A Project Management Office (PMO) is a dynamic hub within an organization that empowers project success by supporting project managers and teams. Far from a one-size-fits-all solution, PMO's vary widely in their roles, responsibilities, and structure, shaped by the unique needs of the organization they serve. Whether providing hands-on project management, offering strategic advice, or... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
PRINCE2 is one of the world's main project management methodologies. It was developed by the UK government and is administered by Axelos, a company partially owned by the UK government. Axelos administers the two PRINCE2 certifications: PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner. The latter is the main certification, and the former is the more basic, "associate"... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
PRINCE2 is one of the main project management methodologies in use in the world today. PRINCE2 is built on the foundation of project roles. There are 9 roles outlined in the method, which all must be filled even if the same person fills multiple roles. These roles are: Executive Project Board Senior User Senior Supplier... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
All projects have stakeholders. Like any area of life, no projects exist inside of a bubble. Although some more than others, every project must have a project sponsor (as a minimum) who created the project and expects some sort of deliverable. But most projects have so diverse an array of stakeholders that they must maintain... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Like termites slowly gnawing through a sturdy foundation, scope creep is a menace that invisibly eats projects from the inside out, a stealthy parasite that burrows into projects, expanding their boundaries with unauthorized tasks until the damage surfaces in a cascade of delays, budget overruns, and frustration. Left unchecked, it doesn’t just nibble at the... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
In project management, getting an early indication of problems is the silver bullet that allows the project manager to correct the problems before they start. Cost Variance, usually abbreviated as CV, is one of the fundamental outputs of the Earned Value Management System. It tells the project manager how far ahead or behind the projects... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
In project management, gut feelings and guesswork can only get you so far—eventually, you need cold, hard numbers to tell you if you’re winning or sinking. Earned Value is a method of calculating project status. It does this from two perspectives: Time (schedule) and Cost. After applying the earned value method the project manager will... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The Project Management Office (PMO) is a cornerstone of organizational success, yet its roles can seem elusive due to their broad and evolving nature. In recent years, PMO's have matured, with more defined and standardized responsibilities that drive project excellence. Whether you're launching a new PMO or refining an existing one, understanding its potential functions... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Projects, like trains speeding down the tracks, gain momentum quickly and can be challenging to redirect once in motion. That's why effective stakeholder communication is a project manager’s mission-critical tool for keeping the journey on course. Since stakeholders hold the key to defining a project’s success, their engagement is vital to avoid derailing into project... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Effective communication is the backbone of successful project management. The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) emphasizes the need for a Communications Management Plan, while PRINCE2 outlines a similar Communications Management Approach. This plan serves as a roadmap for how project communications will be strategically planned, structured, executed, and monitored to ensure clarity, alignment, and... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Missing deadlines reflects poorly on a project manager. With few exceptions, deadlines are a major component of project success. Because projects are by definition temporary, someone has authorized the project and expects its deliverables in a timely fashion. A schedule management plan is a subset of the project management plan whose purpose is to put... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Project success is often distilled into simple metrics like meeting budget or schedule, a single pass/fail criteria measured at a single point in time. But these outcomes are rarely fixed targets. In fact, they are often in fail territory for long periods of time prior to entering pass territory for the critical moment. Indeed, there... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Project management can feel like navigating a maze—tight budgets, shifting timelines, and endless variables vying for your attention. How do you know if you’re truly on track? Earned Value Analysis (EVA) is a powerful method that blends cost, schedule, and performance into a clear picture of project health. Whether you’re a seasoned PM or just... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Every successful project—whether it’s launching a product, building a bridge, or organizing an event—starts with a solid foundation. That’s where project management fundamentals come in. These core principles guide teams through planning, execution, and delivery, turning big ideas into tangible results. In this article, we’ll explore the essential building blocks of project management, from defining... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
If there's one most important skill for a project manager, it would be staying within budget and schedule. It is not an understatement to say that if you master this one thing, most other things will likely fall into place. And the magic ingredient to doing this well is called earned value management (EVM). EVM is... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The true power of the earned value method lies in its ability to sound the alarm before a project veers off track. In my days at a large engineering firm, I watched countless project managers stumble into a rude awakening at the end of the monthly billing cycle, only then realizing their project was lagging. ... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
If I asked you how far behind your project was, could you tell me in quantitative terms? Most people know the basic status of various tasks: "Well, that report was a week behind and Johnny should've finished his analysis by yesterday." But that's not good enough. Project management standards dictate that the project manager knows... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
In today’s fast-paced and complex business environment, effective project management is more critical than ever. Whether you’re overseeing a small team or managing a large-scale initiative, understanding the core functions of a Project Management Information System (PMIS) can transform the way you plan, execute, and deliver results. In this post, we’ll explore eight essential functions... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Breaking a project into manageable parts is one of the most foundational parts of project management. Whether you’re tackling a work assignment, a personal goal, or managing a megaproject, one truth stands out: breaking a project into smaller tasks is the cornerstone of effective project management. Without a clear task list, even the most exciting... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
It's amazing how many projects do not know their true status until near the end, when there is little that can be done to ensure they finish on time or budget. The proper time to rigorously track project status is at the beginning, not at the end. This is when project risk can be managed... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Project scope issues are the number one reason for unhappy clients and customers. Human nature is such that unauthorized tasks will always want to slip into a project unannounced, thus project scope management is just as important as the more visible aspects of project management like scheduling and budgeting. For that reason, effective project scope... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The definition of a Project is: A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. The two most important keywords within that definition are: Temporary: A project has a fixed beginning and end. Because of this, there are two factors that come into play in virtually every project: Time (deadlines) and money (budgets). ... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Most projects have a million things that can go wrong. Because a project is by definition temporary, it is inevitable that the budget and schedule factor prominently in project success. But it is a surprisingly common scenario that project managers think the project is going great because the variables they are concerned with are on... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Top Down estimating is a project estimating technique whereby the overall project is estimated first, and individual tasks are apportioned from it. You start from the top of the pyramid and work downwards. This type of project budgeting usually occurs when there is a fixed budget and/or the scope of the project must fit within... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
