19Jan 2021 by PM Workshops
Effective Project Management Strategies for Design Pros

Effective Project Management Strategies for Design Pros

Project Management
Even today, there is a widespread belief that the world of design is not compatible with project management. That idea is far from true. In reality, all creative projects need structure and a sound division of work. While working together on specific projects, graphic designers need to pay attention to deadlines and client desires. Since project managers are generating a balance between rigidness and creativity, the following tips will present how project management plays a major role in professional design. Set Precise Goals The first step to completing a successful project is to provide exact information. What needs to be defined from the start are the framework and goals of the project. From the perspective of a project manager, you need to convey client demands to the rest of the…
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17Jan 2021 by PM Workshops
Equity Project Management Sustainability

Equity Project Management Sustainability

Project Management, Sustainability
Sustainability in project management is a topic that has been around for decades. More recently, equity in project management was introduced as professional project managers acknowledged the importance of “happy and satisfied” team members. These team members, who are paid fair wages and have safe and comfortable working conditions, are an important factor in achieving project success. However, in the past year, the pandemic and the call for social justice have clearly demonstrated that there is still a need for improvement in addressing equity and sustainability. Also, it has been reconfirmed that sustainability and equity are interwoven, as we can see in the popular diagram below, which includes the main components governing sustainability: The economic and social components shown above yield equity when they are present and work collaboratively together.…
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11Jan 2021 by PM Workshops
Procurement in Project Management

Procurement in Project Management

Project Management
Whatever the project is, you will invariably need to procure something to get the work done. It might be materials, software, equipment, airline tickets, or even staff, but you will need to acquire resources to complete your project. And this can be a daunting task sometimes, but especially so when you are procuring human resources, such as subject matter experts or regular staff to help you execute the project work. Of course, the reason is that oftentimes you need to acquire services externally and that carries a risk. As opposed to your team and/or other staff within your organization, outsourcing work is complicated when you have not worked with this staff before. If your company has a “selected seller” or “preferred seller” list, it helps to mitigate the risk since…
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09Jan 2021 by PM Workshops
Risk & Issue Management – The Key Differences & How They Work Together

Risk & Issue Management – The Key Differences & How They Work Together

Project Management
Unfortunately, projects aren’t delivered in a vacuum. Throw factors such as competing business priorities, technical errors, and even basic human error into the mix and projects are filled with things that can go wrong. Fortunately, every project management framework will have two sure-fire ways to overcome these challenges: Risk Management & Issue Management. Whilst these terms often get used interchangeably, they aren’t the same thing at all. In this article, we’ll look at the key differences between Risk and Issue Management and how they come together to avoid project disaster! Risk Management Explained Let’s start by defining a risk. The PMI definition states that risk is “an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on a project’s objectives.” In the vast majority of…
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07Jan 2021 by PM Workshops
Process Improvement Plan

Process Improvement Plan

Project Management
An output of Plan Quality Management, per PMI and PMBOK, is the Quality Management Plan and the Process Improvement Plan (PIP.) The first one is self-evident regarding its function and benefits, but the latter is not as clear to understand for most people. In fact, in my experience, most people learn this fact if they encounter a related question on the PMP exam but never actually create such a plan for their projects; nor in many cases have they ever even seen one. And the reasons for not even trying to create a PIP are typical as follows: project teams have not been timed to prepare it, they feel they don’t need one, or they don’t understand how to use it. Therefore, I would like to explain the purpose and…
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31Dec 2020 by PM Workshops
Configuration Management

Configuration Management

Project Management
Configuration Management can be confusing for some, especially in concert with all the other knowledge areas and processes associated with project management. Therefore, I would like to clarify what configuration management is and how it is supposed to work in this article. First of all, Configuration Management is linked with Change Management. However, the former is mostly associated with product requirements and features and tracking and monitoring any changes to these requirements and features. Change Management, on the other hand, is there to monitor and track changes of any kind, including those associated with product scope change, but also non-product related changes, such as cost overruns and/or schedule delays, among others. The following examples will help you understand the difference between Change and Configuration Management: Example 1: the client notifies…
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30Dec 2020 by PM Workshops
Estimating Resources

Estimating Resources

Project Management
Estimating project resources, such as staff, equipment, software, materials, and even workstations, is crucial in achieving success in your project work. And it can also be the riskiest part of your project work since underestimating the resources you need, more often than not, can translate into schedule delays and going over budget by not having the right resources and/or the sufficient amount. Therefore, it is important to execute this process as efficiently as possible since the resources estimation will set and impact the project’s three key baselines: scope, schedule, and budget. Estimating resources effectively is an art that can be learned with proper training, experience, and available data. However, for new project managers and/or start-ups, the experience and organizational process assets, such as lessons learned, estimates from previous projects, and…
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27Dec 2020 by PM Workshops
Why prepare a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

Why prepare a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

Project Management
Many people avid preparing a WBS because they feel it is too cumbersome or unnecessary, or it simply does not apply to their project. However, in my over 25 years of project management experience, I have never seen a project that could not benefit from having a WBS of its own, including smaller and short-run projects. And that is because the WBS is meant to achieve three things: Get a graphic representation of your project product and/or goal. Define the steps/areas required to achieve said goal List all the deliverables you will produce at the bottom of the WBS. Let's take an example, such as Starting a New Business, to explain how the WBS works. As shown in the graphic below, you start with the main goal and/or project title…
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24Dec 2020 by PM Workshops
Change Requests Orders

Change Requests Orders

Project Management
Change requests, sometimes also referred to as change orders, occur, as the name implies when modified to the original baselined project. So, if there is a change to the scope, such as project and/or product requirements, the budget, or the schedule, for example, a change will occur. If the process is executed correctly, the change will usually proceed as follows: Change is identified Change is documented in a change order/request. Change order is registered in a change order. Appropriate party/ies review change order. Change is accepted or rejected or sent back for clarification. If accepted, then one or more of the baselines, such as the scope, budget, or cost, are updated. Change is carried out if accepted and made part of the project and/or product. All change requests must go…
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22Dec 2020 by PM Workshops
Post-Pandemic Communication Strategies

Post-Pandemic Communication Strategies

Project Management
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR COMMUNICATION IN 2021 AFTER DECONFINEMENT The health crisis has pushed the world economy into recession. The covid-19 pandemic has forced entire industries to shut down. During this period, several companies remained virtually silent or kept distant contact with customers. At the time of deconfinement, economic activity must gradually return to normal. But one question torments business managers in particular: how to reestablish communication with staff, customers, and suppliers? It is to this major concern that we will try to answer through this article. ORGANIZE INTERNALLY The coronavirus epidemic has resulted in partial unemployment within several major brands. Thus, to ensure the return to work and limit the number of absentees after deconfinement, the HRD should notify employees of the effective resumption of activities. Indeed, the pandemic…
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