SHORT PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY

Many times I am criticized by the customers for the things I do when managing projects and I think that one of the high level achievements supporting the MOS (measure of success of the project) should be the training of the stakeholders and the project sponsors.

For these project sponsors and stakeholders is the following project management definition:  

Project Management is a management discipline to deliver a specific goal with a temporary organization.   A project can be defined as “a unique undertaking”.

The temporary nature of the organization and the uniqueness means the focus for a manager is:

•  more on effectiveness that efficiency

• more on risk management than on process management

• skill and resource use instead of skill and resource development

A manager in a line management or “business as usual” is more likely to be concentrating on continuous improvement and repeatable performance.

To be successful a project has to concentrate on stakeholder requirements, time and schedule, and the project budget. 

The necessary steps which are enough for managing projects are: 

• Define the scope of the project with a customer

• Identify the risks the project faces

• Write a concise and informative project plan

• Develop a project schedule that finishes as early as possible

• Track actual progress versus the plan and spot problems early

• Present the project status to the customer along with your solutions to any problems