165. Project Management Fundamentals

<p>Projects have been around for a long time of course and in the modern era we have accumulated a vast amount of best practice on how to manage them.  It isn’t usually that we don’t know what to do, it is that we don’t actually do it.  We get into trouble when we just leap in and dig straight into the logistical entrails,  without giving enough thought to a macro 360 degree view of what is involved.  We see this tendency all the time.  Any group of people given a project task go straight into the gruesome detail.  In project planning, a pinch of planning goes an extremely long way. Having a common and clear set of rules helps to ensure we are all approaching the project in the same vein.</p> <p> </p> <p>Here are ten rules for ensuring that what needs to get done is completed on time and to expectations.</p> <ol> <li>Mind our business. Keep our eye on the ball, especially defining what is inside and outside the project scope.  This often changes mid-steam so we need to be nimble and adjust accordingly.</li> <li>Know the customer’s requirements. Double check you have properly understood the detail, document it and keep checking against that documented record, especially if there are changes needed.</li> <li>Plan well. The plan will cover the scope, schedule, cost, approach etc.  Involve task owners to gain buy-in and apply a strong reality check to what you have created.  Strangely, the planning value comes from the creation process and not just the project outcome.  It forces some hard thinking, tough prioritisations, player commitments, clear controls, smooth coordination and cooperation.  Basically, the things at which most companies are usually rubbish.</li> <li>Build a great team with strong ownership. Motivation of the team is critical, so we need total clarity around the WHY, trust, communication, sufficient resources and mutually agreed deadlines.</li> <li>Track progress. Frequent reviews, wide visibility, broad communication and clear goals are needed.  There are hard and soft aspects to most projects, so