1 from your Project Manager Mentor: Find out your client's top priorities, and where the leeway is in the project management triangle
Where on Earth to Start?!
I've been through this particular baptism of fire a number of times, and it honestly does get easier. The key is to stay proactive and resist the temptation to get drawn completely into 'doing' before you've finished 'planning'. Yes, there are decisions to be made straight away, meetings to run and stakeholders to get on board - but don't let that draw you into a cycle of being reactive.
That old adage is never more true than at the start of a project:
Fail to plan, plan to fail.
Tip 2: Plan your project and how you will manage it successfully.
There are full details and a handy template in my E-book, email me to get the full details. However for a quick summary try the list below:
* What is the purpose of the project?
* What are the drivers? (why?)
* What are the top level measures? (Budget, timeframe, required quality standard)
* How will it be achieved? (methodology)
* How will we know when we've finished?
* Who approves completion?
Tip 3: make sure you know the 'What' and 'Why', get agreement and approval and agreement from the client THEN get into 'How'
(If you've got the What or Why even slightly off, it can dramatically change the How; so save yourself some time and effort and get them right FIRST)
That old adage is never more true than at the start of a project:
Fail to plan, plan to fail.
Tip 2: Plan your project and how you will manage it successfully.
There are full details and a handy template in my E-book, email me to get the full details. However for a quick summary try the list below:
* What is the purpose of the project?
* What are the drivers? (why?)
* What are the top level measures? (Budget, timeframe, required quality standard)
* How will it be achieved? (methodology)
* How will we know when we've finished?
* Who approves completion?
Tip 3: make sure you know the 'What' and 'Why', get agreement and approval and agreement from the client THEN get into 'How'
(If you've got the What or Why even slightly off, it can dramatically change the How; so save yourself some time and effort and get them right FIRST)
OK, What Next?
You've got the plan, you've got sign-off to proceed ...now what?
If you're familar with Kolb's cycle of learning, you'll be familiar with one of the basic tenets of good project management:
Plan what you're going to do
Do it
Review it
Learn from it
(repeat...)
It sounds simple enough, yet with the vast array of decisions and interactions you have going on when you're managing a project, you can lose sight of this. So when you feel yourself getting too reactive and 'out of control', close your office door and take 10 minutes to review and reflect. It works wonders (that's Tip 4)
For any project you need to ensure you've got adequate controls set up for everything. so as well as time, cost and quality, think about how you're going to plan and manage:
* Risk
* Changes
* Communication (client and all stakeholders; remember sign-offs and escalation procedures)
* Documentation (yes filing's boring, but try working off the wrong draft of drawings and you'll soon see why it's so vital)
Make a plan for each of these (to a level of detail appropriate to the size and complexity of your project), then implement, review, learn ... repeat
Tip 5: I always found that the 1/2 day or so I spent putting a monthly report together for the client was incredibly useful for me. A great discipline to really sit down and review the whole project. Sometimes you can lose that big picture view when you're tied up in all the day-to-day stuff. (If you're wondering what to put in the report, there's a template in my E-book)
Tips 6+ : Keep on keeping on. Focus on success, motivate your team, keep communicating, keep on top of all your management controls, stay in control. Make decisions promptly, bring issues out into the open and resolve them promptly. Document important stuff ...
Then last, but by no means least - close the project professionally. Once the project is finished, tie up all the loose ends, review the project and formalise project closure with the client. Sometimes it is appropriate to do a post implementation review some time after closure, as the benefits created by the project may be longer term in nature.
Then it's definitely time to say all your thank yous and throw a party!
Plan what you're going to do
Do it
Review it
Learn from it
(repeat...)
It sounds simple enough, yet with the vast array of decisions and interactions you have going on when you're managing a project, you can lose sight of this. So when you feel yourself getting too reactive and 'out of control', close your office door and take 10 minutes to review and reflect. It works wonders (that's Tip 4)
For any project you need to ensure you've got adequate controls set up for everything. so as well as time, cost and quality, think about how you're going to plan and manage:
* Risk
* Changes
* Communication (client and all stakeholders; remember sign-offs and escalation procedures)
* Documentation (yes filing's boring, but try working off the wrong draft of drawings and you'll soon see why it's so vital)
Make a plan for each of these (to a level of detail appropriate to the size and complexity of your project), then implement, review, learn ... repeat
Tip 5: I always found that the 1/2 day or so I spent putting a monthly report together for the client was incredibly useful for me. A great discipline to really sit down and review the whole project. Sometimes you can lose that big picture view when you're tied up in all the day-to-day stuff. (If you're wondering what to put in the report, there's a template in my E-book)
Tips 6+ : Keep on keeping on. Focus on success, motivate your team, keep communicating, keep on top of all your management controls, stay in control. Make decisions promptly, bring issues out into the open and resolve them promptly. Document important stuff ...
Then last, but by no means least - close the project professionally. Once the project is finished, tie up all the loose ends, review the project and formalise project closure with the client. Sometimes it is appropriate to do a post implementation review some time after closure, as the benefits created by the project may be longer term in nature.
Then it's definitely time to say all your thank yous and throw a party!
I'd love to get your feedback ...
-
-
lifecycleplan
Apr 2, 2010 @ 10:59 am | delete
- Now I know the easy way of project management
-
-
-
producingownprojectlifestyle
Mar 29, 2010 @ 10:36 pm | delete
- In Managing projects, needs to know different aspects in order to success. Thanks for your lens, maybe someday I'm one of the successful project manager.
-
-
-
aubreylaccel
Mar 24, 2010 @ 9:56 am | delete
- Thanks for such a nice and helpful lens.
-
-
-
lheannedale
Mar 24, 2010 @ 12:55 am | delete
- You really have a very nice lens. Very nice content about Project Management. Thanks for such a nice lens.
-
-
-
hannvss
Mar 21, 2010 @ 9:34 am | delete
- I have here about project plan software. By the way 5 star for your lens. I like it. Kinda interesting.
-
- Load More
My favourite books
(I really must get out more ....)
Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom by William Glasser
Dr. William Glasser offers a new psychology that, if more...0 points
TRUE PROFESSIONALISM : The Courage to Care About Your People, Your Clients, and Your Career by David H. Maister
Professional firms are forever trying to get their more...0 points
Habit 3 - Time Management Matrix or Quadrants - Teens (English Text) - Wall Clock from THE 7 HABITS - CLOCK COLLECTION by WatchBuddy Timepieces (Black Frame)
THE 7 HABITS CLOCK COLLECTION by WatchBuddy® Timepieces more...0 points
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Foundational Principles
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Foundation more...0 points
Netflix Movies
The Netflix module has been phased out. You should edit your lens and try adding an Amazon module instead!Travel Deals
I've always fancied going to San Fran ... one day!
by Jo_Murphy
Hello world!
Two hats but only one head... hmm.
First - I'm a professional coach and thrive on helping managers and project managers get great r...
more »
- 2 featured lenses
- Winner of 5 trophies!
- Top lens » Culture Change in Business
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Dealing with Difficult People ... Dealing with Difficult People ...
- The 60 Day Squidoo Challenge: Make a Supplemental Income On Squidoo In 60 Days Or Less! The 60 Day Squidoo Challenge: Make a Supplemental Income On Squidoo In 60 Days Or Less!
- How to get my 60 PMI PDUs for PMP Certification Renewal? How to get my 60 PMI PDUs for PMP Certification Renewal?
- FIFA manager 2012 PC FIFA manager 2012 PC
- Leadership Skills What Are They What Is Leadership? Leadership Skills What Are They What Is Leadership?
- Management Audio Books Management Audio Books
