Project Definition
• Before any project gets under way it vital that everyone understands EXACTLY what it is and is not going to deliver and that everyone has signed up to it.
• Identify the key players and the stakeholders and know in advance how they need to be managed. 90% of project abandonments are caused by ineffective or woolly definintions.
• In project management a simple scoping exercise is always useful, along with a preliminary budget and a resourcing analysis.
Project Planning• Devote as much time as possible to thinking things through.Create the key stages analyses and develop them into work/time schedules. Only then can it be possible to consider timelines and working to a budget.
• Use the planning Tools & Techniques and undertake a risk analysis for the key stages.
• Have contingency plans for when things that might go wrong DO go wrong!
Project Execution• Make people accountable for delivering their part(s) of the project and constantly check that scheduled activity is happening as planned.
• Regular progress meetings with the project (core) team members is important along with meetings with the other key players.
People Skills• The usual management and interpersonal skills are critical. Project Leaders have to communicate upwards, downwards and laterally and do so with professionalism.
• In addition, problem solving, influencing, persuading, consulting and negotiation skills are vital.
• Knowing how to get people to buy in is another important consideration.
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