Project Management Steps |
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Project Management Steps to Take for Success | |
Effective project management is important to the success of any project, regardless of the size and scope. Good communication, planning, organization, teamwork and support are important in order to keep a project on track. |
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A thorough understanding the project is the first step in project management. Without a clear understanding of the goals and objectives, any project can be difficult to manage and complete successfully. |
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Identify Stakeholders and Sponsors |
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Identify the project's stakeholders and sponsors, as well as a project champion in top management. Because most projects require time resources and cooperation from people in many different areas of a business, having a champion in top management will insure that the project will be taken seriously, and will be a priority for those working on it. |
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Create an Objective Document |
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Create an objectives document, which will define the project's scope, requirements, and constraints, as well as a clearly defined list of deliverables. |
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Requirements should be realistic and deliverables should be tangible and measurable. The objectives document will be the project's primary top-level documentation for the duration of the project. |
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Develop a Project Plan |
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Develop the overall project plan using the objectives document as a guide. Identify the various tasks that must be achieved, then break them down into smaller tasks that are easier to track and measure. Assign a single owner for each task, even though many people may end up working on it, since it is important to have one person who is ultimately responsible for the completion of each task. |
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Accurate time estimates and projected costs for each task should be determined. Order the tasks to make the best use of resources and time, placing special emphasis on tasks that are on critical paths for the project. Make note of any possible risks and factor these into the plan. |
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Measurable milestones should be set, and if it makes sense for the project, manage the project in phases. A phased approach will allow separate evaluations and sign-offs to occur as the project progresses. Back-out plans should also be developed if necessary. It is important for project managers to own the planning process, as the success or failure of any project is ultimately the responsibility of the project manager. |
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Assemble Project Resources |
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As part of the development the project plan, determine if the proper resources exist for successful completion of the project. If not, determine what methods may be needed to procure the necessary resources. Insure that cost estimates do not exceed the overall project budget, and that prohibitive time constraints do not exist for those assigned to tasks. |
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Assemble the best team possible, keeping in mind that most team members will have other job responsibilities in addition to working on the project. Team members should be chosen not only for their expertise, but also for their ability to work successfully on a team and get work done with a minimum amount of supervision. |
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