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Here’s a list of the qualities of good project managers and what Project Management is all about to get you started:

To start with Project Managers should:

• Involve all the group members
• Have excellent communication skills
• Have access to all project information
• Have a shared desired outcome from their team
• Have specific dates for completion
• Have all the required tools (when needed) in order to finish.
• Be enthusiastic

Project Management is about:

• What
• Where
• Who
• How
• When
• How much
• Fixing specific dates and commitments from the group members.

Success is dependant on leadership skills and maintaining the enthusiasm of the group members, mixed with the correct resources, and a shared sense of urgency in order to bring the project to completion.

Here is a simple outline that may help in organising the project and the participants.

1. Determine the objective and specific desired outcome.
2. Write it down.
3. Identify and organise the people who are required in order to bring the project to completion.
4. Ask them to participate, and comment on their belief that the project can or will be successful.
5. Identify a project leader and co-ordinator, this should be accepted by all involved in the project.
6. Begin “brainstorming” and create scenarios on how to achieve the desired outcome.
7. Make a date when all this will be finished and a written draft can be printed and shared.
8. Identify the factors that influence or limit the project that are beyond your control and factors that are in your control
9. Identify the risks that might surface.
10. Write this down.
11. Determine and identify the tools, the people, and the time required to complete the objectives.
12. Write this down.
13. Organise the people involved in the project.
14. Review the proposed project, the factors of influence, the tools, people and time.
15. Determine the best path, tools, time frame, and write it down.
16. Organise the tasks and sub-tasks in chronological order.
17. Write it down.
18. Ask each participant if they are committed to participating in the project, finishing their tasks on time and reaching the final outcome.
19. Develop a list of initial actions and outcomes that must be started and finished.
20. Identify the responsible parties and dates.
21. Write it down.
22. Request realistic dates for the completion of tasks
23. Write it down.
24. The leader must follow-up on all dates and compromises. Make this information public to all others involved in the project.
25. Communicate all deliveries of sub-tasks, or lack of delivery with the group.
26. Make sure that the group knows the status of the project at all times.
27. If a group member is unable or unwilling to finish tasks on time, discover why and take immediate action to support or replace the member.
28. For any major problems or setbacks, get the group together to work out new scenarios and dates of completion.

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PRINCE2, project management, project team

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This entry was posted by Colin Welch on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 2:29 pm and is filed under PRINCE2 & Project Management. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.