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Three fundamental questions on project management

Three fundamental questions on project management. What are characteristics of a project? What are the key qualities of a project manager? What makes projects so difficult to manage? Source: Fiona Newton. Three big questions around project management.

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Three fundamental questions on project management

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  1. Three fundamental questions on project management What are characteristics of a project? What are the key qualities of a project manager? What makes projects so difficult to manage? Source: Fiona Newton

  2. Three big questions around project management How will this project make a difference to the organisation? How will we know that this project has been highly successful? What, in our wildest dreams would we want this project to achieve? Source: Christenson and Walker

  3. Three questions to ask at the end of a project What did we do well? What did we do wrong? What will we do differently and better next time?

  4. Four ways projects are ‘different’ They bring about change Projects may offer investment opportunities They have unknown elements The unknown elements create risk Source: Oxford Brookes University

  5. Four questions when planning projects Why do projects succeed? Why do projects fail? What success criteria for a project? What must project managers do well?

  6. Four essentials for a project Sponsorship and governance Defining scope and success criteria Power and authority Positive and effective partnering Source: Ives

  7. Four things a project must be: Understood Motivational and inspirational Credible Demanding and Challenging Source: Christenson and Walker

  8. Four signs of a successful project On time On budget On strategy On quality Source: Norrie

  9. Four stages to a project Definition Strategy Planning Execution and control Source: Gehring

  10. Five options for managing project risk Avoid Reduce (the likelihood of the risk occurring) Transfer (to a third party) Protect (from the impact of the risk occurring) Mitigate (reduce the severity of the impacts) Source: Oxford Brookes University

  11. Five key issues on milestones Specify when measurable achievements are due Must be tangible, deliverable outputs Too many and they become millstones! Too few and the project plan becomes worthless Be pragmatic – balance optimism with realism

  12. Five processes to project management Initiating Planning Executing Controlling Closing Source: PMBOK

  13. The spice project management model Specification P lanning I mplementation C ompletion E valuation

  14. Six signs of a skilled project manager Focuses on results Leadership skills Provides single point of management contact Fosters a synergistic atmosphere Promotes strong teambuilding Encourages cross-discipline co-operation Source: Ives

  15. Six skill sets for project managers Ethics – doing things the right way Respect and trust for others Honesty – creating trust and integrity Prudence and pragmatism Courage and acceptance of responsibility Wise use of power and influence Source: Kloppenborg and Patrick

  16. Six essentials of a project plan Key deliverables Resource requirements Total costs Pre-requisites External dependencies Assumptions

  17. Six realities of project management All projects are unique None run exactly to plan All involve and depend upon people! A structured approach is essential All require change and decisions – never popular! Never be a slave to a rigid plan – be flexible

  18. Six stages in the project life cycle Initial idea and feasibility study Evaluating risk Estimating task sequence and durations Justifying and resourcing the project Implementation Winding up Supporting the deliverables Source: Butz & Goodstein

  19. Seven reasons projects succeed Planned in manageable chunks Objectives clarified and agreed with stakeholders Reasonable expectations set Constant dialogue and flexibility as implemented Learning from experience The right people giving enough of their time Sufficient resources allocated and committed

  20. Project managers must be… Persistent Rapport builder O rganised J udicious E nthusiastic C ommunicator Time and team focused

  21. Seven stages of project management Initial ENTHUSIASM Followed by GLOOM and DESPONDENCY Request for MORE TIME Request REJECTED Search for the GUILTY parties SLAUGHTER of the innocents Honours and awards for the NON –PARTICIPANTS Source: Paul Brennan

  22. Seven skills of a project manager Analysis Communication Budgeting Teamwork Intelligence Calmness Time

  23. Nine threats to project success Human Operational Reputational Procedural Project Financial Technical Natural Political Source: Mind tools

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