Project Management Skills

Project management is a systematic approach essential to achieving goals with respect to schedules and budgets.

Four ideas to increase success with projects include:

1.   Every project needs a sponsor. Do not begin until there is someone who is responsible for:

  • Approving the team and defining the responsibilities
  • Providing information and resources
  • Clarifying critical issues
  • Acting as key communication link between departments

 

2.   Every project needs a clear statement of the expected outcomes, the approach, the timelines and the budget.  Do not commence any activities related to completing a project until the initial planning process has provided a statement that has the sponsor’s approval.

 

3.   Every project needs a plan. The purpose of the plan is to:

  • Outline responsibilities, and duties of the team members
  • State how the project will be managed in terms of the time cost and performance
  • Summarizes the resources required (human, electronic, external, physical)

 

4..  Projects can benefit from the application of the following tools:

  • Project team cooperation checklist
  • Planning and organizing checklist
  • Responsibility assignment matrix
  • Gnatt charts
  • Critical Path Mapping
  • Contingency planning charts
  • Follow up evaluation questions