Category: Project Management

I am always amazed that so many professionals offer project management services but do not cover all the parts of this profession. For example, managing staff and resources is considered a “complete” project management service for too many people in various industries. And even though resource management is a part of project management, it is not all of it. Project management requires expertise in many areas, including scope development, budgeting and scheduling, quantity management, and risk analysis, among others. Professional project managers who have been trained in this field and have the appropriate experience can effectively and efficiently execute any project, so I am a big proponent of both training and certification as a requirement for using the designation of “project manager.” Otherwise, the field and its parts get diluted…

They say the PMP certification is not for the frail-hearted. If you are one among those resolute learners with an unswerving spirit to take up the toughest of tasks and relishes claiming victory over them, then I say, you’re going to swagger around this exam as well! [caption id="attachment_18346" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Challenges Faced by First-Time PMP Aspirants[/caption] This article emphasizes the self-effort that you need to take on the physical, emotional, and intellectual spheres of your life to overcome the most common challenges that are likely to crop up during the preparatory phase. Before dealing with them one by one, make sure you read this post on how to crack PMP certification, which elaborates on the tips and tricks to get through the PMP exam on the first attempt! Formulating…

[caption id="attachment_18341" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Managing Community-based Projects[/caption] For the most part, I have mostly worked with private clients and municipalities; therefore, the roles, authority levels, and responsibilities are usually clearly demarcated. However, when working on community-based projects, the number of stakeholders is usually much larger, and the roles need to be much clearer. For example, we are currently managing a community-based project located within the public right-of-way. Therefore, the City is the property owner, and one of its departments (public works) is the owner’s representative, but they are not the clients. To a degree, the client and the seller are both the local community. They get to provide input and feedback and contribute to the design development of a park, but at the same time, they are responsible for providing…

Several years ago, while traveling for work, there was an airport workers’ strike in Berlin. Consequently, you had to use a train for medium hauls and travel to Hamburg or other airports to travel internationally. At that time, we traveled a lot between Berlin and several other cities in Europe. And since we had never experienced this situation before, the event caught us by surprise, and we had to be very resourceful. After the fact, however, an airport workers’ strike became a “known uncertainty” and, therefore, a risk, which we would identify within future projects. This risk was identified, qualified, quantified, and addressed based on potential triggers, such as news that the airport workers’ were renegotiating their collective bargaining agreements. And, if the event seemed likely to occur, we made…

Scope of work describes the work to be performed on any given project or task; it also sets a baseline, which can determine any variation from the proposed work to be done and the work done. Also, a scope of work or services becomes a legally binding document, which helps protect both the buyer and seller of services. In the scope of services, the work, as well as deliverables, are described in detail to clarify the project content, document the stakeholders’ expectations, and provide the project team and other stakeholders a part of a comprehensive road map, which will also include the budget, schedule, risk analysis plan and so on. [caption id="attachment_18235" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Scope Definition as the Basis of All Work[/caption] The best way to approach the scope definition…

Recently, my family and I undertook a huge residential move. And even though it was a lot of work and caused some stress, it gave s an opportunity, as is common in these cases, to sort through and organize our worldly possessions. My goal, for example, was not to let anything go to waste. I did not even want to consider throwing away perfectly fine toys, books, appliances, etc., as had been the case in previous moves. This process took much longer than I had hoped, but in the end, it paid off psychologically and environmentally. As a result, we minimized our contribution to the local landfill. [caption id="attachment_18219" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Resource Management on a Daily Basis[/caption] The way I approached our move, which I approach most things, was by…

Whether we're talking about small businesses or large corporations, project management is something that excites and concerns everyone at the same time. Proper project management ensures that your project is completed on schedule and that all requirements are met. [caption id="attachment_18226" align="aligncenter" width="632"] THE 4 MOST COMMON PROJECT MANAGEMENT MISTAKES THAT LEAD TO PROJECT FAILURE[/caption] Project management is the most crucial factor that can make or break your project, putting your job at risk and costing your company money and time. Every project manager understands that not everything will go according to plan and that there will always be some flaws that could lead to project failure. Even though a project has many complicated factors such as time, money, resources, and people, handling all of these things with care is…

When your company data requirements grow across different departments, it becomes less safe. Cybercrime proprietors target vulnerabilities in the system, putting all the meaningful information at risk. [caption id="attachment_18230" align="aligncenter" width="640"] 10 Data Protection Considerations Project Managers Must Know Before Starting a New Project[/caption] A recent study in the UK established that cybercrime victims rose from 15% in 2015 to 25% in 2019. However, companies with more than 250 employees were the most affected. It led to over 87bn Euros, including damaged assets and financial penalties. According to IBM, data protection is crucial in all organizations regardless of the implementation type. Firm owners and project managers can implement these solutions on-premises or cloud systems. The solutions help to get a clear view of unscrupulous behavior and investigate cyber threats. In…

Unfortunately, typically more than half of all PMOs fail within the first year of their implementation. And although there are several reasons why this occurs, one of the most common ones is stakeholder expectations not being met and understood. For many people, such as team members, for example, PMOs are often seen as an added level of bureaucracy and more red tape. For upper-level managers, the PMOs are often viewed as a “savior” department, which will solve project deadline delays, cost overruns, client dissatisfaction, and even higher levels of staff turnover. And although PMOs can potentially positively impact these issues, the PMO in and of itself is not a silver bullet for all project and operational ills, big and small. [caption id="attachment_18223" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Developing your own Project Management Office…

Projects requiring a high degree of organizational skills occur in many different industries. Common elements include tracking a project's development and ordering essential materials. Gantt charts are a vital part of a project manager's daily schedule. In addition, they are instrumental in strategic planning, ensuring the project is completed on time. [caption id="attachment_18020" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Why are Gantt Charts Important in Project Management?[/caption] How does a Gantt Chart Work? The Gantt chart appeared in the first decade of the twentieth century. Its inventor was Henry Gantt (1861-1919), an American expert in mechanical engineering. His chart simplified the intertwined complexities of project management. It displays tasks in a bar graph format and places them in chronological order against an overall timeline. The Gantt chart instantly shows a complete overview of a…