I have a blog in draft form and would like to get your thoughts on this before publishing:
What advice do you have to bring good project controls to a very small project or for a small business? How do you reduce overhead costs while assuring quality and timely delivery?
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That's a great question. Smaller projects have less resources to devote to controls and governance yet the risks of failure are the same. My experience has been that in these smaller projects it helps to focus controls on getting AND keeping better and more experienced resources rather than on process. A small tight knit team of people who have done this before can better foresee some of the pitfalls that more complex controls are put in place to prevent on larger projects that have more separation of duties and less cross-functionally experienced resources.
ReplyDeleteHowever that said, some controls are still necessary in any project.
* A strong communication plan - some meetings can be combined on a smaller project, especially where the same resources are doing multiple job functions.
* a good project plan with clearly defined success criteria and milestones (rewarding accomplishment periodically) and encouraging teamwork. Preventing burnout and encouraging camaraderie. Don't want to lose critical personnel in the middle of the project.
* time dedicated specifically for thorough testing. This is where the deliverable moves from being barely acceptable to polished and a great success.
Just my 2 cents.
DeleteTag: PM203A54. Let me share all of you about #5 Tips for Project Management Success,, I hope you enjoy it
1. Plan your day using time management techniques
As a project manager, time management skills are essential because you are dealing with a wide range of tasks that demand a quick turnaround time. Planning your day will go a long way in keeping you organized and increasing your productivity. Assist your task planning by using project management software which helps you track the work of you and your team.
If you are not very tech savvy, a simple to-do list can also be a great organizational tool. Prioritize your most important tasks by putting them at the top of the list and less important ones at the bottom. Having a visual plan of your daily tasks helps to keep you on track and aware of time.
Related post: Free ebook 104 secrets to become a great project manager
2. Include stakeholders in important project conversations
While you will have plenty of responsibilities regarding the project, don’t neglect your clients.
Good communication is essential is keeping both parties informed of project progression, curtailing scope creep, and apprised of changing requirements. Some clients may have different expectations when it comes to communication, so make sure to establish the frequency and type of communication (like emails, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations) at the beginning of your project.
Establishing communication expectations early helps alleviate stakeholder uncertainty about communication frequency and delivery.
3. Regularly communicate with your team
Daily team communication helps keep misunderstandings and unclear requirements under control. Keeping your team informed in every step of the project is essential to project management success.
For example, a study published by Procedia Technology found that good communication skills were the cornerstone of project management. The study examined over 300 “construction project managers, architects, construction managers, engineers and quantity surveyors” and their successes and failures on various construction projects.
4. Anticipate project setbacks
Even the best-laid plans often go awry.
Remember that even with a high amount of planning and attention to detail, your project may still encounter some challenges. Pay attention to complaints from stakeholders or colleagues, and other warning signs, like a missed deadline or cost overrun, that there may be a problem.
Preventing a crisis will keep your project running smoothly, save you a lot of time, and keep you, your team, and your stakeholders confident in progressing with the project.
Unfortunately not every complication can be avoided. Crisis management skills are essential for dealing with the unexpected. Project managers need to be flexible and pragmatic. Improvise and make sharp decisions when needed.
Related post: 92 free project management templates
5. Stay focused on the details
A common problem project managers encounter is having the project aims not aligned with the organization’s objectives. A great project manager will strategize a plan for the project to lead back to the overall success of the business.
Know your project’s scope by heart and avoid wandering outside of the project’s requirements. It’s too easy to get lost in minor details and forget what your focus is, so a well-planned project scope is essential for success.
And final, you should use KPI to measure effectiveness of the project, here are full list: 76 project management KPIs
thanks!
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