The project sponsor is an integral part of the project management organizational chart. In fact, every project has a sponsor in one form or another. It is a central cog in the wheel in the existence of a project. The project sponsor is NOT a personal financial contributor to the project. Think of it this... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Every project is a puzzle, and the pieces don’t fall into place by magic—they’re guided by the people who make it happen. That’s where the project organization chart comes in: a clear, visual snapshot of who’s doing what, who reports to whom, and how the team fits together. But more than just lines and boxes,... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The project manager is the ultimate responsible authority for the successful completion of the project. They establish the critical success factors and take responsibility for achieving them. Usually the project manager inherits criteria that the project must work with, such as budget, stakeholder concerns, and so forth. These are codified within the project charter (i.e... [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
The foundation for project management theory is called process groups. But although it sounds complicated, process groups are simply phases that each project goes through. The five process groups are: Project Initiation Project Planning Project Execution Monitoring & Controlling Project Closing They all occur in chronological order except one. Monitoring & Controlling (#4) occurs in... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Although it isn't in the dictionary, the project management industry uses the term deliverables almost daily. I must say, I am tired of MS Word underlining it as a spelling mistake. Deliverables are the products, services, and results that a project produces. Thus, they are the cornerstone to project success. Every project has to produce something.... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Every project has distinct roles that must be fulfilled in order to function properly and provide the products or services it was intended to provide. As a minimum, it needs a project manager and a project team who does the work, although those roles could be fulfilled by the same person. It also needs a... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The project sponsor is a very important part of the project management organizational chart. In fact, every project has a sponsor. The project sponsor is one, and only one, level above the project manager. They do not manage the day to day operations of the project but they ensure the resources are in place, promote... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The Project Management Institute's (PMI) definition of a project is considered by many to be the official definition: A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. Two words within that definition are the key to understanding what a project is and isn't: Temporary: A project has a distinct beginning and end. The muddier... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The difference between a successful project and an unsuccessful one can usually be narrowed down to one word: Planning. The Project Management Institute (PMI) reports that only 64% of projects meet their intended goals, and from my experience working for a large engineering company, this is probably not too far out. But there is a... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
When a ship is out on the open sea, the driver, called a Helmsman, is responsible for turning the wheel which in turn moves a rudder back and forth to change directions. When the wind or sea conditions are rough, experienced helmsman use their keen sense of how the ship will react to keep it... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer