Mastering the Basics of Project Management: The Project Charter

In project management environment, a project charter is a very important document, project definition or project statement is a statement of the scope, objectives and participants in a project. It provides a preliminary delineation of roles and responsibilities, outlines the project objectives, identifies the main stakeholders, terms of reference (like a project dictionary) and defines the authority of the project manager. It serves as a reference of authority for the future of the project.

You must always remember that the project initiation process is a critical component of the overall project delivery process because the time lost “up-front” identifying and formalizing new projects necessities is seldom recovered throughout the remainder of the project life cycle. No matter what you call the document that is used to initiate the project, the process and content utilized to capture and approve the project concept will have a significant impact on time to market and reduce the number of “false starts” associated with new project requests. Consistent and well-understood project initiation processes and deliverables makes it “easier to do business” with the project delivery organization.

Dilbert – KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid!

 

A smart tip: always plan your Project Plan as simple as possible. Always!

Mastering the Basics of Project Management: Managing Distributed Project Teams

The rise of the Internet, the creation of a global high speed network, and the rapid development of long distance communication technologies has made it very easy for people all over the world to work together. It created a global platform that has allowed more people to plug and play, collaborate and compete, share knowledge and share work, than anything we have ever seen in the history of the world.The new communication technology gives teams a great advantage by providing many options that didn’t exist many years ago, such as allowing employees to work from their homes locally or by working together in teams across the continents.

The dispersion of team members often leads to a number of problems, however, including difficulties in communication and coordination, a decline in trust, and an increased inability to establish a common ground. Consequently, many companies and Project Managers have struggled with how best to manage these “virtual teams.”

In the two and a half years I worked as a Senior Project Manager at IBM, I used led project teams in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Oceania, so I know well the advantages and disadvantages of this new sort of teamwork. In this article we will discuss some tips and key mistakes to avoid in managing distributed project teams.

Mastering the basics of project management: Establishing Team Rules of Engagement

Generally speaking, in military or police operations, we could define “rules of engagement” as the rules of engagement (ROE) determine when, where, and how force shall be used. Such rules are both general and specific, and there have been large variations between cultures throughout history. The rules may be made public, as in a martial law or curfew situation, but are typically only fully known to the force that intends to use them. The ROE should comply with the generally accepted martial law.

The same type of mechanism should be done at the project management. As the project manager, it is your responsibility to assure the whole team is brought on board with expectations managed, an understanding of their part, and guiding principles to assure project success.

Project Management Made Easy – Project Planning

Via Geek & Poke.