To manage projects effectively, they need to be divided into work packages. This allows you to focus on the smaller tasks at hand and how they relate to one another, which makes the whole project more manageable. It forms the basic building blocks for planning, controlling and measuring project performance. Estimating the project cost and completion dates depends on … [Read more...]
A few years ago I was part of a project which involved replacing a bridge over an irrigation canal. Because the canal authority shut off the water when winter set in and turned it back on in the spring, winter was a perfect time to build this bridge. We wrote penalties into the construction contract if the contractor held up the irrigation authority's ability to turn the … [Read more...]
I was once part of a project which went behind schedule and over budget. The project manager asked the project team, which included me, to come up with reasons why the project was late. Naturally the team produced several reasons, and a scope change request, along with a new budget was sent to the client. Everything sounded like it was back on track. This sequence of … [Read more...]
So you want to learn about project management, but have been putting it off into the "one day" basket? Or maybe you're already familiar with project management techniques and would like to brush up on your skills. In either case, you're not alone. You've come to the right place. A few months ago I was having lunch with an old colleague who told me he wanted to be … [Read more...]
Have you ever considered the risks to your project's successful completion during the planning stages of your project? If not, I would suggest it is a highly beneficial exercise to help you grow in your project management career. A Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS) is an organized way of categorizing the risks to a project. According to the Project Management Institute's … [Read more...]
A project manager has to wear many hats these days. Like a hard hat, for example. There are many skills required to ensure the timely completion of projects that meet all of the success criteria. Depending on the project type, size and complexity, some roles are more important than others. The following lists some of the roles a project manager plays. Problem … [Read more...]
In project management, identifying risks to a project is a primary part of risk management. When brainstorming for risks that affect a project, a checklist is an invaluable tool. To that end, I will post the following list of risks. I don't anticipate it will include everything (maybe your office will be hit by a meteor shower!), so I anticipate you should use other … [Read more...]
Project managers need to wear alot of hats these days. Leader, manager, facilitator, negotiator, and the list goes on. The project management profession is changing at a rapid pace. It's safe to say it's still in its infancy and is slowly finding a place in the corporate world. But here are some of the biggest trends of the last few years: Managing virtual … [Read more...]
If I asked you how far behind your project was, could you tell me in quantitative terms? Most people know the basic status of various tasks: "Well, that report was a week behind and Johnny should've finished his analysis by yesterday." But that's not good enough. Project management standards dictate that the project manager knows how far behind (or ahead) the … [Read more...]
If I told you to change a light bulb and you had two hours to do it, you would probably spend most of the two hours. You'd assume I thought you needed to go the store, or that I wanted it done a certain way, and that I've thought hard enough about it that you should take the two hours. In project management, this human phenomenon, that work tends to fit into the space … [Read more...]
