As project managers, our management likes insight into what the team is doing. There are many different ways to accomplish this including your project plan and all its specific plans, meetings with the managers to status the project, and schedules. One method that is very popular is the use of Gantt charts. A visual depiction A Gantt chart is a visual depiction of your schedule. […]
In day-to-day life and work, we often don’t put much thought into what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. I want to pause for a moment to review why, exactly, I love project management. Projects End “Some things are better done than described.” ~ Hunt and Thomas For me, Operations tasks are a never-ending bore. Once I’ve mastered something, continuing to do it seems […]
A critical component of the project is the project management plan. We’ve talked about developing a project management plan and schedule: Project planning – problems, scope, and deliverables, and Scheduling tips and techniques. There’s even a post on developing schedules so they display well on Gantt charts: Tips for developing a Gantt chart. Occasionally, there is a bit of confusion about what a Gantt chart is and how it […]
Project management is all about solving problems and delivering results. When your manager comes to you with a project proposal, it’s because there’s a business issue that needs resolution. Part of the job of a project manager is to define that problem so that it is solvable, then develop the plan, the schedules, and handle the deliverables. It all starts with the problem statement. As […]
In a good mood, you arrive in the office with your coffee and a spring in your step. You acknowledge your coworkers as you make your way to your desk. In your email, there’s a message from your boss requesting a meeting. Your coworker’s Project X is not on track and the boss wants you to do project recovery. Your co-worker has been reassigned to […]
In Monday morning’s team meeting, project manager A is asking the team for status. The Quality Manager notes that they are 75% done with testing. PM A nods and makes a note. Perhaps she asks if testing will meet their dates. The Quality Manager says Yes. PM A moves on. But does she really know if testing will meet their dates? How many meetings like […]
Now that winter is nearly over, folks are starting to think about those home improvement projects that they want to do over the summer. So, while staring at the blizzard outside, here’s a quick primer on using project management techniques for your home projects. Know your outcome Before you get started, know what you want to accomplish. If it’s painting the house, imagine what the […]
If you’re a project manager for a small company, you have a unique set of job-related issues. You’re probably the only person managing projects and may have responsibilities for several different types of projects – marketing, internal processes, or customer product development. Here are a few tips to make your job a bit easier. Get systems in place One of the biggest challenges small companies […]
It’s a new year and everyone seems to be getting back to work. New project assignments are going out, and it’s time to start building teams. How do you make sure the team you get is the team that can get the job done? Assess the team needs of the project Working with the sponsor, the project manager develops a charter – the description of […]
Whenever I start a new project, my first question to the sponsor or client is “What does project success look like?” I can tell a great deal about how the project is going to go from the answer. Here are a few examples: “I’ll know it when I see it.” I’m immediately skeptical. If a sponsor or customer cannot articulate what exactly they want after […]
