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The
Nuts & Bolts of Project Management
We specialize
in assisting corporate and government clients in learning to improve their
productivity while planning and executing projects.
Our three-phase approach yields faster more efficient project initiation,
planning and execution results.
We also offer a one-day class on Microsoft Project 2000TM for
users wanting to improve their productivity in using the software.
We offer this free newsletter that is
distributed monthly via email. To subscribe, click on the link below.
To
Subscribe To The Free Newsletter, Click Here
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Greetings,
During
the next 12 issues we will be focusing on the processes of project
management we teach in our courses. Each month we will delve into a specific
step in the phases of Initiation, Planning and Execution of projects. Our
methodology is applicable to any project in any industry.
As in many areas of human endeavor, understanding
and practicing basics is essential in achieving success. The basics are
often so simple we overlook them but they are at the core of the
discipline.
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· What Is A Project?
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 Projects have:
· Clear Beginnings and Definite Ends
· Specific Deliverables
· Limited Resources
· Formal Leadership
· A Clear Business Case
Remove any one of these items and the endeavor is not a project. It is
something else.
Projects
are about change. Something will be different when the project is done.
When a project is completed it typically is handed off to the operating
group.
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· The Triple Constraints
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Projects are bound by Time, Scope (aka Quality) and Resources (People,
Money, Supplies). The project manager must establish early on with the
sponsor the priorities of these constraints. There are three strategies
in dealing with the triple constraints.
Strategy
One Analyze Customer Requirements, Schedule, and Resources.
Then try to balance the constraints.
Strategy Two
Determine which constraint is least flexible and develop strategies
around that constraint.
Strategy Three
Determine that all three constraints are inflexible and accept that you
will experience difficulties.
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· What is Project Management?
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 Project Management
(PM) is the structured and repeatable application of
· Widely- accepted best practices
· Learnable skills
· Analytical and communication tools and
techniques
· Repeatable processes regardless of
project type
PM
combines science and art. We use objective measurements and subjective
judgments.
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· Project Phases
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 There are three
distinct phases in managing a project:
· Initiation
· Planning
· Execution
Typically,
in 'construction' projects, they must occur sequentially. In 'information
work' projects, they are occurring simultaneously.
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· The Five People Skills
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 A successful
project manager possesses the five essential skills of
· Effective Communicator
· Team Builder
· Meeting Manager
· Negotiator
· Problem Solver
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· Summary
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