Why bother with Projetc Management ?
Well, let’s look at a few key points and remind ourselves of some of the very obvious advantages that we often lose sight of. Sometimes it helps to see things plainly again !
“What is a project?”
It has a BEGINNING and an END...
...with OBJECTIVES and precise results ...
...it involves many USERS.
It operates in a structured environment, with different PHASES
... which can be broken down into lists of TASKS
And all of these things are INTERCONNECTED.
Every day, any number of different projects are started up in a company : the launch of a new product/a new version, incorporating new software (ERP, CRM), setting up a new website etc. etc.. Whether it’s a repetitive daily task or a one-off operation, each project has different objectives and requires different resources and has a different deadline.
Sometimes, it seems like a waste of time setting up guidelines and planning a project through to the end. The temptation exists just to launch headlong into the execution of the project. Unfortunately, this inevitably results in badly structured meetings that waste time and a flurry of largely unneccesary emails. All of these things defocus our team, lower our motivation and often lead to the abandonment of the project altogether.
That’s why it’s so important to set up and plan a project.
The easy way to do this is by simply asking the following questions:
What is the objective?
What are the milestones / target dates?
Who are the people involved?
What is the project’s deadline?
This planning phase is crucial because it will lay the outline for a series of activities that can be organized, followed and monitored. You will then have transformed a simple To-Do list into a managable project where nothing is left to chance.
Project Management is relevant for any organization that has goals, or is resource or deadline orientated.
In conclusion, I think we can say that the creation of projects is common to most types of business but successfully attaining objectives relies on good management. Planning, organization and communication in a centralized environment are the keys to good Project Managment, especially when several people, both internal and/or external, are involved.
In our next blog we will go back-to-basics about why sharing and teamwork are at the heart of successful Project Management.
Check back with us soon for our next update.
The Planzone team