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Project Management Basics 1
LawNet Presentation
Project Management Basics
Joe BuserTraveling Coaches, Inc.
Project Management Basics 2
Project Management Challenges
• Unclear objectives
• Unrealistic schedules
• Over-committed resources
• Unclear or changing priorities
• Poor communication
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What is a “project”?
A project is a unique effort with a defined beginning, a defined end, specific
deliverables, and defined resources.
ResourcesSchedule
Scope
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Why do we need a project management model?
• To define & organize the project
• To plan the project
• To track & manage the project
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Define & Organize the Project
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Benefits of Organizing
• Everyone knows their role and their responsibilities
• A better understanding of the project goals
• Structured team communication
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Project Roles
• Sponsor
• Project Manager
• Project Team
• Project Management Office (PMO)
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Benefits of a PMO
• Manage scarce technical and project management resources
• Standardize data collection and status reporting
• Historical analysis
• Develop and maintain best practices
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Project Definition Document (PDD)
• Establishes in writing what the project includes and does not include
• Defines scope, schedule and resources
• Sign-off is required
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Project Procedures Document
• Foundation for all processes
• Review the document with project teams
• Reach agreement on each item
• Sign-off is required
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PM Procedures Categories
Planning Tracking Practices Relationships
Development
Deliverables
Tools
Tracking
Reporting
Meetings
Project File
Managing Issues
Managing Change
Ownership
Communication
Escalation
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Other PM Documents
• Requirements
• Issue Management Process
• Change Management Process
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Plan the Project
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Benefits of Planning
Lays foundation for:
• Improved communication
• Minimized re-work
• Improved schedule predictability
• Quality products on time
• Visualizing the project
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Work Breakdown Structure
Tasks with clearly defined:– Activity and deliverable– Work estimate– Resources
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Often Forgotten Tasks
• Project planning• Approval cycles• Key project meetings and client
interfaces• Quality control• Testing• Closeout activities
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Scheduling
• Enter WBS data into Microsoft Project
• Organize into master tasks and phases
• Add milestones
• Add lead and lag time
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Optimize the Plan
• Adjust calendars
• Adjust resources
• Critical path analysis
• Evaluate slack
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Project Risks
• Tasks on the critical path
• Tasks with several predecessors
• Tasks reliant on external groups
• Tasks using scarce resources
• Uncertainty of new technologies
• Extremely aggressive performance requirements
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Risk Management Plan
• Preventative actions
• Contingent actions
• Triggers
• Owner
• Risk Form
• Sign-off is required
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Track & Manage the Project
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Benefits of Tracking
• Provides clear indication of progress
• Keeps everyone informed
• Encourages the addressing of problems
• Provides credible completion estimates
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Collect Status Data
• Reports
• Project team meetings
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Where is the Variance
• Evaluate key milestones and the project finish date
• Do not assume that more time and resources will always fix the problem
• Resource problems are often overlooked because of “stackup” caused by working on multiple projects
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Take Adaptive Action
• Follow PM management procedures
• Follow Issue & Change Management procedures
• Review Risk Management plans
• Be creative and adaptive
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What to Report
• Schedule status
• Open Issues
• Change Requests
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Project Completion
• Capture lessons learned and formally end the project
• Follow up and ensure that all closing activities have been completed
• Include each closing activity in the WBS and the project plan
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Closing Activities
• Assess actual project cost
• Conduct project close out/review meeting
• Identify persons responsible for post project tasks
• Reward and recognize team members
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Questions & Answers