Project Management Fundas

Transcript

Dev: Boss, you just gave me another project while I already have my hands full.

Boss: Have you ever heard of multi-tasking, Try that!

Dev: But I believe that it lowers work quality and efficiency.

Boss: Those are all myths. Watch me! I will take this call while you continue talking.

Dev: Well, multi-tasking has been found to increase production of cortisol, the stress hormone. And research suggests that those who multi-task more had less empathy and emotional control.

Boss: I am done with the call. Sorry, did not quite catch the last part. What was that?

Dev (thinking): Sometimes I am glad he multi-tasks.

Project Human Resource Management
Elimination of resource multitasking reduces conflicts between priorities and keeping team member focused on those items that are critical for project success. All of these benefits support reducing project risk and reaching the end goal of finishing the project on time, within budget and without scope reduction.

Agile Approaches in Project Management | 11 Apr 2018

Tags: #Agile Approaches in Project Management

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Boss: Dev, looking at your track record and your competencies, we are putting you in charge of Project Swift but...

Dev (thinking): Gasp! Pere comes the "but".

Boss: ....make sure it is complete within two months. We have to showcase this at the upcoming conference.

Dev (thinking): I knew this was coming!

Dev: Boss, I have come to understand that Project Swift is quite complex and so not possible to complete within two months. There is so much to do. Project planning, Documentation,...

Boss: Oh, don't worry about planning and documentation. As you are aware we will be following Agile approaches in this project.

Boss: Now isn't that a silver lining for you and the team!

Dev (thinking): Silver lining? How ignorant. I wish I had a Silver Bullet instead.

Agile Approaches in Project Management
Though there is extensive Flexibility in Agile projects, planning is required continuously and inherently. Secondly, whether Agile or Waterfall, documentation is crucial as it provides the team to physicalize valuable knowledge gained during the project.

Project Communication Management | 04 Apr 2018

Tags: #Project Communication Management

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Boss: Dev, I want you to do the demo of our new application to our US based clients next week. Remember to choose a mutually convenient time as they are quite busy and difficult to get through.
Dev: ok Boss!

Boos: By the way, I am on a business tour so you will have to drive the demo. Make sure it goes well.

A week later
Boss: Just back in office from my tour. So how did the demo go? What was the client feedback?
Dev: Boss, actually we took all care to choose a mutually convenient time, sent the calendar invite which was accepted but…

Dev: …when the client turned up an hour later we realized that it was the same day the Daylight Savings Time change was introduced.

Boss: Dev, you just frightened the living daylights out of me with this news. It was an important meeting. How could you forget?
Dev (thinking): Oops!

Project Communication Management
Significant portion of a project manager’s time is spent in communicating with stakeholders, what is going to be done. For clear and effective communications one needs to consider all factors like different realities, the space the communication takes place in, verbal/non-verbal messages, etc.

Project Resource Management | 28 Mar 2018

Tags: #Project Resource Management

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Team Mate 1: Guys, I am so looking forward to the long weekend. I am going out for a hike with my friends. What about you all?
Team Mate 2: Yes, me too!

Cafeteria
YAY!! Wohooo!!! Yippee!!! Clap Clap Clap Clap

Boss: Team, I am quiet keen to know what this excitement is all about but before that one important update. We have an important pitch coming up and I want you to share critical data that I need over the weekend for the same.

Boss: Remember, this pitch is for a prestigious client so the team will need to gather some motivation and enthusiasm to work over the long weekend.

Team Mate 1: My enthusiasm and motivation just “went for a hike” after hearing this…what about that!
Team Mate 2: (Furious)

Project Resource Management
A project leader needs to use emotional intelligence to increase co-operation by identifying, assessing, and controlling sentiments of team members, anticipating their action and acknowledging their concerns.

Project Management Approaches | 21 Mar 2018

Tags: #Project Management Approaches

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Boss: Ravi, I have some bad news for you. The management has decided to downsize you and your team.
Ravi: huh! What?

Ravi: Boss, this is so unfair. The team has always performed beyond expectations and you know that well. Then why?

Boss: Ravi, this has nothing to do with performances. The organization has decided to adopt agile approaches and practices for managing projects henceforth.

Boss: So we won’t need project managers like you any more.
Ravi: eh!!

Boss: I hope you understand me.
Ravi (thinking): Of course I do understand you and your ignorance about the fact that there is no “one-size-fits all” approach to managing projects.

Project Management Approaches
To lead your project to success, there are many methods — agile, waterfall, hybrid, and many more — and often no single approach will do. It’s important to find the right method to match the needs and requirements of your project.

Project Communications Management | 14 Mar 2018

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Boss: Did you finish the project tasks we discussed in our last meeting?
Dev: Hmm, well kind of?

Boss: What do you mean “hmm, kind of.” Dev, clearly we need to work on your sense of urgency.
Dev: But Boss, I did manage to complete 80% of the tasks and…

Boss: And what? The balance 20% is waiting for Christmas, is it?!

Dev: That 20% is what I could not understand as you rambled off since you were rushing for a meeting.

Boss: But why did you not come back for clarification. You know I have a “Open Door Policy.”
Dev (thinking): Yeah, of course! Your door is always open but sadly, can’t say the same about your mind.

Project Communication Management
Project leadership calls for clear communication about goals, responsibility, performance, expectations and feedback. Regular reporting of the project’s progress and feedback is crucial to the success of the project. Communicating in a clear and precise manner is paramount, so that all understand what the key messages are.

Project Time Management | 07 Mar 2018

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Dev: I heard you have put me onto yet another project. I am already neck deep in others and with one more, I will not be able to put my head above water.
Boss: Dev, stop over playing. I am sure you will get on with the project like a duck to water.

Dev (thinking): I wish the projects also rolled off easily like water off a duck’s back.
Boss (humming some music)

Project Time Management
Many organizations have several projects going on at once. This requires thorough project resource planning because usually team members are active on several different projects, all at the same time. Also, scheduling becomes complex when the same resources are shared across divisions, with different project managers. It can also lead to your best resources becoming burned out.

Project Human Resource Management | 28 Feb 2018

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Boss: I am putting you on Maya’s project as she will be going on medical leave a week from now.
Dev: huh!

Boss: Make sure the necessary handover is completed.
Dev: But Boss, I am a Data Analyst and Maya’s project scope is beyond my understanding. So how will I ..

Boss: Dev, when will you learn to step up and be enterprising? Moreover, this project is not at all complex. You can take it up as a small challenge.

Two weeks later
Boss: How is the project “Square Peg in a Round Hole” coming along?
Dev (whispers): Just like it should be…in a hole!

Boss: Say that again...
Dev (thinking): Never mind, he will never get it!

Project Human Resource Management
Selecting the ‘right’ people to manage projects is the key to minimizing project failures, maximizing organizational efficiency, improving time to market, and increasing profits. With the right project managers in place, projects are managed more effectively, increasing the probability for success and return on the project management investment.

Project Communications Management | 21 Feb 2018

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Boss: Your project milestone has been missed by almost three weeks. Do you want to explain?
Project Manager: So it is like this…In the last quarter I have been drawn into several project status meetings where nothing concrete was discussed and not much was achieved.

Boss: huh!
Project Manager: Yes, I did an analysis of where most of my productive time was wasted. And I have realized that it was only attending meetings where there was no pre-set agenda, there was ineffective handling of action items, spending time on tangents and ill-prepared team members.

Project Communications Management
Effective status meetings are those that not only benefit the project manager, by providing timely task updates, but also benefit the entire team, by providing a venue for recognizing milestone achievements, sharing information, and bringing problems/issues to the team.

Project Human Resource Management | 14 Feb 2018

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Dev: Boss, as you are aware, the Financial Management application that we are developing needs to be integrated with third party application.
Boss: Yes Dev, I know…but why do you look concerned?

Dev: Because the team does not have required knowledge and exposure to work on this third party application..
Boss: Oh is it!

Dev: To avoid any unwarranted delay and also for future maintenance requirements, I propose we train them.
Boss: Sorry to say this but we no longer have training budget.

Dev: But why Boss?!
Boss: We are doing business in difficult times where every penny counts, moreover, training programs don’t add much value according to me.

Dev (thinking): I know what he is thinking right now. But the only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay as said by Henry Ford.
Boss (thinking): Train them and then see them leave to join competitors. No way!!

Project Human Resource Management
Training is an important technique for developing project teams. It helps to improve skills and competencies, and employee motivation, reduces staff turnover rates, and improves overall project performance.

Project Human Resource Management | 07 Feb 2018

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At the team meeting…
Project Manager: Team, we shall be starting with our new project from next week. And for that I have made a perfect project plan which details out all the resources, tasks and dependencies related to this project.

After sometime…
Project Manager: Now that each one of you knows what tasks have to be accomplished we shall meet in couple of weeks for a quick update on the same.
Maya: Yes!

After two weeks…
Project Manager: Did you all finish the tasks that we talked about in the last meeting?
Team Mate 1: Yes!
Team Mate 2: Yes!
Team Mate 3: I have finished only half of my part and for other half I am waiting for Maya’s input.

Project Manager: Huh! So where on earth is Maya? She is the key resource for this project.
Team Mate 3: She had to take an early maternity leave on doctor’s advice and she said won’t resume office any sooner…

Project Manager (thinking): Oh boy! How did I forget Maya’s early maternity leave sanction in the Human Resource Management Plan.
Team Mate 2 (whispering): Looks like this project will go on a “pregnant pause” mode now.

Project Human Resource Management
As part of the Human Resource Management Plan, the Resource Calendar documents the time periods that each project team member is available to work on the project after taking into consideration their constraints, including time zones, work hours, vacation time, and commitments to other projects.

Project Stakeholder Management | 31 Jan 2018

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Boss: Dev, I have to give a presentation at the board meeting next week and I want you and your team to put that together for me. It’s urgent so make sure it gets done on time and without my supervision.

Dev: But Boss, we are working on a project already which is urgent and on tight deadline.
Boss: Dev, stop making excuses and learn to multi-task. No ifs and buts.

After a week..
Boss: Dev, your project is a week behind schedule. Want to explain?
Dev: Yes! By all means!

Boss: huh!
Dev: A week is exactly the time you made me and the team spend on your presentation for the Board meeting. By the way, I heard it got postponed?

Boss: Whoa, stop right there young man! A good manager can manage anything…I am sure you have heard this before, from me. So don’t justify with lame excuses.
Dev (thinking): I wish I could learn just one thing - How to manage a boss?

Project Stakeholder Management
It includes processes required to identify people that could impact or be impacted by the project, to analyze stakeholder expectations and their impact on projects, and to develop appropriate management strategies for effectively engaging stakeholders in project decisions and execution.

Project Communications Management | 24 Jan 2018

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Boss: Guys, I have a very important project to be assigned to one of you. It needs to be initiated ASAP as we are pretty tight on it’s deadline.

Boss: But before that I need status updates of projects from both of you. Dev, you go first!

Dev: Boss, I have my plate full already. If I take it up then that would leave me with very less time to focus on my ongoing projects. And that would lead to missed deadlines! Are you okay with that?
Boss: Huh! Ofcourse not!

Boss: Ravi, since you don’t have much to say on this, I assume you have enough bandwidth to take this project.
Ravi (thinking): If I say ‘No’ I might look unproductive and moreover my appraisals are around the corner. So I better say yes.

Boss: Let me assure you that this is a very prestigious project for our organisation and is of topmost priority.
Ravi (thinking): Looks like every project in this organisation is of top priority…don’t know what to focus on!

Project Communication Management
Some organizations have not sufficiently defined their goals and strategies. If top management is unclear on project priorities, then it is given that the entire organization is also not clear about which projects need to be taken on priority. Eventually, leading to an overworked and unhappy team.

Project Communications Management | 17 Jan 2018

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Project Manager: Maya, why haven’t you done those minor changes in the code, yet?

Project Manager: They were supposed to be done yesterday itself. Client had a demo scheduled today! I had mentioned so in my mail too!

Project Manager: I doubt if you read my mail ever.
Maya: Oh! Looks like you are talking about the mail which had a long and rambling conversation thread.

Project Manager: huh!
Maya: It was such a confusing and overwhelming email..

Project Manager: So?
Maya: It took lot of time for me to understand what needed to be done from my end. And by the time I figured that, it was time for me to leave for the day.

Project Communication Management
Significant portion of a project manager’s time is spent communicating what is going to be done. Hence, for effective and efficient communication, project manager needs to consider all the factors like the different realities, the space the communication takes place in, verbal as well as non-verbal messages, and the intended meaning versus the perceived meaning, etc.

Project Communications Management | 10 Jan 2018

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Project Manager: Boss, how could you assign Maya on another project? How am I supposed to complete the project on time, now. She was the only key resource on my team.
Boss: What! Your project is still going on? I do not remember seeing any project status updates since it started. So…

Project Manager: So…so what Boss!
Boss: The management thought that the project has fallen through and so we decided to move the resources to the new one.

Project Communication Management
In fast paced environments, many times project managers share team members with other project managers. Sponsors and executives do not have access to updated schedule/reports until it is too late to either redirect the effort or to cancel the project. Hence, executives must communicate to all team members the importance of updating tasks/projects on regular basis.

Project Time Management | 03 Jan 2018

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Boss: How is “Smooth Sailing” project coming up?
Project Manager: Great! boss. No sweat at all.

Following month…
Boss: I have not heard much on “Smooth Sailing.” No news is good news I hope.
Project Manager: Absolutely fine. We are smooth sailing.

Two months later…
Boss: We are one month away from the project deadline. Hope all well.
Project Manager: Boss, I am glad you asked. We have hit rough weather with “Smooth Sailing.” We have missed certain deadlines on the project…and may even go over budget.

Boss: What! Were you sleeping the last two months? Why did you not come earlier to me?
Project Manager: No Boss, there has been schedule slippage and ..

Boss: Don’t say a word! All these months I have been telling the client that “Smooth Sailing’ is indeed smooth sailing. And now what do I tell him? That it is in hot waters?!

Project Time Management
Control Schedule process helps to update project progress and manage changes to the schedule baseline to achieve the plan. The key benefit of this process is that it provides the means to recognize deviation from the plan, take corrective actions and thus minimize risk.

Project Stakeholder Management | 27 Dec 2017

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Project Manager: Boss, we are just a week away from the go-live date. Today during the demo, we had invited the concerned users to provide their feedback and a final go-ahead.
Boss: Ok, then what!

Project Manager: The Head of IT Operations and his team members were also there. And they rejected the project outright saying that project has a direct impact on other important operational processes.

Project Manager: They said that we cannot implement these software changes without taking care of that first.
Boss: What! Were they not aware of these changes when we started work on this project?

Project Manager: Hmm…Unfortunately no.
Boss: How come? Did you not identify them as important stakeholders and get their buy-in?

Project Manager: Boss, you told us that it was critical that the project be delivered on time. So we hit the ground running. And hence totally missed including them. What do I do now?
Boss: Now only thing you can do is pray! Only God can salvage you, me and the project.

Project Stakeholder Management
It is important to identify the people, groups, or organizations that could impact or be impacted by the project, analyze their expectations, and to develop appropriate management strategies for engaging them in project decisions and executions.

Project Human Resource Management | 20 Dec 2017

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Boss: As a cost-effective approach, our USA counterpart has decided to outsource part of a new project work to our India Team. It’s quite an interesting and challenging project. And we got to work collaboratively.

Boss: By the way, schedule a meeting in the coming week for a better understanding of the project. And yes, they are going to handover the project requirements during the meeting, so please be attentive!
Project Manager: Sure Boss!

Next week…
Project Manager: Boss, as proposed, I did schedule a meeting with our US team but I could hardly understand what they spoke. I think it was their accent. Believe me I was all ears!

Boss: What time did you schedule the call, may I ask?
Project Manager: Hmm..it was around mid night.

Boss: What! Why could you not suggest them to schedule the call at a mutually convenient time? Their accent was not the problem but it was your assent to have a call at such an unearthly hour.
Project Manager (thinking): Uh Oh

Project Human Resource Management
In today’s increasingly complex and competitive global market place, technical skills are simply not enough. Project managers and team members are required to have soft skills such as negotiation and influencing skills to make a project successful.

Project Human Resource Management | 13 Dec 2017

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Dev: Boss, need your urgent attention. I just realized that the technology to be used for Project Steadfast may not be cut out from our existing platform.

Boss: huh!
Dev: Yes, it could make the application slow and unstable with bugs. Also, may lead to development failure.

Boss: Whoa! Stop right there! I know you are the Project Lead but who's the boss here?! No need to teach me the technical details. I have 30 years of experience. I know what's right and what's wrong.
Dev (thinking): huh!!!

3 months later...
Boss: Dev, I have just been told that Project Steadfast is in trouble. You have to do something about it urgently.
Dev: I knew this would happen. Didn't I tell you long back about this issue. See, I am so good at anticipating problems but you don't even value it.

Boss: I wish you were even half as good at convincing me and forewarning me. We could have surely averted this situation today. Now get this sorted out at earliest.
Dev: huh!

Project Human Resource Management
Effective negotiation skills are critical for a project manager to be successful. It is important to embrace a mindset that everything about a project is negotiable and that a project leader needs to be a skilled negotiator. Hence, right up front is the necessity to define project success and establish desired outcomes.

Project Time Management | 06 Dec 2017

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Project Manager: Maya, are you done with the Test Code module?

Maya: Nope! But it will be done by the end of next week!

Project Manager: Why so late?

Maya: That’s because I am still awaiting part of the code from this guy from the other department. The same guy you got in to help us with our project…

Project Manager: huh!

Maya: Unless he sends me the same I cannot finish the task.

Project Manager: Why don’t you put pressure and get it out from him?

Maya: That looks difficult. My last call to him was just yesterday and his voice mail said…”Hi there, I am away on vacation this week. Remember it is December, the time when we need to consume our pending leaves before they lapse.”

Project Manager (thinking): Oh no! I should have known. December month always stresses me out!

Project Time Management

Projects are rarely conducted in isolation and while managing them one is mostly likely to encounter dependencies. Dependencies are the relationships of the preceding tasks to the succeeding tasks. It is important for project managers to understand these relationships when looking to improve the project schedule.

Project Human Resource Management | 29 Nov 2017

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Team meeting...
Boss: Team, don't look so tensed. Relax! I have not called for this meeting to reprimand you on your dismal performance which caused the last project to fail.
Team mate 1: Oh really! It seems like it though.

Boss: ...But as a forward looking leader I want to offer something valuable to you. This I am sure will surely motivate the dispirited team.

Team mate 2: Is it a compensatory leave for all the weekends we worked in last 3 months?
Boss: Nope! You have to sign up for a Performance Improvement Plan which includes attending a tutorial after office hours for the next one month.

Boss: And this will be funded through your salary budget. So expect a cut in your next month's salary.
Team mate 1: huh!! huh!!

Team mate 2 (thinking): Is this motivation or entrapment?
Team mate 3 (thinking): What can we expect from him anyway!

Project Human Resource Management
If a project is to succeed, it must have both a motivated project leader and a motivated project team. To encourage positive "change management", top management should provide an appropriate environment to support and motivate project managers because this can take away the negative effect brought by previous project failure.

Project Communications Management | 22 Nov 2017

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Boss: Dev, I need you to come with me to a meeting..
Dev: huh??..OK!

Dev: Excuse me Boss! What is this meeting about?
Boss: Err, hmm…ahem!

Dev: Sorry, I didn’t get that.
Boss: I am not sure about it myself. I think there will be a discussion on marketing strategies for the new product launch.

Dev: Err Boss, but I am a technical person and I know nothing about marketing.
Boss: Oh, don’t worry about that. I want you there just in case they ask some technical questions. I need you to field those queries. Got it! Now just come along.

Dev (thinking): Someone wants to look good in the meeting. But what about me? Hope I don’t look like I have lost my way in the meeting room.

Project Communications Management
Most project meetings are for the purpose of resolving problems or making decisions. To have purposeful meetings, they need to begin with a defined list of issues to be discussed, which are circulated in advance to appropriate stakeholders with minutes and other information documented specifically for the meeting.

Project Communications Management | 15 Nov 2017

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Boss: Dev, as you are aware, we have bagged a new project which requires developers with JAVA expertise. I understand we don’t have enough resources with those skills. Is that right?
Dev: ummm…Yes!

Boss: So as the project manager, I suggest you take the responsibility of hiring the best resources available in the industry. Just remember that this project will start in two weeks from now, so start looking right away!
Dev: huh!?..OK!

After a week…
Dev: Boss, I have finally managed to put together the best resources for our new project that too at a short notice. And..

Boss: Oh, didn’t I tell you? Our client has changed the entire project technology strategy. We do not require JAVA professionals now.
Dev: What? We had put in so much hardwork to get the best people on board in limited time. Now what do I do with them?

Boss: Dev, you worry too much on small issues. We will figure out later. Now you focus on the current requirements.
Dev (thinking): huh!!

Project Communications Management
Project managers spend most of their time communicating with team members and other project stakeholders. Effective communication creates a bridge between diverse stakeholders who may have different perspectives and interests, which impact or have an influence upon the project execution or outcome.

Project Integration Management | 08 Nov 2017

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Client: Our project is three months behind schedule. What is causing the delay?
Project Manager: If you ask me, it’s all because of your team’s toing and froing on the project.

Client: Toing and froing?
Project Manager: Yes! Since they are not sure which features are exactly required in the application, they are always chopping and changing the scope.

Client: What do you mean by chopping and changing?
Project Manager: Yes, your team keeps suggesting changes to be done in the application now and then.

Client: Change is good! We should learn to embrace it. Remember, the only constant in life is change, especially in these disruptive times.

Project Manager (thinking): There I get it!! Now I know where the team gets support for their “half a mind” decisions.

Project Integration Management
Project Integrated Change Control is the process of reviewing all change requests, evaluating its impact and communicating the same to the client to obtain necessary approvals on change requests. Thus, helping in reducing project risks.

Project Communications Management | 01 Nov 2017

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Boss: Mr.Dev…you skipped yet another important project meeting today. Your presence as Senior Tech.Lead was much required there.
Senior Tech.Lead: What? Which meeting? No one informed me about it.

Boss: I had sent an email to all concerned more than a week back so that there is ample time for preparation.
Senior Tech.Lead: Email? I have not received any email regards this meeting.

Boss: I had also marked it as “Urgent meeting” so it is not missed out.
Senior Tech.Lead (thinking): uh-oh!!

Senior Tech.Lead: Oh ok! Now I understand. Well, you see, I receive umpteen number of emails with “Urgent” in the subject line every day. It is never easy to figure out which is truly urgent and needs action.

Senior Tech.Lead: Next time if there is anything really urgent, I recommend that you inform me personally as well. I won’t miss it that way.

Project Communications Management
Plan Communications Management is the process of developing an appropriate approach and plan for project communications based on stakeholder’s needs and requirements, and available organization assets. The key benefit is that it identifies and documents the approach to communicate most effectively and efficiently with stakeholders.

Project Schedule Management | 25 Oct 2017

Tags: #Project Schedule Management

Transcript

Project Manager: Jay, the project team has been waiting for you to deliver the few lines of code since last two weeks.

Project Manager: Why is it taking so long? The project is getting delayed because of your procrastination.

Project Manager: Just put an extra bit of urgency in your work and ensure you get it done by the end of the day.

Senior Tech.Lead: There is a saying,”Patience is a virtue” and also best things in life are worth waiting, you see!

Project Manager: Huh, best things in life??
Senior Tech.Lead: Yeah, like me and my work! Slurp!

Project Schedule Management
Dependency analysis is a technique used to analyze the dependencies between activities. A dependency exists whenever the outcome of an activity or the occurrence of an event influences the execution of another activity. An examination of the dependencies helps structure the process model.

Project Schedule Management | 18 Oct 2017

Tags: #Project Schedule Management

Transcript

Boss: Our project is six weeks behind schedule…you have to do something to get it back on track.
Employee: but Boss…it is because we are under-staffed and…

Boss: No excuses!!....I don’t mind even if you and your team have to work overtime and for that matter even work on the weekends…
Employee: huh!

Boss: so till the issues get ironed out, this office is your home and your team is your family! I shall check on the project status exactly after three weeks from now …OK?

After 3 weeks..
Boss: Gaaah, what happened? You look like a hit and run victim.
Employee: You can say that again! I have been attempting project crashing to get the project on track.

Employee: This is the effect of overtime, somehow bringing in additional resources, and last minute coordination.

Project Schedule Management
Crashing is a schedule compression technique used to shorten the schedule duration by adding resources and without reducing the project scope. Crashing works only for activities on the critical path where additional resources will shorten the activity’s duration.

PMI’s Pulse of the Profession | 11 Oct 2017

Transcript

Project Manager: Team, I have some news for you. Our new product was launched successfully on time and within specified budget. So kudos to the project team!

Team mates in Conference Room: YAY!! WOHOOO!!! YIPPEE!!! Clap Clap Clap Clap

Project Manager: Hold on… Hold on!! I’m not done with the news yet! That was the good news. Now brace your heart for some bad news.
Team mate 1: Huh!!!
Team mate 2: Huh!!!
Team mate 3: Huh!!!

Project Manager: The client has said that the project objectives are no longer in tune with the overall business strategy of the organization.

Project Manager: ..and hence the project outcomes will not be of any benefit to the company.
Team mate 2 (thinking): I hope “our benefits” do not get affected due to the same.

Benefits Realization Management (BRM)
It can be defined as the processes and practices for identifying benefits and aligning them with formal strategy. Through BRM, organizations can ensure that project and program benefits are realized and sustained.

Project Risk Management | 04 Oct 2017

Transcript

Boss: Are we all set for the launch of the new website, tomorrow?
Project Manager: Yup! Absolutely!

Boss: Good! But make sure there are no unexpected problems cropping up at the last moment!
Project Manager: Yes Boss! Don’t worry! All that is taken care of.

Next Morning at the Website Launch
CRASH!

Boss: Our server has crashed. Our network is down… The website launch has been thwarted…the client is bombarding me with incessant calls! Can you please explain!
Project Manager: Oh! It could be the power outage!.

Boss: What!!! If you remember, I had clearly told you to take care of these problems beforehand.
Project Manager: But you asked me to take care of ‘Unexpected’ problems..while this one was a Scheduled Outage carried out for some routine maintenance.

Project Risk Management
Project risk is an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on one or more project objectives. Known risks are those that have been identified and analyzed, making it possible to plan resources for those risks. Known risks that cannot be managed proactively, should be assigned a contingency reserve.

Project Scope Management | 27 Sep 2017

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Boss: How did your client meeting go?
Project Manager: Excellent! The client wanted a few simple features to be added to the product design but…

Boss: But..but what?
Project Manager: I suggested that we should add some more awesome features and make it more useful.

Boss: Why on earth did you do that?
Project Manager (thinking): huh!!!

Boss (thinking): agghhhh!!!
Project Manager: Err…ahem! Boss, you always keep telling us to go above and beyond our responsibilities and make positive impact on clients…and so…I

Boss: Of course…it has made an impact but only on our timelines and budget!
Project Manager (thinking): Bad decision! I guess!

Project Scope Management
Gold Plating is giving the customer something that he did not ask for, not part of the project scope, often something that the client may not want and possibly even beyond what is practical or reasonable for the effort.

Project Human Resource Management | 20 Sep 2017

Transcript

Post launch meeting
Boss: Team…as you are aware, our project went live yesterday successfully. Kudos to all! But it’s not all over yet. We still need to provide project support for the next six weeks.

Boss: I want you all to work full steam and provide required technical support at all times without any breaks.
Team mate 1: Sure, you can depend on us for that!

Technical Support Cell
Client: Hello! I can’t seem to log-in to the application. It is giving error messages.

After a while..
Night Watchman: I don’t seem to see any problem with the application…the problem must be…ahem! Your technical ignorance… maybe.
Client: WHAAT! Are you out of your mind! Who am I speaking to, by the way!

Night Watchman: I am the night watchman. I am handling the calls till the support team is back from their break.
Client: SLAM!

Project Human Resource Management
Human Resource Planning is used to determine and identify human resources with the necessary skills required for project success. Effective planning should consider and plan for the availability of or competition for scarce resources.

Project Scope Management | 11 Sep 2017

Transcript

Client meeting in progress…
Client: Your organization is known in the industry for being customer-focused and adaptable. As clients we are highly impressed!
Boss: And I am flattered, thank you!

Client: So on that note, here are a few features I want you to add in the application.
Boss (thinking): That’s something outside the project scope… but not doing so will taint our “customer focused” image.

Back in office after client meeting
Boss: How is the new project coming along?
Project Manager: It is going as per plan. Thankfully, no delays so far.

Boss: That’s great! Here are some additional features which the client wants to be added to the application.
Project Manager: But we cannot deliver the project on time if the customer adds features which are not part of the scope.

Boss: Stop the excuses. We are known in the industry as being customer-focused. Do not forget that!
Project Manager (thinking): What happens to the focus which my team may lose because of this scope creep.

Project Scope Management
Scope creep is one of the most devious problems commonly faced by project managers. To avoid it, clear and well-managed scope is a key element to successful projects. If the product scope and its requirements are not clear and specific, it is a ‘breeding ground’ for scope creep.

Project Human Resource Management | 04 Sep 2017

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Boss: Dev, I have mailed you the Project Plan. Please take a look and send me your inputs. I am sure it won’t take much of your time.
Dev: hmmm!

Next Day..
Boss: Dev, your help is urgently needed on Project Da Vinci…the team is stuck with a complex coding issue. And yes, I also want you to train the new team members for our project. Be patient with them, they are newbles!
Dev: Huh, But Boss..I have..

Next Day…
Boss: Hey Dev! Ravi just called in sick. So now I want you to step in and go for the requirement-gathering meeting on his behalf. And by the way, have you completed the white paper document I had asked you to work on?
Dev: huh!

Many such days later..
Boss: Why is your project still not complete? Are you saying nothing has been accomplished in the past few weeks.
Dev (thinking): He has conveniently forgotten that I have completed all his sundry urgent tasks, on time.

Boss: Can you at least enlist a few significant activities?
Dev (thinking): I wish I had recorded all those “outside of my scope” tasks that he was happily dishing out to me while my project suffered.

Project Human Resource Management
Conflict is inevitable in a project environment. Sources of conflict include scarce resources, scheduling priorities, and personal work styles. Team ground rules, group norms, and solid project management practices, like communication planning and role definition, reduce the amount of conflict.

Project Resource Management | 30 Aug 2017

Tags: #Project Resource Management

Transcript

Boss: Psst! Is there some sort of masquerade party in office for which I haven’t been invited to?
Project Manager: No Boss! Actually, off late, I had noticed lot of conflicts among our team members. It was the main reason for their inefficiency and project delays.

Boss: So what’s with the masks I see on their face?
Project Manager: To resolve these constant fights and arguments, I came up with this “Conflict Resolution Plan”, which I hope will lead to team harmony and congeniality.

Project Resource Management
The success of project managers in managing their project teams often depends a great deal on their ability to resolve conflict. Successful conflict management results in greater productivity and positive working relationships.

Project Human Resource Management | 23 Aug 2017

Transcript

Dev: Boss, the team worked day and night and also sacrificed their weekends to complete this difficult project, way before the deadline.
Boss: Good work, Dev! I am impressed with your leadership skills as always. See me tomorrow in my cabin.

Dev (thinking): It is appraisal time, so I hope there is good news in store for me tomorrow. Maybe a decent raise.

Next day…
Boss: Dev, I know you are extremely hardworking and talented. But due to current challenging times, company has decided to give you just a 2% raise. But don’t worry, I have something to offer you which will make you happy.
Dev: What!?

Boss: Ta-dah! A new challenging project. A good opportunity to showcase your project management skills and excel as always!

Dev (thinking): I don’t know if I am rewarded or punished for doing good work.

Project Human Resource Management
People are motivated if they feel they are valued in the organization, whether through tangible or intangible rewards. A good strategy for leaders is to give the team recognition throughout the life cycle of the project rather than waiting until the project is completed.

Project Human Resource Management | 16 Aug 2017

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Boss: As per requirement, we have hired new resources for your new project. Now tell me, how much confidence do you have in completion of the project on time?
Project Manager: huh!

Boss (thinking): His silence is whittling my confidence in this project, for sure!
Project Manager (thinking): How can I tell him that this bunch of new hires are just freshers who are incompetent to handle the project. They have been hired on a meagre salary just to stay within budget.

Project Human Resource Management
If project team members do not possess required competencies, performance can be jeopardized. When such mismatches are identified, proactive responses such as training, hiring, schedule/scope changes need to be initiated.

Project Human Resource Management | 09 Aug 2017

Transcript

Co-worker: Ma’am, could you spare some time to review my code?
Senior Tech.Lead: Nope! Don’t have time. Neither do I get paid for doing menial jobs for my co-workers.

Co-worker: Huh!
Senior Tech.Lead: Now, let me focus on this important presentation, “What makes a good team leader?” which I am preparing for tomorrow’s meeting.

Project Human Resource Management
Interpersonal skills are behavioral competencies that include skills such as emotional intelligence, negotiation, influence, team building, communication skills, etc. These soft skills are valuable assets when developing the project team.

PMI’s Pulse of the Profession | 02 Aug 2017

Transcript

Boss: I heard that your team has not started designing the new application, yet!
Dev: We have not yet got any clear user requirements on this project..everything is vague and ambigious..

Boss: Mr.Dev, we don’t have time to gather requirements. It’s a tight deadline.. So start working on it right away!
Dev (thinking): There is definitely no time to gather requirements but now I need time to gather my wits to figure how to start this project.
Other Team mates: Confused.

Pulse of the Profession:
Requirements Management
Requirements are involved in many issues that cause project failure, including scope creep, poor communication, lack of stakeholder involvement and inadequate sponsor support. PMI’s Pulse of the Profession* study revealed that nearly half (47 percent) of unsuccessful projects fail to meet goals due to inaccurate requirements management.

Project Scope Management | 26 Jul 2017

Transcript

Project Manager: Before we start working on the new website design project,”Chop and Change”, I wanted to document all the requirements.
Client: Sure, how may I help you?

Project Manager: Let me begin with asking you, what’s your primary goal for the site? …What do you want most from it?
Client: The primary reason is to get more inbound leads and enquiries.

Project Manager: Ok, so I put that as lead generation.
Client: Wait, hmmm..I also want it to increase brand awareness, educate our audience and encourage sales.

Project Manager: Ok! So I will also include these as primary goals.
Client: No wait! Can we also add encouraging onsite or social media interaction with our community? In current times, we cannot forget the importance of social media engagement.

Project Manager (thinking): Now I realize why my predecessor named this project as “Chop and Change.”

Project Scope Management
Indecisive clients can be a huge stress. Before being baselined, requirements need to be inambiguous, complete, consistent and acceptable to key stakeholders. This ensures that the client is specific with their requirements, as well as helps to keep the project on track.

Project Human Resource Management | 19 Jul 2017

Transcript

Boss: Guru, as you know, our Database Analyst has put in his papers. I want you to fill in for him till we find his replacement.

Guru: But Boss..I am a Reporting Developer. I don’t know much about data analytics and.

Guru: And as you see, I have got enough on my plate already! So if you could look for someone who could be more useful.

Boss: Don’t worry Guru, we will arrange your training through webinars for you so that things get easy for you.

Boss: And yes! I will make sure the webinars are scheduled during your lunch hours so that it does not impact what you have “ON YOUR PLATE” already!

Project Human Resource Management
Failure to acquire the necessary human resources for the project may affect project schedules, budgets customer satisfaction, quality, and risks.

Project Scope Management | 12 Jul 2017

Transcript

Project Manager: Boss, here is the detailed plan for the project,”Here Today Gone Tomorrow” that you had asked for. It has the details of resources, tasks, and dependencies, right to the granular level.
Boss: Uh oh! Didn’t I tell you that this project has been shelved?

Project Manager: What! But you said you needed it urgently. I have been staying up the past whole week to complete it and now..
Boss: Don’t worry, we will use this plan for another project. I won’t let your efforts go waste.

Project Scope Management
The development of the scope management plan and detailing of project scope begin with information contained in project charter. Hence, it is important to correctly define the project charter at the initiation stage to avoid any difficult situations in the planning stage.

Project Integration Management | 05 Jul 2017

Transcript

Client meeting in progress…
Client: We can give you this project but you will have to deliver it within six weeks, which is just in time for the upcoming trade show.

Boss: Yes, don’t worry. We will complete the project in given time. Even if it means working late at night and over weekends!
Project Manager (thinking): What!!! Is he out of his mind? The timelines are way too ambitious.

Project Manager: pssst… Pssst… Boss, six weeks seems quite unrealistic. We have not even gathered the user requirements, the scope of work and we don’t even know whether we have enough resources to manage it in so less time.

Boss: Don’t be a pessimist. We need this project. Take this as a challenge, it will be good for your career growth.

Project Manager (thinking): I don’t know if this project will help my career grow but it will definitely put my career at stake!

Project Integration Management
Reviewing and understanding the scope of the project is important at the initiation stage as it includes project/product requirements , criteria, assumptions, constraints, and other influences. Without this information the project is less likely to succeed.

Project Risk Management | 28 Jun 2017

Transcript

Project meeting with the client…
Client: We can give you this project but you have to deliver it in 6 weeks… coz we have to showcase it at an upcoming trade show.

Boss: Yes don’t worry ! We shall finish this project in given time…even if it means working all night or even on the weekends!
Project Manager (thinking): What!?! Is he out of his mind? It’s time to put some sense in him!

Project Manager: pssst…Boss! 6 weeks seems little unrealistic…We have not even gathered the user requirement, we don’t know the scope of work and we don’t even have enough resources to work on this!

Boss: Don’t sound pessimist or we may lose out on this project…Take this as a challenge, it will be good for your career growth.

Project Manager (thinking): I don’t know about the career growth but I surely will regret choosing this as a career path.

Project Risk Management
Start a project on the right foot by having enough resources right from the get go. Get expert advice from people who have worked on similar projects. Without this information the project is less likely to succeed.

Project Integration Management | 21 Jun 2017

Transcript

Project Manager: Team, I want to hold a Project Status Review Meeting at 4 pm. Please keep everything ready!
Team mate 1 (thinking): Meeting…Not again! It seems like just yesterday we had the meeting. And it’s a Friday evening, come on! Get a life!

Project Manager: Hey, don’t stress about it. It’s just a stand-up meeting. I need to update your Super Boss on our project status.
Team mate 1 (whispering to Team mate 2): I bet this stand-up meeting will be a stand-up comedy. He can’t just inform us last minute.. We are not prepared with required details.

Project Integration Management
Project Status Review Meetings should be prepared with a well-defined agenda, purpose, objective and time frame and should be appropriately documented with minute meetings/action items.

Project Human Resource Management | 14 Jun 2017

Transcript

Project Manager: Team, I hope you are ready with your work status updates for our new project.
Ravi: Yup, we meet in the conference room at 10 am sharp.

At the team meeting…
Project Manager: Ok Team, let’s go around the table so each one can give an update on tasks accomplished last week.

Project Manager: Let’s begin with you Ravi.
Ravi: I wrote Test Script for the product and currently working on few bugs that are there in the script.

Project Manager: Great. What about you Maya?
Maya: Even I wrote Test Scripts for the product..because you had asked me to do the same.

Other two Team mates (together): That makes four of us!
Ravi: uh! Ho
Maya: Huh!
Project Manager: Confused.

Project Human Resource Management
No matter what project size, the job descriptions should be clearly defined. Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RACI Matrix) is a grid that maps out who is Responsible, is Accountable, must be Consulted with, and shall stay Informed.

Project Scope Management | 07 Jun 2017

Transcript

Boss: We have a meeting coming up with a new client. And I want you to capture all the business requirements from them. Please don’t forget to document, as this client is known to be “dynamic.”
Project Manager: Sure, you can count on me for that!

Requirements Collecting Session:
Project Manager hypnotizes the Client.

Project Scope Management
Collect Requirements is the process of determining, documenting, and managing stakeholder needs and requirements to meet project objectives. The key benefit is that it provides the basis for defining and managing the project scope.

Project Communications Management | 31 May 2017

Transcript

Weekly Team Meeting…
Project Manager: Team, can you see the dip here! That’s our productivity curve nose-diving. We have to step up to the plate now!

Suddenly…
Project Manager: Where has the team gone?
Team mate 1: You just told us to step up to the plate. So they rushed for their much awaited lunch.

Project Communication Management
The Control Communications process requires discussion and dialogue with project team to determine most appropriate way to communicate project performance, and to respond to requests from stakeholders for information.

Project Communications Management | 24 May 2017

Transcript

Project Manager: Excuse me Boss! May I have a minute? I wanted to share some interesting ideas for our next project.
Boss: Sure! My doors are always open for fresh ideas. But kindly excuse me today. I have to rush for another meeting. Meet me tomorrow.

Next day in Boss’s cabin…
Boss: Hope you don’t mind if I make a few important calls while you present those new ideas to me?
Project Manager (thinking): He sure has an “open door” policy for new ideas, how I wish he had his ears open too!

Project Communication Management
The act of listening is one of the most effective ways to understand and to influence both project teams and project stakeholders. Stakeholder satisfaction and project team receptiveness may rise when the project manager practices mindful listening.

Project Human Resource Management | 22 Mar 2017

Transcript

Boss: What's taking you so long on the project? It should have been in the 'TESTING PHASE' by now!
Project Manager: Yes! I know its behind schedule but can't help our key developers are on an exended vacation!
Boss: So now... What's your Plan of Action?
Project Manager: Now that we are already behind schedule and don't have enough time to fix the bugs, I think we should skip testing! What do you think?
Boss: Skip!!??!! what?? Are you serious??
Project Manager: Yes, because if the project release date is delayed even by a day, it may spell Doomsday for our division's future!
Boss: And you better think about what your future will be with this company.
Project Human Resource Management: When staffing issues disrupt the project team from adhering to the project management plan such as causing the schedule to be extended, a change request at the appropriate time can be processed through the Perform Integrated Change Control process.

Project Integration Management | 15 Mar 2017

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Employee: What would you like to know, Sir? The future of the project? Project Manager: Err, yes you are right. It's been many months and I am still struggling with the project delivery. I want to know where I am going wrong in spite of doing everything right. Employee: Hmmm, well I cannot say it has a bright future. But if you put a strong Project Management Plan in place your fortunes may change for the better. Project Manager: Huh! Project Management Plan? Project Integration Management: Developing a Project management Plan is a process that belongs to the Project Integration Management knowledge area. It defines how the project is to be executed, monitored and controlled, and closed.

Project Scope Management | 08 Mar 2017

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Project Manager: How is your coding coming along? Are you done with it? Employee: Almost done! Just a few tweaks before it goes to the testing phase... you can say this project is so far, Smooth Sailing! Project Manager: Smooth Sailing, huh! Unfortunately, I will have to take the wind out of your sails. The client just called and has asked for changes in the scope of the project. Project Scope Management: Change happens, and project scope management includes the process to manage scope changes through formal change control procedures and make sure the project will still come in on time and within budget. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Project Human Resource Management | 01 Mar 2017

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Boss: For the Crucial projects starting next week, I recommend that you and your team use the new tool we talked about sometime back. Project Manager: err, but I mentioned to you that my team is new to this tool and they will need training before we start work on the project. Boss: Sorry you are aware we are running on a tight project, deadline and moreover, this project has no budget allocation for training. It is time to show your leadership skills, friend! Project Manager: Forget leadership skills, I will need to hone my training skills first! Project Human Resource Management: Organization that perform well invest in their talent, with defined career paths for project and training on the use of project management tools and techniques. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Project Human Resource Management | 22 Feb 2017

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HR Manager: we are looking for an experienced JAVA professional for an upcoming project. Your resume does say you are JAVA expert but does not specify in what way. Can you elaborate on your skills? Candidate: I can drink about 20-30 cups of coffee a day which keeps me super-productive. Also my past experience in a cafe has helped me gain insights on different kinds of coffee beans, creamers, and sweeteners. All this Experience makes me fit for the job I would say! HR Manager: huh!! Project Human Resource Management: While acquiring projects teams, the selection criteria needs to include whether the project team member has relevant experience, knowledge, skills, competencies, and right attitude among other factors, to ensure project success.

Project Scope Management | 15 Feb 2017

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Project Manager: It's your first ever project requirements gathering meeting with the stakeholder, today. So just make sure you document all the potential requirement. And get clarify if there are any doubts.. Business Analysts: Yup!! Project Manager: ...and don't forget to get those requirements agreed with the stakeholders Employee: Don't worry! They don't call me Mr. Safe hands for nothings! After the meeting is over Project Manager: How did the meeting go? Business Analysts: It went very well! I document all the potential requirements and even got a sign off on the same... but..... Project Manager: but??? What??? Business Analyst: I wonder why the stakeholders repeatedly mentioned words like... "etc", "almost", "Kind of", "among other things" ....so often, while explaining their requirements. I assume that it means... Project manager: I know what it means. It means that this project looks risky in your hands, Mr. Safe Hands! Project Scope Management: Requirement need to be elicited analyzed and recorded in enough detail to be included in scope baseline. Also, they need to unambiguous traceable, complete, consistent, and acceptable to key stakeholders. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Project Communications Management | 08 Feb 2017

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Boss: How is the new project coming along Mr. Manager? Hope it's as per the time estimates finalized in the Kick-off meeting last week! Project Manager: New Project? Time estimates? I have no clue about this? When was this meeting held? Boss: How can that be possible? My secretary had sent the invite to everyone on the project team. Project Manager: He is either hit by amnesia or his secretary sent the invite to someone else in the office with the same name. Project Communication Management: The key benefit of Plan Communications Management process is that it identifies and documents the approach to communicate most effectively with all stakeholders, Hence, planning the project communication at an early stage is important to the ultimate success of any project.

PMI’s Pulse of the Profession | 01 Feb 2017

Transcript

Employee 1: Why is our project manager looking hassled as if we have missed the project deadline? Employee 2: I fear, we may miss the deadline if he doesn't get a buy-in from our Sponsor soon. Project Manager: You have reached my voice mail. Sorry, I am not available because..... Either I am 1. On a vacation. 2. Slightly under the weather. 3. Not in a mood to take the call. PMI's Pulse of the Profession: With actively engaged executive sponsors, organizations can bridge the communications gap within the project team to boost project success rate and reduce risk. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Project Human Resource Management | 25 Jan 2017

Transcript

Team Member 1: What happens when you are called for the kick-off meeting and you realize that everything about the project gets discussed but your 'Roles & Responsibilities' Team Member 2: Hmm, I guess it will end up with project gaps which we will fall into, followed by blame game and finger pointing and then we will wait for some one to pull us out of those gaps. Team Member 1: Huh!?! Project Human Resource Management No matter what project size, job descriptions should be clearly defined. One way to define each team member's role is to define a responsibility assignment matrix, also known as RACI matrix. It describes the participation by various roles in completing tasks or deliverables for a project or business process.

Project Time Management | 18 Jan 2017

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Boss: I heard your project is running behind schedule! How soon can this project get rolled-out if I hire more staff? Project Manager: Hmm...you can add six more months of 'ramp-up time' which includes time for their orientation, training & supervision to prevent any gaps and allow smooth functioning. Boss: Hmm..and...after all that? Project Manager: Be ready for more uncertainty, ambiguity & complexity in this project. Project Time Management Crashing is a schedule compression technique used to shorten the schedule duration for the least incremental cost by adding resources. The Cost and schedule trade-offs need to be analysed before taking it forward. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Project Human Resource Management | 11 Jan 2017

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Project Manager: Our Subject Matter Expert is on leave today, so I want you to fill in for him just for today's meeting with client. Intern: But...err I am just an intern here and still learning the ropes. Project Manager: Don't worry, you will be fine. You will be just the "Front Man" in the meeting. Also, I will ensure, you will not be cornered with any difficult questions by the client. Intern: Er....but.. At the project kickoff meeting... Project Manager: Hello everyone! Thanks for joining this meeting. Before we start, let me introduce you to our team. He is our Subject Matter Expert... Intern: eh..mm..hello everyone! Soon after the team introduction Project Manager: Excuse me Team. I need to step out to take this call. seems urgent! Intern: (thinking) Uh-ho That sounds more like warning bell for me! Client: While he is out attending the call, I want to ask the team a quick question. Any specific strategy that you have on your mind for this project? Intern: (thinking) The only strategy on my mind right now is the "EXIT" Strategy! Project Human Resource Management Meetings are powerful tools that allow project teams to get through the maze of distractions and hurdles and most important point is to ensure right people are in attendance to accomplish the meeting objectives. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Project Stakeholder Management | 04 Jan 2017

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Project Manager: For our project Kick-off meeting next week, here is the list of potential stakeholders who need to be there for the meeting. Their valuable insights will help us a lot in making the scope document. Project Sponsor: Hmm... I think we should ignore #1 and #4 because I strongly feel that these two are not going to make any significant impact on the project, per se. Project Manager: (thinking) My entire effort of carefully identifying key stakeholders will now go down the drain, thanks to his personal preferences. Project Stakeholder Management The ability of the project manager to correctly identify and manage the stakeholders in an appropriate manner can mean the difference between success and failure.

Project Communications Management | 28 Dec 2016

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Boss: Since you are the new team member travelling onsite for the first time, it is important that I give you knowledge transfer of the project. Team member: Oh great! That would be really helpful for a seamless project execution. Boss: So this project is all about... Jargon..blah blah..jargon..blah jargon.. blah.. blahblah! So that's all about it. Hope I was clear! Team Member: All that mumbo jumbo has started to make me feel sick suddenly. I am more confused than before. Project Communication Management The biggest challenge is surrounding the language used to deliver the project related information. It is often unclear, peppered with project management jargon and does not clearly convey business benefits.

Project Human Resource Management | 21 Dec 2016

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Project Manager: You are creative and smart hence I want you to write a white paper, "Pitfalls of micro-managing projects" But let me tell you that everything needs to be validated by me, first. Team member: (thinking) I think I have had it with his micro-management. I will quit this job before I go crazy. Next Day, Team member: I have decided to call it quits. I will be sending you an official email of my resignation, shortly. Project Manager: Oh is it! In that case, email the draft of the resignation letter for my review before you send the final version. Project Human Resource Management Micro-managing dents the team's morale, creates mistrust and undermines resourcefulness of staff. This is where interpersonal skills of the project managers become important. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Project Time Management | 14 Dec 2016

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Boss: Oh! What's this? Why is your team looking haggard and out of sorts? What happened to them? Team Member: This project was going perfectly fine until you come in and advanced the project timelines. And since then... ...my team is working day and night on this project. They have no time to eat or go to sleep. Theremorale is at an all time low and they have started looking like zombies. Boss: (thinking) No wonder this project seems to have stonewalled with escalations from the customers. Project Time Management Scheduling compression techniques like Crashing and Fast-tracking are used to shorten the schedule duration without reducing the project scope. However, either of these should be applied depending on project requirements only.

Project Human Resource Management | 07 Dec 2016

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Boss: We need creative ideas for our next project. I want each one of you to bring something good to the table, tomorrow. Team: Yes!!! We shall Next day at the brainstorming session Boss: Team, I hope you all have got some out-of-the-box idea for our next project. Team: Ofcourse! We have..! Boss: On, let's start with you! Poor in your ideas. (After hearing the first idea...) Brilliant! Lets go ahead with this one. Team: And what about our ideas? Aren't you going to hear them at all!! Boss: For now, we can keep them for repository... We could use them for our next project... that way we won't waste time... what say? Team: What about the time we have wasted coming here for nothing? Hmmph! Project Human Resource Management People are motivated if they feel they are valued in the organization and this value is demonstrated by the recognition given to them. Most are motivated by an opportunity to grow, accomplish and apply their professional skills to meet new challenges.

Project Human Resource Management | 30 Nov 2016

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Boss: Thank you all for coming to the project kick-off meeting. There are certain strategic decisions that need to be taken for this project. And since I am the Subject Matter Expert whom you all look up to, I will be taking all the required decisions. Team Member A: I guess you know what happened to the last project... thanks to his habit of "over estimation" & jumping to conclusions Team Member B: Oh yes! Project Human Resource Management In planning meetings, it is important to incorporate multiple viewpoints and insights from differing perspectives, have co-operative attitude and open dialogue which can lead to consensus and commitment.

Project Risk Management | 23 Nov 2016

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Boss: Team, here is the plan for our new project. It may look complex at first but I assure it will guarantee project success. Any comments on the plan? Team Member A: psst... Why am I having a deja vu at this point of time? Team Member B: That's because he is showing us the same project plan we used for our last project. And as you know, that was a success. Team Member C: I have read the project scope and charter for the new project and this plan may not work. Project Risk Management All projects are unique and although they may have common characteristics, different projects need to be managed in different ways. "One Size fits all" approach may not work.

Project Communications Management | 16 Nov 2016

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Boss: How is your project coming along? Project Manager: Oh! Are you asking about the under-funded, poorly-planned project with unclear goals and demoralized, overworked team? Well, its a piece of FAILURE! (Next day, the Boss gets a call from an important Project Stakeholder) Project Stakeholder: How is my project coming along? Boss: It's going great, as per the project plan and the entire team is gung-ho abou the project! Looks like we will complete the project on time. Project Communication Management Maintaining accurate, open and regular channels of communication with all levels of project staff and stakeholders is vital for improving project success rate.

Project Risk Management | 09 Nov 2016

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Boss: There is this new technology that's making news so I suggest that we use it in our ongoing project. What do you think? Project Manager: But, err.. This project is halfway through and moreover, we do not have the expertise who can use it, they may need training. Boss: Oh Come on! You are sounding so archaic ' and 'Stuck-in-the-Mud' Project Manager: (thinking) And what if the project gets stuck in the mud! Project Risk Management Relevance and applicability of new technology to a project has to be researched to check its impact on team's ability to get work done. If it benefits then proper training to be provided. This will help mitigate risks associated with usage of new technology.

PMI’s Pulse of the Profession | 02 Nov 2016

Transcript

Project Manager: I heard we are doing this "In Sync" project. Is it true? Boss: Yes. But why are you asking? What's the matter?? Project Manager: It doesn't align with the overall business goals and strategy of our company that was proposed at the beginning of the year. So..is there any point in doing? Boss: (thinking) How do I tell you? It is going to make my image look good. Of course, that's why! Aligning Strategy and Implementation In a business world of constant change and disruption, c-level executives will increasingly need to call on their project management offices to insure high alignment of projects to organizational strategy.

Project Risk Management | 26 Oct 2016

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Project Manager: Thank you all for coming to this Kick-off meeting! I am going to keep it as simple and short as possible. And hence... this one is going to be a NO-AGENDA meeting Team Member: But we need clarity on the project objectives, timelines, our roles in it, and the overall approach! Project Manager: Remember! It's a No-Agenda meeting... so no questions or queries will be entertained.. or else it will affect the flow and pace of this meeting... Hope you understand. Team Member: (thinking) But you are failing to understand that the pace and flow of this project may get affected! Project Risk Management All team members need to have clarity on their roles, responsibilities, key project milestones and deadline dates. Otherwise the project runs a risk of not meeting customer requirements and eventually project failure.

Project Human Resource Management | 19 Oct 2016

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Team member: Boss, I have some interesting ideas to bounce off for our ongoing project. Do you have some time to discuss the same? Project Manager: Sure, why not. Let me have a look at it. (After going through the ideas...) Project Manager: These ideas are so "Out of the Box" that they should get a place right there. Outside the box! What say?! Project Human Resource Management Project manager need to be collaborative and open to differing ideas and perspectives. They need to use a combination of technical, interpersonal, and conceptual skills to analyse situations and interact appropriately with team members.

Project Risk Management | 12 Oct 2016

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Project Manager: Our Senior Test Lead has quit the company. So I want you to fill in for him till we hire a new recruit. Team member: But....err...I am the Techical Architect. I don't know anything about testing. Project Manager: Your performance appraisal is due next month, isn't it Mr. Dependable? Team member: (thinking) Looks like there are "Testing Times" ahead, for me. Project Risk Management Draw up Contingency Plans to control the impact of risk related to resource scarcity, which may lead to project failures.

Project Risk Management | 05 Oct 2016

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Boss: Team, I would like you to meet our new Project Manager for "Skating on Thin Ice" project. Boss: He has no experience in this field, but he is keen to learn the ropes in his new profile. And I expect you all to respect his learning curve. Team: (thinking) Dooms Day!!! Project Risk Management Build a team based on required skill sets and experience and not the availability of resources, as that could put the project at risk.

PMI’s Pulse of the Profession | 28 Sep 2016

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Boss: That was quite a productive Requirements Gathering meeting we had today! Don't you think so? Team: Yes!!! Very much agree! Boss: But team, I think that the features requested may be beyond what the development team can deliver in the available time? Team: No worries, Boss! We will sort these requirements into categories as per priorities and that will make our task simpler. Boss: These are the two categories and our collective experience tells is that we should take up "NICE-TO-HAVE" features first!! Team: What!?! err..Why?? Boss: Because... they look attainable within the time available. PMI's Pulse of the Profession The study Requirements Management: Core Competency for Project and Program Success reveals that proper requirements management is a major course of project failure. The requirements process generally includes proper needs assessment, elicitation and analysis of requirements

Project Human Resource Management | 21 Sep 2016

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Project Manager: I need more resources for "Caught in the Crossfire" project. This would help me to finish it on time. Boss: I'll give you some from "Seems like a Cakewalk" project. I think that would help. Project Manager: Err...In that case, we may need resource for "Seems like a Cakewalk" project too. Because, I lead that project as well! Boss: Huh! Project Human Resource Management Staffing management plan describes when and how project team members will be acquired & how long they will be needed. Without adequate resources, project is at risk of failing to deliver the expected scope, within time & budget. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

PMI’s Pulse of the Profession | 14 Sep 2016

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Boss: How is Project "Tight Rope Walk" coming along? Project Manager: So far, So good! Boss: Sorry to say this, but it won't be good for long. Project Manager: Errr! But Why? Boss: Let's just say that we are putting the project on hold due to circumstances beyond our control. Project Manager: ???!!? Boss: Nevertheless, we have now identified a new project for you. Project Manager: Hope this project does not meet the same fate as the earlier projects that I was assigned. Boss: Don't worry. Changes are inevitable in an uncertain economy. I wish you all the best! Project Manager: Thank you! PMI's Pulse of the Profession: The High Cost of Low Perfromance found less than half (42 percent) of organizations report high alignment of projects to organizational strategy. That's simply not good enough in today's hyper-volatile business world.

Project Human Resource Management | 07 Sep 2016

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Project Manager: I heard that you cancelled the team training which was scheduled this week. Is that true? Boss: Yes! It is! Project Manager: But...we strongly need that training on the new trends in project management tools & techniques!! Boss: Hmm.. Actually, due to difficult times, we have slashed the training budget this year & are focusing on Employee Retention Programs. Boss: But I am confident that you and the team will manage very well in the meantime. Won't you?? Project Manager: (thinking) I wish my boss knew the famous Henry Ford quote, 'The only thing worse than training your employees 6 having them leave, is not training them and having them stay.' Human Resource Management Organizations that perform well in project management invest in their talent, with defined career paths for project & program managers, & ongoing training on the use of project management tools and techniques.

Project Human Resource Management | 31 Aug 2016

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Project Manager: It's high time we revised our old motivational startegies. This is not helping us to achieve our goals. Boss: I agree. How about installing a fancy coffee vending machine? It will help to energize them and they might even feel motivated to work harder. Human Resource Management People are motivated if they feel they are valued in the organization and this value is demonstrated by the recognition and rewards given to them.

Project Stakeholder Management | 24 Aug 2016

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Project Manager: We have a Requirements Gathering meeting with the client in some time. Be ready! Team: Yes Sir!! Project Manager: Why is this here?!!? Team: This client keeps changing the requirements at the drop of a hat. So we have planned to freeze them once finalized. Stakeholder Management The requirements document once finalized needs to be agreed and approved by all stakeholders before the project starts.

Project Risk Management | 17 Aug 2016

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Team Member: Boss, here is the new plan for our project. It gives us a clear project time estimation. Project Manager: Nah! It doesn't look reasonable to me. C'mon, you have done this project before. Come up with a plan with shorter timeline. Team Member: Here is the "reasonable" plan you had asked for! Project Member: Now that's what I call an optimistic yet realistic plan! Well done! Project Risk Management "The Planning Fallacy" is the tendency to undervalue the time, costs, and risks of future actions and overestimate the benefit of those actions. The results are time and cost overruns as well as benefit shortfalls.

Project Human Resource Management | 10 Aug 2016

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Project Manager: Can we review the application code once, before the demo today? Team Member: Sure!! I am ready with it. We can do that at my desk! Project Manager: What's wrong with it! Everytime I enter any value, this application just crashes! It's almost an hour now, and... Team Member: What!! That's impossible! I've tested it several times, and it has worked. Let me check. Team Member: There you go! It's working!! By the way, did you try putting in this value; "I'm geek god" Project Manager: No! Why?? Team member: Because, that's when the code works! Project Manager: Oh God!! She has hard-coded it. Human Resource Management A project manager should hire team members with required competencies and skills to help complete assigned activities within project constraints. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Project Human Resource Management | 03 Aug 2016

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Project Manager: Are you ready with the System Code X? We have the deliverables lined-up for tomorrow! Business Analyst: But....err...Sir I am the Business Analyst...I have no clue which code you are talking about. A while later... Project Manager: Hmm..I am sure, you are responsible for the System Code X. Aren't you? Technical Architect: I am the Technical Architect, you can ask the Developer, instead. Project Manager: There you are! Finally, I traced you. So Ma'm, are you ready with System Code X? Developer: System Code X?? But, I have been assigned to work on System Code Y! Project Manager: I am utterly confused! I wonder who is actually responsible for the development of System Code X? Got to find the person without wasting time! Project Manager: (at Lost and Found department) I can't seem to find my Coder!! Human Resource Management RACI chart should be defined at the start of a project to ensure clear division of roles & expectations from available resources.

Project Human Resource Management | 27 Jul 2016

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Client: Kudos to you and your team! You have managed to finish the project on time and within budget! Project Manager: It was quite challenging! But we love to work on such exciting projects. A month later... Client: I have a new project for you! It has limited budget and the best part is…it has to be done in just ONE WEEK. Challenging, isn't it? Project Manager: Errr! Project Human Resource Management Project managers need to apply negotiation skills throughout project life cycle. Early on in a project, they need to balance the time, cost, quality & scope requirements & negotiate with stakeholders.

Project Management Approaches | 20 Jul 2016

Tags: #Project Management Approaches

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Boss: Is your project ever going to see the light of the day... It has crossed its deadline already and the client is getting frustrated... Sort it out ASAP!! Project Manager: Ok.k..Sir.. Some time later... Boss: What's with that stick in your hand? Project Manager: I am making the project management tool resolve my project issues. Project Management While project management software facilitates in planning scheduling, cost control, communication, etc., it cannot be depended on, to get your project out of doldrums.

Project Scope Management | 13 Jul 2016

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Project Manager: Team, here is a new project that starts from tomorrow... and make sure we meet its deadline. Product Demo within the team... Project Manager: What's this extra feature? It was not in the scope! Team member: I added it! Coz I thought it would be 'COOL' to have it in the end product! Scope Management 'Gold plating' means the addition of feature not considered in the original scope plan & is considered a bad project management practice.

Project Human Resource Management | 06 Jul 2016

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Project Manager: You are in high demand for your special expertise..and so I want to put you on a new project. Team member: But...err... I am already on a couple of projects. Human Resource Management Dependencies of resources across multiple projects can have negative ripple effect and may lead to project slowdowns.

Project Human Resource Management | 29 Jun 2016

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HR: Your BAD ATTITUDE has started to affect your team members. They think you are always GRUMPY!...We need to find a way to tackle this! At the team member's desk That's so much better! Human Resource Management One-on-one meeting with team member helps resolve the team conflicts and ensures project progress. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Project Stakeholder Management | 22 Jun 2016

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Client Side Hi! You've reached Dev's number..but I am busy in STRESS MANAGEMENT TRAINING! So leave a message and I'll get back when FREE! Vendor Side Project Manager: Sir, your review comments on the project development have been long overdue. We can't start with the next sprint tasks till then?¢?‚¬?¦ PLEASE CALL BACK! Stakeholder Management Contingency planning needs to be defined when creating risk register along with mitigation plan.

Project Communications Management | 15 Jun 2016

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Boss: There is a very important project that is to be initiated soon and I want you to be the SPEARHEAD! Project Manager: Yes Sir...!! Next day, in Project Manager's Cubicle... Communication Management A clear role description should include a robust outlining of expectations and responsibilities towards project. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Project Human Resource Management | 08 Jun 2016

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Project Manager: To be a valuable team member, you need to take initiatives and project decisions all by yourself. However, make sure they are in line with my thinking. At the team member's desk Project Manager: Can you use a more readable font in this presentation..I would like to suggest a few changes. Human Resource Management Role of a project leader is to provide a clear vision and use appropriate interpersonal skills to capitalize on strengths of team members.

Project Communications Management | 01 Jun 2016

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Project Manager: I need to have a quick team meeting in the next five minutes...let's gather in the meeting room! Meeting: The second in last 48 hrs Project Manager: Team, I called this meeting to find why there is a LOW TEAM PRODUCTIVITY. Anything positive to add? Team member 1: (thinking) I can sleep with my eyes open Team member 2: (thinking) Time to eat yummy cookies Communication Management Planned status review meeting schedules at the onset of project save significant time of the team members and stakeholder.

Project Stakeholder Management | 25 May 2016

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Boss: Team, here is the new application we have to work on and these are the features. A month later... Boss: Team, the client is happy with our work so far but... he has suggested just a few features to be added. Employee 1: (Thinking) There goes my vacation, out of the window! Employee 2: (Thinking) "A FEW" features!?! Stakeholder Management Establish effective change control supported by review and approved by relevant stakeholders before implementation.

Project Human Resource Management | 18 May 2016

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Boss: There is a very big project coming up and we need to hire someone who can juggle several tasks The Candidate is selected... Boss: We needed a Project Manager for this new project and not a JUGGLER Human Resource Management It's important for Roles and Responsibilities to be aligned with job description while hiring.

Project Risk Management | 11 May 2016