During an employees' general meeting, the country director of a multinational company related the story of a swan. The swan, he said, can be emulated when doing project management. As it swims calmly through the water, the swan's feet are busy propelling underwater.
Without proper project management, companies' projects can become directionless. These in turn will cause employees to be demotivated and can lose the company millions of money. Project management is important as it applies the disciplines of planning, organizing, and managing the company's resources to make sure that a company's project brings about the desired outcomes.
Project management does not have to be complex. Here are six simple ways to ensure a project's success.
Call on a competent project manager. This person leads among the members of the project team and ensures processes happen. This person also has the support of the investors and stakeholders and can confidently communicate with them. A good project manager also knows how to work with the team.
Set up the project plan. Using project planning tools such as the MS Project, make Gantt charts that will display the full project timeline, critical delivery dates, employees responsible for an action, milestones, and other key reports on the project. A chart is the visual interpretation of the project. It keeps everyone on the same plate with regards to the status of the project.
Outline a clear communication path. A project can be so big it crosses countries and time zones. But even smaller scale projects need clear communication lines. A well defined communication path is crucial to keep the project phases going hassle-free. In contrast, failure of communication or miscommunication can cause the entire project to fail altogether.
Highlight the "How" over the "What". Answer the question, "How was the project accomplished?" instead of just answering "carried out?" Good project management assures that successful projects mean those who worked on it are also happy and feel successful. In the long run, it is what employees affected by the project feel about it that really matters in defining its success.
Conclude the project. Given a competent project manager who knows what is happening both in the front lines and in the upper management, and employees who are process owners, a project can be completed according to agreed-on delivery date and approved budget. Conclude the project by keeping a record of learning experiences and key achievements.
Celebrate success. During the project, celebrating critical achievements is important to keep the people's morale up. Towards the end of the project, celebrating success is one way to give back to the employees.
Without proper project management, companies' projects can become directionless. These in turn will cause employees to be demotivated and can lose the company millions of money. Project management is important as it applies the disciplines of planning, organizing, and managing the company's resources to make sure that a company's project brings about the desired outcomes.
Project management does not have to be complex. Here are six simple ways to ensure a project's success.
Call on a competent project manager. This person leads among the members of the project team and ensures processes happen. This person also has the support of the investors and stakeholders and can confidently communicate with them. A good project manager also knows how to work with the team.
Set up the project plan. Using project planning tools such as the MS Project, make Gantt charts that will display the full project timeline, critical delivery dates, employees responsible for an action, milestones, and other key reports on the project. A chart is the visual interpretation of the project. It keeps everyone on the same plate with regards to the status of the project.
Outline a clear communication path. A project can be so big it crosses countries and time zones. But even smaller scale projects need clear communication lines. A well defined communication path is crucial to keep the project phases going hassle-free. In contrast, failure of communication or miscommunication can cause the entire project to fail altogether.
Highlight the "How" over the "What". Answer the question, "How was the project accomplished?" instead of just answering "carried out?" Good project management assures that successful projects mean those who worked on it are also happy and feel successful. In the long run, it is what employees affected by the project feel about it that really matters in defining its success.
Conclude the project. Given a competent project manager who knows what is happening both in the front lines and in the upper management, and employees who are process owners, a project can be completed according to agreed-on delivery date and approved budget. Conclude the project by keeping a record of learning experiences and key achievements.
Celebrate success. During the project, celebrating critical achievements is important to keep the people's morale up. Towards the end of the project, celebrating success is one way to give back to the employees.
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Click for further information on project management or project management training Singapore.. Also published at Effective Project Management: 6 Basic Principles.
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