Day 4: Generate a Project Schedule
In my industry, timelines are rarely met. I would guess that 20% of all projects meet their original completion dates. And yet, it is one of the most, if not the most, important criteria specified by the various levels of government when measuring project performance. (If anyone in the highways....
Day 3: Create a Work Breakdown Structure
To manage projects effectively, they need to be divided into work packages. This allows you to focus on the smaller tasks at hand and how they relate to one another, which makes the whole project more manageable. It forms the basic building blocks for planning, controlling and measuring project performance. ....
Day 2: Define Project Success
A few years ago I was part of a project which involved replacing a bridge over an irrigation canal. Because the canal authority shut off the water when winter set in and turned it back on in the spring, winter was a perfect time to build this bridge. We wrote....
Day 1: Create a Scope Statement
I was once part of a project which went behind schedule and over budget. The project manager asked the project team, which included me, to come up with reasons why the project was late. Naturally the team produced several reasons, and a scope change request, along with a new budget....
10 Days to Become a Better Project Manager
So you want to learn about project management, but have been putting it off into the "one day" basket? Or maybe you're already familiar with project management techniques and would like to brush up on your skills. In either case, you're not alone. You've come to the right place. A....
Do you need a Risk Breakdown Structure?
Have you ever considered the risks to your project's successful completion during the planning stages of your project? If not, I would suggest it is a highly beneficial exercise to help you grow in your project management career. A Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS) is an organized way of categorizing the....
The 14 Most Important Roles of the Project Manager
A project manager has to wear many hats these days. Like a hard hat, for example. There are many skills required to ensure the timely completion of projects that meet all of the success criteria. Depending on the project type, size and complexity, some roles are more important than others.....
Checklists of Potential Project Risks
In project management, identifying risks to a project is a primary part of risk management. When brainstorming for risks that affect a project, a checklist is an invaluable tool. To that end, I will post the following list of risks. I don't anticipate it will include everything (maybe your office....
Current Trends in Project Management
Project managers need to wear alot of hats these days. Leader, manager, facilitator, negotiator, and the list goes on. The project management profession is changing at a rapid pace. It's safe to say it's still in its infancy and is slowly finding a place in the corporate world. But here....
Use Earned Value Management to Move Projects Forward
If I asked you how far behind your project was, could you tell me in quantitative terms? Most people know the basic status of various tasks: "Well, that report was a week behind and Johnny should've finished his analysis by yesterday." But that's not good enough. Project management standards dictate....
