Planning is the most important project management activity. It has two basic objectives—establish reasonable cost, schedule, and quality goals for the project, and to draw out a plan to deliver the project goals. A project succeeds if it meets its cost, schedule, and quality goals. Without the project goals being defined, it is not possible to even declare if a project has succeeded. And without detailed planning, no real monitoring or controlling of the project is possible. Often projects are rushed toward implementation with not enough effort spent on planning. No amount of technical effort later can compensate for lack of careful planning. Lack of proper planning is a sure ticket to failure for a large software project. For this reason, we treat project planning as an independent chapter. Note that we also cover the monitoring phase of the project management process as part of planning, as how the project is to be monitored is also a part of the planning phase.
The inputs to the planning activity are the requirements specification and maybe the architecture description. A very detailed requirements document is not essential for planning, but for a good plan all the important requirements must be known, and it is highly desirable that key architecture decisions have been taken.
There are generally two main outputs of the planning activity: the overall project management plan document that establishes the project goals on the cost, schedule, and quality fronts, and defines the plans for managing risk, monitoring the project, etc.; and the detailed plan, often referred to as the detailed project schedule, specifying the tasks that need to be performed to meet the goals, the resources who will perform them, and their schedule. The overall plan guides the development of the detailed plan, which then becomes the main guiding document during project execution for project monitoring.
In this chapter, we will discuss
- How to estimate effort and schedule for the project to establish project goals and milestones and determine the team size needed for executing the project.
- How to establish quality goals for the project and prepare a quality plan.
- How to identify high-priority risks that can threaten the success of the project, and plan for their mitigation.
- How to plan for monitoring a project using measurements to check if a project is progressing as per the plan.
- How to develop a detailed task schedule from the overall estimates and other planning tasks done such that, if followed, the overall goals of the project will be met.
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which is defined by processes, procedures and job descriptions. A project is temporary as opposed to operational work which is ongoing. https://www.avaza.com
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DeleteTag: PM202A53. Let me share all of you about #5 Tips for Project Management Success,, I hope you enjoy it
1. Plan your day using time management techniques
As a project manager, time management skills are essential because you are dealing with a wide range of tasks that demand a quick turnaround time. Planning your day will go a long way in keeping you organized and increasing your productivity. Assist your task planning by using project management software which helps you track the work of you and your team.
If you are not very tech savvy, a simple to-do list can also be a great organizational tool. Prioritize your most important tasks by putting them at the top of the list and less important ones at the bottom. Having a visual plan of your daily tasks helps to keep you on track and aware of time.
Related post: Free ebook 104 secrets to become a great project manager
2. Include stakeholders in important project conversations
While you will have plenty of responsibilities regarding the project, don’t neglect your clients.
Good communication is essential is keeping both parties informed of project progression, curtailing scope creep, and apprised of changing requirements. Some clients may have different expectations when it comes to communication, so make sure to establish the frequency and type of communication (like emails, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations) at the beginning of your project.
Establishing communication expectations early helps alleviate stakeholder uncertainty about communication frequency and delivery.
3. Regularly communicate with your team
Daily team communication helps keep misunderstandings and unclear requirements under control. Keeping your team informed in every step of the project is essential to project management success.
For example, a study published by Procedia Technology found that good communication skills were the cornerstone of project management. The study examined over 300 “construction project managers, architects, construction managers, engineers and quantity surveyors” and their successes and failures on various construction projects.
4. Anticipate project setbacks
Even the best-laid plans often go awry.
Remember that even with a high amount of planning and attention to detail, your project may still encounter some challenges. Pay attention to complaints from stakeholders or colleagues, and other warning signs, like a missed deadline or cost overrun, that there may be a problem.
Preventing a crisis will keep your project running smoothly, save you a lot of time, and keep you, your team, and your stakeholders confident in progressing with the project.
Unfortunately not every complication can be avoided. Crisis management skills are essential for dealing with the unexpected. Project managers need to be flexible and pragmatic. Improvise and make sharp decisions when needed.
Related post: 92 free project management templates
5. Stay focused on the details
A common problem project managers encounter is having the project aims not aligned with the organization’s objectives. A great project manager will strategize a plan for the project to lead back to the overall success of the business.
Know your project’s scope by heart and avoid wandering outside of the project’s requirements. It’s too easy to get lost in minor details and forget what your focus is, so a well-planned project scope is essential for success.
And final, you should use KPI to measure effectiveness of the project, here are full list: 76 project management KPIs
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