Project Management Articles Offer Time-Saving Tips and Techniques
SELECT ARTICLE CATEGORY: PROJECT MANAGEMENT IT MANAGEMENT GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Our
project management articles are organized according to the five
primary phases of the fast track process.
Selection: Proposing
and selecting winning projects.
Definition: Defining projects for stakeholder
acceptance.
Governance: Planning projects for fast track
execution.
Oversight: Managing project progress and
problems.
Review: Evaluating projects for lessons
learned.
See: Fast Track Model Overview Fast Track Project Toolkit
SELECTION PHASE ARTICLES
Evaluating Project Proposals
Every project begins with a proposal, but not every proposal can or
should become a project. In a world of limited resources,
choices have to be made.
more
Dig Deep for
Project Requirements
Every project should begin with an approved requirements
specification. But requirements rarely present themselves.
more
Acknowledge the
Driving Force: Motivations Behind the Project
Underlying motivations will drive any project, including the
interests of the initiating party, the stated need of the
project, as well as the potential involvement of company politics.
more
Project-Speak
Series: Planning for Project Deliverables
On the surface, "deliverable"* looks like just another fancy word
for the end result of a project. Until you look deeper.
more
How Big is Your
Project? Project Sizing Standards and Practices
Projects come in all types and sizes - and when it comes to
management tactics and strategies - one size does not fit all.
more
Risk Management
Series: Identifying Project Risks
Every project involves some degree of risk ("nothing ventured,
nothing gained...."), but that risk can be controlled with some
careful analysis, planning and communication.
more
Four Steps to
Realistic Budgets
How much will your next project cost? That is probably one of
the most difficult questions every project manager will face.
more
Estimating and
Tracking Project Costs
Project cost management can be the most complicated, political, (and
potentially tedious) element of the project management process.
more
Performing the
Status Quo Analysis (The Cost of Doing Nothing)
When projects are proposed, there are two instant alternatives - do
the project or don't. If the project is rejected, the status
quo is maintained.
more
Issues and
Options for Optimized Project Outsourcing
Projects may be outsourced for any number of reasons, either by
choice or necessity. But one thing is clear – outsourcing does
not equal simplicity.
more
Is Your Project
in Need of a Management Mentor?
Management mentors fill a valuable role as the champion for a given
project. Without a mentor, you may lack sufficient power and
credibility to plan and complete your projects.
more
Planning the
Technology Migration Project
While specifics may vary by the technology involved, technology
migration projects all have certain common elements, and can
therefore be approached with certain common strategies.
more
Control Rogue Projects
in 4 Easy Steps
Are you taking the blame for rogue technology projects? It's
all too common. End-users go around the IT group to select,
fund, plan and execute their own technology projects.
more
DEFINITION PHASE ARTICLES
top
Project-Speak Series: Defining
Assumptions and Constraints
Few projects begin with absolute certainty. If we had to wait
for absolute certainty, most projects would never get off the
ground. more
Project-Speak
Series: Defining the Critical Path
Considering the nature of most projects, critical path analysis can
be a mind numbing experience. But every project schedule is a
living entity, which must be continually monitored and manipulated.
more
Project-Speak Series:
Defining the Project Milestone
In order to manage problems and keep your customers happy, you have
to know whether your project is on track to finish as planned (or
not). more
Project-Speak
Series: Defining Goals, Scope and Process
In order to deliver on time, on budget results, projects must first
be broken down into smaller, manageable parts.
more
Project-Speak Series: Defining the Work
Breakdown Structure
When projects begin, they are largely defined by a "vision" of
goals, strategies and deliverables. But for work to begin, this
vision must be quickly translated into a series of tangible tasks
and activities to be executed and completed by the project team.
more
Projects in Motion - Backwards and Forwards
Project Scheduling
Depending upon the nature of the project, and related management
directives, project scheduling strategies will vary.
more
Planning and Managing Project Requirements
Project requirements exist at many levels. A solid definition of
varied requirements is the backbone of any project, paving a path
for efficient planning and execution.
more
Project-Speak
Series: Performing the Stakeholder Analysis
Project stakeholder support and involvement can make or break any
project.
more
Project-Speak
Series: Forming the Project Steering Committee
The primary purpose of the project steering committee is to provide
overall guidance and direction for a single project, or set of
projects. more
Project Success Criteria - In the Eye of the
Stakeholder
Was your last project a success? The answer may very well depend
upon who is asked, and their particular definition of success.
more
Defining the Role of the End-user in IT
Projects
What role do end-users fill in IT projects? Are they managers,
customers, partners, bystanders or some combination thereof?
more
The Big Job: Assigning Stakeholder
Roles and Responsibilities
It can be said that it takes a team to deliver a project. But a team
that lacks focus and direction will have a much rougher road to
success. more
Is Your Project Team Ready?
Projects are all about people -- even the most well planned
initiative will fail if the people assigned cannot get the job done.
more
Tailor Made: Matching Project Needs and
Stakeholder Responsibilities
In order to develop and assign "targeted" project management roles
and responsibilities, suited to specific project needs, you must
first have a solid grasp on actual needs.
more
GOVERNANCE PHASE ARTICLES
top
Organizing Successful Project Teams
Project teams are formed for a single and specific purpose - to
complete assigned projects according to plan and budget.
more
Put Your Team to Work: Creating Project
Job Descriptions
Every project is a "mini-enterprise", to be organized and staffed
according to specific needs and planned deliverables.
more
How to Delegate: It's Easier Than You
Think
Feeling uncomfortable with delegation? It's only natural. After all,
even when you delegate the work, you still maintain accountability.
So, what can possibly be gained?
more
Risk Management Series: Practices and
Procedures
Effective project risk management relies on information, common
sense, experience, and to a certain degree, intuition.
more
Project-Speak Series: Procurement and
the RFP
The Request for Proposal (RFP) is a specific project procurement
deliverable, used to solicit competitive bids pending the purchase
of project related goods and services.
more
Managing the RFP Process for Quality Goods
and Services
As a physical process deliverable, the well planned and produced
Request for Proposal will help you to make effective purchasing
decisions, considering multiple factors and priorities.
more
Project-Speak Series: Quality
Management
Quality management cannot guarantee project success, but it
certainly provides a force against failure.
more
Quality Management: Calculating the
Cost of Quality
Quality management is comprised of a series of tangible tasks, tools
and resources, all designed to deliver quality results, and all
bearing tangible price tags.
more
Project-Speak: Project Document
Management
Projects produce a lot of documents.
But, can project success be measured by the sheer weight and volume of documents
produced? more
How to Test Project Deliverables: The
Devil in the Details
Testing is essential to the success of any technology project.
Despite the best technical plans and designs, problems, errors and
bugs do occur. more
Smooth Transitions - Planning Project
Closures
All projects must come to an end, one way or another. While some
projects may come to an untimely end, most projects reach their
planned conclusion.
done
OVERSIGHT PHASE ARTICLES
top
Overseeing the Successful Kick-off Event
The project kick-off is the equivalent of a grand opening, marking
the opening day for your project and its executing team.
more
Plan Productive Meetings with the Heads-Up
Meeting Agenda
Whatever the perspective of the attendees, as a meeting leader, your
obligation is the same.... to make your meeting as interesting and
useful as possible.
more
How to Perform the Post Meeting Performance
Assessment
Of all the steps taken to plan, prepare and hold a business meeting,
the most strategic work may very well take place after the physical
meeting has ended.
more
How to Keep Stakeholders Informed and
Motivated
"Why can't my project be completed sooner"? That's an all too common
question.
more
Top 4 Steps to a Motivated Project Team
What do you need to know to motivate
your team to success? To motivate individuals working as
a team you have to balance individual recognition with group
recognition. more
Resource Leveling: Making the Most of
Limited Resources
Unless you are very, very lucky, project resources are rarely
unlimited. In most cases, project managers have to compete for
resources.
more
Tips and Tactics for Fast Track Project
Scheduling
Tactical fast tracking is a project management technique used to
ensure that projects are completed within the shortest time
possible. more
Facing Up to Unexpected Project Delays
So, is it the worst of all situations if a deadline is missed and
the project is delayed? Not necessarily.
more
Project-Speak Series: Management
Checkpoints
Projects are best managed as a series of structured phases. "Phase"
management provides a logical flow for project planning and
execution, providing for periodic review and ongoing reflection.
more
Project-Speak Series: Status Reporting
Practices and Procedures
Project managers walk a fine line when it comes to requesting (and
actually getting) status reports from team members.
more
Controlled Chaos: Keeping Track of
Project Changes
Change is a reality in any project situation. To begin with,
projects occur over a span of time, and time brings new
circumstances and conditions.
more
Risk Management Series: Controlling
Project Risks
The risk management process begins with identification, to examine
projects for likely risks that could threaten the project process
itself, or the outcome.
more
REVIEW PHASE ARTICLES
top
Project-Speak Series: The Lessons Learned Analysis
In simplest terms, lessons learned represent informed
conclusions regarding project quality and performance.
more
Evaluating Project Team Performance
The project is over. The deliverables are in place. How did the team
perform? This is the essence of the team evaluation process.
more
Organized Audits Improve Project Performance
Project audits are rarely welcome and often contentious, but when
done correctly, they offer unparalleled opportunity for process
improvement and project rescue.
more
Project Closure: Graceful Exits from
Troubled Projects
Projects fail for any number of reasons - poor definition, poor
planning, lack of commitment .... and the list goes on.
more
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
top
Promoting the Value of Project Management Standards
Project management standards and best practices are used to increase
the likelihood of overall success.
more
Managing Projects in the IT Environment:
Step Up to the Challenge
Information technology management is largely a project driven
enterprise. Whether the goal is to design, install or re-engineer,
IT projects are often driven by aggressive deadlines and periods of
frequent change.
more
Organizing the Successful Project Management
Office
Depending upon organizational needs and capabilities, a project
management office can provide limited services and oversight, or it
can provide full scale project management services, with full
project authority.
more
Project Speak Series: Concepts in
Resource Management
Project resource management is a global process for managing the
allocation, application and utilization of resources (people,
finances and equipment) throughout the project lifecycle.
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