Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work. ~ Peter Drucker The contents of a project plan document is not a mystery to a project manager. In the past, I’ve focused on the problem statement, scope statement, and deliverables related to projects. You can find that article here. Here, I’m going to answer the question – what else do I put […]
Today we have a guest post from a friend of mine. Gianna Lucarelli is in 8th grade at Sierra Middle School in Parker, Colorado. She’s getting organized – the first step in Project Management. Here are her views on time management and getting organized. Some people have trouble staying neat and organized. Making goals and plans, organizing possessions, school life, and personal factors are all […]
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 […]
Team execution is vital Whether you’re a small business with a small group of employees, or a manager in a large organization there are always a few initiatives that need a team to complete. How do you help the team be successful? Here are a few tips to improve team execution. Define the deliverable For many teams, the main barrier to execution is the lack […]
If your organization keeps good project history archives, you have the inside track on how to plan a new project and what to avoid. But what about the “Lessons Learned?” How are they different from project history? Project history and archives If you’ve got project history and archives available, they should contain all the documentation that was created for the completed project. Those documents include the […]
Building teams is a critical skill for any project manager. Once the team is built, it’s important to keep the team’s productivity high. Here are several suggestions for helping to increase your team’s productivity and manage their workflow. Keep meetings to a minimum Meetings are necessary and universally hated. But just because no one admits they like meetings doesn’t mean they don’t have a purpose. Ask […]
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 […]
With all the marketing hype and material out there, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest software tools. Many of these tools can make a big difference in your business, streamlining processes and maybe even bringing in more revenue. How does a busy business owner know whether or not a tool will help, or just drain the life out of your limited human […]
Anyone that has been a project manager for any length of time has heard of Lessons Learned. The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines Lessons Learned on page 544 of the PMBOK Fifth Edition: The knowledge gained during a project which shows how project events were addressed or should be addressed in the future with the purpose of improving future performance.” PMP Exam tip In fact, if you […]
No matter our profession, there are always some aspects of the work that we don’t like. Here’s my list today. Unrealistic management expectations In my career, I’ve had some great managers who are pretty savvy about what can get done and what can’t. Unfortunately, they are outweighed by the folks that seem to have no clue what’s possible and by when. I don’t like working with […]
