In most industries, standard methods of problem solving have been developed. For example, if you want to build a road from point A to point B and there's a stream in between, you build a standard type of bridge. Human nature tends toward the familiar. If that type of bridge was built many times before, all parties will tend towards duplicating the previous … [Read more...]
Project Management is like fixing a car - you must break it down into parts. You won't find the problem if you can't isolate the defective part, and you can't fix the problem if the defective part is not separated from the main engine. A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) represents this division of a project into constituent tasks. It is a tabular or … [Read more...]
Scope issues are the #1 reason for project failure. A scope management plan is the component of the project management plan that describes how the scope will be defined, developed, monitored, controlled and validated (Project Management Body of Knowledge, 6th Edition). The core of the scope management plan is the project scope statement. However, the other items … [Read more...]
I was once part of a project which went behind schedule and over budget. In response the project manager asked the project team to come up with reasons why the project was late. Naturally the team produced several reasons, and a change in schedule and budget was approved. Everything sounded like it was back on track. This dance happens countless … [Read more...]
Active project risk management is a concept that has been growing momentum as of late. Project managers are expected to know the risks inherent in their projects and give them the appropriate level of scrutiny. Risk is defined by the Project Management Institute as an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on one or more … [Read more...]
Risk is defined as: An uncertain event or condition that if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on a Project's Objectives (PMBOK). The effect of uncertainty on objectives (ISO 31000). The possibility that something bad or unpleasant will happen (Miriam-Webster) Risk planning is the process of identifying, prioritizing, and managing risk. Every … [Read more...]
The Project Management Institute's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a very structured, analytical outline of a somewhat abstract topic. Using it to manage projects is like trying to enjoy a play by reading the script. Although the relevant information is there, it is difficult to put into practice without external training. To that end, I … [Read more...]
Tacit knowledge is that which is not codified and transferable through written or oral language, for example personal experience. It is the opposite of explicit knowledge which is learned and can be repeated. Tacit knowledge is held by human beings; It is more difficult to obtain than explicit knowledge but has more value. Tacit knowledge is business … [Read more...]
You have a malfunction. Or your project ran into problems. Or your plant's production has fallen. There could be one main reason, or several reasons for the negative event. There could be a chain of events which was initiated by a root cause. How do you decipher the complex web of events which culminated in the negative outcome? You need a … [Read more...]
A business case is the justification an organization uses for making a decision or undertaking an initiative. Its format can range anywhere from a formal report to an informal presentation or memo. Business cases are the foundation upon which all business is built. New capital projects, process improvement initiatives, growth strategies, and the like are all … [Read more...]
