Comprehensive Project Management Guide: From Problem Definition to Project Closure
This comprehensive guide covers aspects of project management from defining the real problem to managing project problems and closure. Learn about stakeholder identification, setting objectives, preparing trade-offs, defining activities, managing budget, and more.
Comprehensive Project Management Guide: From Problem Definition to Project Closure
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Presentation Transcript
Planning • Defining the real problem • Identifying the stakeholders • Setting the objectives • Preparing for trade-offs • Defining the activities
Define the real problem • Perceived need or purpose for what trying to do • What led people to see this as problem to be solved • Who has a stake in the outcome • How do stakeholders goals differ • What criteria will be used to determine success of project
Identify stakeholders • What functions or people might be affected by project’s activities or outcome • Who contributes resources – people, space, time, tools, and money – to the project • Who will use and benefit from output of project
Set project objectives • Specific • Measurable • Action oriented • Realistic • Time-limited
Aspects of project • Quality – determine how to satisfy and measure quality standards • Organization – roles, assignments, relationships, right people • Communication – information for stakeholders and how to deliver • Risk – determine and evaluate possible responses
Prepare for trade-offs • Time • Cost • Quality • Quality = Time + Cost
Define activities • Use work breakdown structure • Major Tasks • Sub-Tasks • Time duration
Starting the project • Assemble the team • Set the schedule • Develop a budget
Assign People to Tasks • Who is part of the team • What skills are required • Talk with each team member about their skill set • Match people to tasks and skills required
Plan a kick-off meeting • Discuss roles and responsibilities • How to work together • Commitment to plan • Commitment to schedule
Create project schedule • Know which deadlines have no flexibility • Make tasks no longer than 4-6 weeks • Use work breakdown schedule and assign deliverables • Identify bottlenecks • Establish communication system
Develop a critical path • Critical activities must be completed on time to meet project deadline • Tools • Critical path diagram – flow chart • Performance Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) chart – flow chart • Gantt chart – bar chart
Develop a budget • Determine line items – personnel, travel, training, supplies, space, research, capital expenditures, overhead • Other possible costs – training for staff and users, maintenance costs, licensing fees, outside support such as legal or accounting, etc.
How to manage the project • Stay on the critical path • Decide what to delegate • Monitor project’s progress • What is important? • Timely information • Corrective action • Monitor project’s budget • Ensure quality control • Report progress to stakeholder
How to manage the problems • Mission creep or change in scope • Time slippage • People • Team structure • Interpersonal • Productivity
Ending the project • Post-project evaluation • Spirit of learning • Outside facilitators • Future status • Ongoing critical tasks • Risk assessment • Information relevant to other projects • Useful final report
Barbara J. Ford • Mortenson Center for International Library Programs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • bjford@uiuc.edu