Use Project Standards to Make your Projects Successful

Projects have failed because there is no standard for the project team to follow. Without project standards there could be chaos and demoralization on the project. This will lead to budget overrun, inconsistent project results and eventually failure. Project standards establish a benchmark for the current and subsequent projects to follow. A typical project methodology that can help to create a project standard is the Project Management Institute (PMI) methodology. The PMI methodology has been used for projects in various industries many times and has been successful.
So, how do we create project standard? The important steps to be considered are: Define Terminology, Use Life Cycle, Have a Guideline in place, Careful with your choice, and enforce conformity.

Define Terminology: Stakeholders (anyone with vested interest on the project) on the project need to understand each other. Therefore, creating terminology that everyone understands is very helpful. After all 90% of project management is communication. It is a good idea to agree on Glossary of Terms that everyone is trained to use on the project.

Use Life Cycle: It is mandatory that project standard considers life cycle. A typical PMI project life cycle is as follows:
• Initiation – Create authoritative document to get the project approval and select the stakeholders going to work on the project.
• Planning – Plan the project that includes requirements, budget, resources, quality, risk, and schedule.
• Execution – Implement what is planned appropriately.
• Monitoring and Controlling – Ensure that all work is going on according to requirements and plan, and if not corrective action need to be taken.
• Closing – When the implementation/Execution is completed and accepted, it is time to bring the project to a closure.
It is important to let the project team understand the adopted life cycle in use. These standards must be used with subsequent projects. It is important that one life cycle is used at a time to keep sanity and confusion within the project environment.

Have a Guideline in place: Initially culture training may be useful to indoctrinate the team to follow standard guidelines. Standards must be adhered for everyone to be in the same tune. This avoids chaos and confusion on the project. Continuous training on the project can enforce the team to follow guidelines.

Careful with your choice: Standards may be changed slightly to fit into the company standards and culture. It is possible that certain standards of the PMI methodology may not be compatible with the company culture.

Enforce conformity: It is almost useless to create standard and no one follows it. Frequently, the teams must access that the standards put in place are being followed to expectation. This check creates conformity and lead to project success.

How Can eService Place Help the Economy?

Economic recession proof environment answer is right by your door! How about having an environment where you can make money by utilizing your skills and expertise, and get you out of the gloom feeling of current economic pinch?

Yes, eServiceplace is an environment (market place) that can be utilized by people of all background with skills to make money, and service requesters to save money. People with skills can offer their skills as service providers. We see a lot of people out there who need some sort of service such as tax preparation, carpentry, plumbing, and other service needs; 4500 Service Categories are grouped in eServicePlace. We have individuals who can offer their skills and are able to provide service work with high quality, but at an affordable cost.

So, what does it all mean to the service provider and the service requester? The service provider can earn money and does not have to wait for an employer to hire. The service requester can get the same work done with all the high quality at an affordable cost, saving money. In the end it is a win-win situation to everyone contributing to the economy. Hope you take advantage of this opportunity! It is there to help you come out of the gloomy economy. Check out www.eServicePlace.com!

Website: www.eServicePlace.com
Email: support@eServicePlace.com

Why Project Management Office (PMO) is important for Medium to Large Organizations?

Why Project Management Office (PMO) is important for Medium to Large Organizations?
PMO in medium to large organization is the department or group that ensures standard in the organization is adhered to. The PMO strives to maintain the standardization, which eventually saves the organization reputation in doing projects. The PMO is the source of guidance, documentation and metrics on the practice of project management and implementation. Often PMO will follow a project management methodology such as PMI (Project Management Institute). It is not unusual that organizations are collecting, borrowing and defining best practices in project management.
According to Standish Group Chaos Report, 1995, inappropriate use of PMO can lead to project failure and eventually lead to economic disaster.
Within the PMO project tasks are followed up from beginning until project completion, and reporting to the management in a strategic manner.
The suggestion on creating effective PMO is as follows:
. Provide project management consulting services.
. Collect, organize, and integrate project data for the entire organization.
. Develop and maintain templates for project documents.
. Develop or coordinate training in various project management topics.
. Develop and provide a formal career path for project managers.
. Provide career path for project managers.

Absolut-e Data Com, Inc (www.absolut-e.com) can help your organization to create an efficient PMO. Feel free to contact archie@absolut-e.com anytime.

Need to Deliver Projects Successfully

Every project sponsor deserves successful completion of the project being paid for. For projects to be successful it, requires important criteria that are as follows: (1) Being truthful, (2) Delegation of work, (3) Take risk serious and real, and (4) Plan smartly.
(1) Being truthful,
It is important that we are truthful when we work on projects. Telling lies or not straight forward may lead to disaster in the long run. Based on PMI methodology, it is important to follow the structure such as feasibility study from Initiation Process Group to Closing Process Group. So, if the project idea is not achievable, it is important that one say it ahead of time, rather than spending time and money that is not provide useful product. So, identified problems must be communicated to the stakeholders, especially to the sponsors. Deliver what you promised, to retain credibility.
(2) Delegation of work
A project manager with expertise in a position such as a programmer or analyst may believe that s/he can do it all. However, as a project manager it is important that you delegate work to your team. It is important to remember that you can not do it all. The team members are there to help the project manager to accomplish the work on the project. Any successful accomplishment on the project brings credit to the whole project team. So, project manager must delegate and monitor the work. Usually there is a need to support the team in many ways. By delegating the work on the project, frees the project manager to do other things such as leading and motivating the team. We must not underestimate the responsibilities of the project manager. S/he wears many hats such as leading, counseling, and motivating the team.
(3) Take risk serious and real
It is important to take risk serious and real. There is risk on every project. Unless you have carried out Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS) you will not realize the list of risks that are on the project. This process on the project is crucial, and if not carried out may determine the success or failure of your project. Identified risks must be monitored and mitigated frequently and appropriately.
(4) Plan smartly
It is important to have a process in the project environment. To do this templates have to be used to enable everyone to understand how work has to be done. This removes difficulty for new people to join the team and promotes smart execution/implementation on the project.

Project Management Management Business, Funding and Security

Project management can be used to manage business, security, and funding. Each of the subject areas can be broken down to Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Control, and Closing. This methodology has been used by the Project Management Institute (PMI) to management such projects. What are your thoughts in the approach? You are welcome to discuss the pros and cons on similar experience you have encountered.