Us humans are predisposed to want free stuff. In the universe of project management, where budgets are tight and timelines are tighter, there exists an underutilized resource that can significantly boost productivity, morale, and project outcomes: humanity's undying love for free stuff. Yes, you heard that right. The same principle that makes us dive into the depths … [Read more...]
The project plan is like the flight plan filed by a pilot prior to embarking on a journey. It communicates how the project will attempt to reach its destination. The project plan is the strategy that will be used to produce the project's products, services, or results. It is written in sufficient detail to communicate to executives and stakeholders how the project … [Read more...]
If there's one cosmic law every project manager should engrave on their whiteboard, it's the Pareto Principle, or as it's more commonly known, the 80/20 Rule. This principle, named after Vilfredo Pareto, suggests that approximately 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. For project managers, this isn't just a theory; it's a strategy for survival in the chaotic galaxy … [Read more...]
Project managers wear many hats, but perhaps none is more crucial than being the catalyst for productivity. In an era where efficiency is king, understanding how to boost productivity isn't just beneficial; it's essential for project success. But it's more than that. It's about creating systems that are productive, that is, creating an organizational structure where … [Read more...]
Project scope issues are the number one reason for unhappy clients and customers. Human nature is such that unauthorized tasks will always tend to slip into a project unannounced, thus project scope management is just as important as the more visible aspects of project management like scheduling and budgeting. Hence, it is the project manager's job to actively manage … [Read more...]
You've probably been there. A project manager gets a weekly report that shows the project's time and expenses, and it's a little too high. The project hasn't advanced as far as its expenses have. Someone, somewhere has introduced inefficiencies that now need to be addressed. This is scope creep, the unauthorized inclusion of unplanned work into a project. Scope … [Read more...]
In project management, like most things in life, there is no free lunch. If you want to finish sooner, you will have to cut the project scope. If you want lower costs, you have to cut expenses. If you want higher quality, you have to pay more. This constant tug of war is called the Triple Constraint, also known as the Project Management Triangle, or the Iron … [Read more...]
Like termites that build their invisible kingdoms secretly and slowly, projects have a similar parasite that grows under the surface until it suddenly exposes itself with disastrous consequences. It's called scope creep, and it has eaten many projects alive. Scope creep is the unauthorized addition of tasks into a project. If the project manager is not on the lookout, … [Read more...]
Generally speaking, the scope of a project should not change. However, in the real world scope change is difficult to eliminate altogether. Inevitably the presence of many interrelated moving parts means that the initial project estimate and the final project cost (or deadline) are rarely the same. Scope change can be authorized or unauthorized. The latter is often … [Read more...]
A Project Deliverable is a product or service that a project produces for its customer, client, or project sponsor. It is the product or service that the project "delivers" to its stakeholders. It can be tangible or intangible, for example, a contractor who is hired to provide a training course provides the course itself back to their client as the project's … [Read more...]
