Hints and Tips

Project team  - everyone who contributes to the project including external contractors, suppliers, specialists or colleagues.

Project manager  - responsible for delivering the project objectives within budget and schedule and to specification.


Running a project:
Phase 1  Initiation and Definition

• Focus on what is to be achieved

• Hold a team kick-off meeting to discuss and analyse
  

Phase 2  Planning
Scope the project and breakdown the work into units or steps, for each step:

• How long it will take

• Who will be involved

• What resources are needed

• What are the performance standards

• What are the deliverables at the end of each stage

• Any contingency plans
  

Then layout your project plan and schedule


Phase 3 Execution
Monitor progress of the project and:

• Take corrective action if problems appear

• Anticipate and overcome obstacles to progress

• Communicate regularly with the team and client

• Motivate and support team

• Monitor budgets and time spent
  

Phase 4  Implementation
Acceptance by the client. There may still be some actions, such as:

• Documentation

• Training

• Evaluation
  

When evaluating a project consider:

• Timescales and scheduling

• Budgeting

• Specification and any additional work requirements

• Performance monitoring

• Any problems encountered

• Any new techniques used
   

Risk assessment
Done throughout the project
3 types of risk

• Time - schedule risk - not being able to deliver on time

• Quality - scope risk -not being able to meet the client's acceptance criteria

• Cost - cost risk - exceeding the budget
  

3 stages in risk assessment

• Identifying the risk

• Analysing the risk

• Reducing or preventing the risk