Project Management is the application of knowledge and skills to ensure that the requirements of the project are met. Project management is essential because it makes sure that what is delivered is right and brings leadership to projects. Additionally, project management leads to proper planning to meet the goals of the project.
There is also adequate control of the quality and management of risks. The role played by project managers is being eliminated by many organizations. It is essential to make sure that you have experienced before getting to manage the project.
At times, some project managers indulge in project management without having the required experience, and this makes things tough for them. Nowadays, there is software that is being used to manage small projects. Thus, project managers are not required for such projects. A person who is getting started with project management should consider the following tips:
1. Ensuring that you have a project
A project involves all the activities that need to be accomplished and which have a time frame. Also, the project should have its deliverables. A deliverable is an outcome that the project is expected to give at its completion.
The project manager hands over the activities of a project to some employees who give him the outcome. There is a difference between a project and ongoing work. For instance, when a person writes some content for a project every week, that is ongoing work.
2. You should have Discovery period
This is the time when the people who want to start the project determine what they want to do with the project. They could hold a meeting to explore what they want to achieve. The general and specific objectives of the project are set.
Also, the project has to have an aim and purpose. All the resources that will be needed for successful completion of the project have also to be set aside after proper budgeting. The other important thing is deciding on the end date of the project.
3. You should define the Project’s Scope
The scope shows what the project is expected to cover. What is not in the scope should not be in the project. That means there needs to be a work breakdown structure showing all the activities and the time allocated to each.
Once a list showing the scope of the project has been prepared, nothing should be added to it. Adding something else means that time needs to be extended, which should not happen. Also, more resources will be required and which was not there in the budget.
4. A kickoff meeting should be held
In this meeting, everybody who will play a part in the project is introduced to it. The way forward is determined, and thus everything becomes clear to everybody. Everyone grasps the project and hence does their part as required and with ease.
The four things that are defined during the kickoff meeting include milestones and deliverable. Moreover, the players, duties, their duties, and project scope are defined. All people are introduced to one another, and the hierarchy is also revealed.
Thus, every player knows who they shall report to. The milestones in the project show whether it is progressing in the right direction. For instance, pouring the foundation when building a house is a milestone.
Professionals in other fields also need to figure out the time in which these milestones should fall. However, adjustments in the milestones should be made where necessary.
5. You should do a mapping of the project deadlines
Every project should have a start and end date. The project kicks off during the start date and is closed during the end date. For a project that involves the use of software, all the essential dates are uploaded in the software. The players are then invited into the app and assigned their roles.
6. You should ensure proper communication
Communication should be appropriately facilitated and should be open. It is good to decide on the frequency with which updates will be received. For instance, all teams will be giving an update on progress after one week to the project manager.
How communication will be done should be kept clear, as well. Trello vs taskworld is helpful in project management since teams can share ideas and get work done to achieve the set goals.
Wrapping Up
Project management is the use of knowledge and skills to make sure that a project goes as required, and it leads to the delivery of the desired outcomes. This is due to proper planning that makes sure that there is god coordination of activities. Additionally, it is good to make sure you have a project, discovery period, and the project’s scope all in hand before initiating any project.
