Your project team is the single biggest factor in the successful completion of your project. At its core, a project is nothing more than a bunch of people collaborating to deliver a result, and the quality of their work defines the outcome. Building a high-performing team starts with choosing the right individuals and inspiring them... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Effective project team management is the backbone of successful project delivery. It involves guiding team members, aligning resources, and resolving challenges to drive optimal performance. While it’s one of the most critical aspects of project management, it’s also one of the most complex, inspiring countless books and diverse approaches. At its core, however, project team... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
In project management, a well-crafted schedule is the heartbeat of success, orchestrating tasks, resources, and timelines into a symphony of progress. The project schedule is the flight plan that brings order to the chaos of competing priorities, and project scheduling is to a project manager like landing an airplane is to a pilot—most people would... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Experts highlight risk management as one of the most overlooked yet vital aspects of project management. While we often assume we’ve got the main threats handled, a little upfront planning can yield outsized rewards, transforming potential chaos into controlled progress. But effective risk management isn’t just about dodging disaster; it’s about turning potential pitfalls into opportunities... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
I was once part of a project which went behind schedule and over budget. In response the project manager asked the project team to come up with reasons why the project was late. Naturally the team produced several reasons, and a change in schedule and budget was approved. Everything sounded like it was back on... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Managing the project resources is how the project manager spends most of their time. From ordering supplies, to training team members, to paying bills, the project resources are a seemingly bottomless pit of active management. Meanwhile, the project team is one of the most important components of project success - Having confidence that your team... [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
To external parties, a project is defined by its deliverables. They are not just some relatively important part of the project, they are the project. They are also the measuring stick by which the success of the project, and by extension the competence of the project manager, are measured. For a word so important to... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Did you know that over 85% of projects clock in under $100,000, often wrapping up in just a few weeks to a month? These small-scale endeavors, though modest in size, form the backbone of countless industries—yet their brevity and unique dynamics demand a tailored approach to project management. Standard methodologies, like those you’d stumble across... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
From the awe-inspiring pyramids of ancient Egypt to modern-day initiatives, humans have long tackled complex projects. The more complex and technically challenging a project becomes, the more intricate dependencies, advanced technologies, and diverse teams can lead to increased risks, miscommunication, and scope creep if not carefully managed. Today, these efforts are streamlined and formalized through... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
There is no universal definition of project success. Since the very definition of a project is temporary (Project Management Body of Knowledge, 6th Edition), virtually all projects must meet a deadline and budget. But some projects must satisfy certain stakeholders. Others must meet regulatory criteria. Still others must achieve a certain return on investment. For these reasons,... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Knowledge Areas Project Cost Management Plan Cost Management Estimate Costs Determine Budget Control Costs Once the individual tasks have been estimated, the Determine Budget process is used to roll them up into an overall project estimate, which is communicated to stakeholders. In addition, the cost baseline, which is the periodic funding requirements of the project... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
In 1986, the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger exploded spectacularly upon take-off in front of one of the largest live TV audiences in history (to that time). The investigation concluded that several tiny O-rings that sealed the rocket booster to the fuel supply failed. These O-rings were about 1 foot in diameter. Just like the tiny... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Bottom up estimating is the project management technique of estimating individual tasks and then combining them into an overall project estimate. Often the individual project team members who will be performing the task provide the estimates, because they are in a better position to estimate a task that they will be working on. Types of... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Parametric estimating is a guaranteed inclusion on the PMP Exam. This article is assured to give you at least one point (but more likely four or five). Parametric estimating is a project estimation technique whereby a unit rate is used and multiplied by the number of units. For example: A house building project is estimated... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Analogous estimating uses the actual data from a previous project as the basis for estimating the current project. For example, the previous fence cost $75/foot therefore this one should cost about $100/foot. Many different variables can be compared, such as: scope cost budget duration Measures of scale: Size, weight, length, etc. Work units: Number of piles driven,... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer