Project Management

The process of creation of a new product or services together with its implementation and product launch is in general a good candidate for being handled as a project.

“A project is well defined, determined by goal, complex in domain and social context, new, risky, and dynamic.”

Main objective of product management is to ensure that the desired results are realized under the three constraints cost, time, and scope. Those constraints are also called “project management triangle”. Neither of the constraint can be changed without effecting the others.

Project Management Triangle

The exact correlation of those constraints varies from project to project, but in general the factors are competing.

Project Management Triangle
Diagram: Project Management Triangle

Project Management Triangle
Diagram: Project Management Triangle

But for example, an increased scope requires more time and money, less money means longer project time or reduced scope, etc.

“Fast - cheap - good: you can have any two.”

A successful project manager will be able to envision the entire project from start to finish and lead the team efficiently using tools and techniques of project management.

top↑

Human Factor

Project management deals a lot with social factors. Finally it is people — the team — who create the success or failure.

“Project management must not get reduced to tables, sheets, numbers, and deadlines.”

A good project manager will be a leader, who guides and motivates the team. He will pay attention to the social undertones and react accordingly. In our opinion leadership contributes more to the success of a good project manager than domain specific skills.

top↑

Tools

There are literally hundreds of different project management tools and software programs on the market to choose from. Many project offices and project owners believe that the more tools, report forms, etc. they use the better will be the outcome. At the end the team members end up getting stuck in filling out those reports, don't get their work done and loose their motivation quickly.

“Do not kill the ‘energy’ of your team by over-controlling!”

In many organizations employees do project related work on top of their usual work load and probably work in more than one project at the time. Project management tools should be employed depending on the actual needs of that specific project. They should not be a burden.

top↑

Checklist

We can observe many reasons, why some projects perform badly or fail to achieve their goals. We have summarized some typical areas of problems, which are sometimes overlooked by even experienced project managers and owners.

Make sure that your project does not lack in the following aspects.

Leadership
“It is about people” — A project manager is responsible to the project owner, but he also has to support his team. Especially in difficult situations.
Quick response to changes
Whenever an external or internal change effects the project one must act quickly. “Time constantly erodes alternative paths for reaction.” The longer you wait, the less you can do about it. Only in very rare cases you may “sit out” the problem without damage.
Competent team members
Too often new employees are delegated into projects. They might have fresh knowledge from college, but a solid lack of experience and good-standing within the organization.
Good communication
Each organization and each person has a different preference for type of communication. Also different situations require different forms of communication. The project organization should build as necessary on top of this “natural flow”.
Precise definition of the goals
An inprecise definition of the project's goal does let too much room for individual expectations by management, team members, etc. A good and complete definition helps to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Realistic resource planning
Always keep the “project management triangle” in mind. Nobody wins at the end, if the proposed schedule, budget, and scope is within the range of what the corporate management might wants to hear, but will not standup against reality in long term.

Good luck with your project or contact us now to get on the right track fast or continue reading about Consulting & Coaching.

If you like this Web page, “digg it”, “stumble it”, “redd it”, “furl it”, … with the widget below. Your favourite social bookmarking tool is inside. Check it out!

Bookmark this Web page with your favourite tool:

top↑