In this day and age, project success is no longer a matter of luck. So long as the project schedule and budget are realistic and achievable, project management fundamentals provide more than enough tools for the project manager to implement project controls that provide sufficient early warning of variances that require action. Projects, by their... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Let’s face it: managing a project can sometimes feel like a frantic dash to put out fires. A missed deadline here, a budget overrun there—too often, project managers end up reacting to chaos instead of steering the ship. But here's the truth: Putting out fires is rarely a good project management strategy. It’s exhausting, inefficient,... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Putting out fires is practically part of the job description for some project managers. Every project has changes throughout its life span, sure, but how do you control them, or better yet, how do you stop them from popping up? Project controls are where the project manager earns their wages. Assigning work is relatively easy,... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Knowledge Areas Project Scope Management Plan Scope Management Collect Requirements Define Scope Create WBS Validate Scope Control Scope A project is made more manageable by breaking it down into components. In that spirit, the PMBOK requires the decomposition of the project into phases and tasks (also called activities). This task listing is called a Work... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Earned value analysis is used to calculate the project status on two fronts: Schedule. Is the project ahead of or behind schedule? Cost. Is the project over or under budget? Let's say you are the project manager for the renovation of 3 hotel rooms. The tasks are as follows: Preparation. Jan. 1 - Jan. 10,... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Project status reports are essential tools for keeping teams, stakeholders, and leaders aligned on progress, challenges, and next steps. A well-crafted report provides clarity, builds trust, and ensures everyone understands where things stand. Projects are by definition temporary, that is, they have a defined beginning and end. For this reason, the project schedule is almost... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
I think someone needs to pay closer attention to road! In order to make sure that disasters like this never happen, the project manager should institute a strong system of project monitoring. Fortunately, there is plenty of information within the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) for this. If done right, it can save your... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Knowledge Areas Risk Management Project Risk Management Risk Identification Risk Analysis Plan Risk Responses Control Risks In an effective project risk management system, the project managers must focus their attention on the highest priority risks. Thus, upon determination of the primary risks to a project, this step seeks to sort the list into priorities and... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Knowledge Areas Risk Management Project Risk Management Risk Identification Risk Analysis Plan Risk Responses Control Risks Project risk is defined by the Project Management Institute as an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on one or more project objectives. Risk management is the process of identifying, analyzing,... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Knowledge Areas Risk Management Project Risk Management Risk Identification Risk Analysis Plan Risk Responses Control Risks The first step in a good risk management plan is the identification of risks. The other phases of project risk management are built on the foundation built here. A comprehensive list of potential risks to the project must be... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
