Contractor Selection Methods

Selecting a contractor is one of the most difficult aspects of project management.  It's why most large organizations have an entire department devoted to project procurement. Contractors all want the work, but how do you know they aren't too busy and will get to your project later than you'd like....

Types of Contracts

The procurement side of project management can be daunting.  Contractual issues are routinely some of the biggest and most expensive problems that require solving, and the parties are often very passionate about their case. Almost without fail, the common theme is that the issue could have been addressed at the....

The Components of a Procurement Management Plan

A procurement management plan documents how a project will conduct its procurement (purchasing).  In the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), it is the component of the overall Project Management Plan that deals with external purchasing for the project. It is separate from the statement of work (SOW), also....

The Procurement Process

Procurement can be one of the most challenging roads that the project manager must travel.  The legal implications, documentation, and vendor and supplier management responsibilities can introduce speed bumps that can have a significant impact on project success.  We know, because we've been there. In short, project procurement can make....

Guide to Project Procurement Management

Due to expertise or resource constraints, many projects require external resources to complete their work.  These resources can come from either the project's parent organization or from external sources.  But regardless of how they are obtained, project procurement is one of the most exciting areas of project management but also....

PRINCE2’s Quality Management Approach

The Quality Management Approach specifies the methods the project will use to ensure quality in its end product.  This includes specifying the quality standards the project will aim for, measurements to determine whether or not that standard has been achieved, and quality audits to find areas for process improvement. Composition....

9 Parts of an Effective Project Status Report

Projects are by definition temporary, that is, they have a defined beginning and end.  For this reason, the project schedule is almost always a major factor in project success. It also means that project stakeholders want to be updated on the status regularly, to ascertain whether the project is on....

Guide to Project Resource Management

One of the most important jobs of the project manager is that of project resource management.  Like a carpenter using a saw, like a pilot landing an airplane, like a programmer writing code, ask any project manager and they will tell you that managing the project resources is the day....

8 Functions of Project Management Information Systems

A Project Management Information System (PMIS) is one or more software tools used for a project's information storage and distribution. There are many types of PMIS, and equally diverse ways of applying these types of systems for optimal benefit to the organization. The components of a project management information system....

How to Give a Stunning Project Presentation

Many projects require a presentation, whether at the beginning, end, or somewhere in the middle.  Sometimes it is given to the managers or executives, sometimes to the project team, and sometimes to stakeholders who have a specific interest in the project. Project presentations can be very nerve racking and difficult....