Like many things in life, project management is an art form as well as a science. It's a delicate dance, a blend where intuition meets precision. While some may possess a natural flair for orchestrating chaos into order, the true mastery of this craft lies in understanding its scientific backbone. Fortunately, you don’t need to... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
In this first out of five project management processes, the project is created and defined to the extent necessary to begin planning the project. This step involves the project setup, and ensures that the performing organization is clear about the purposes and priorities surrounding the project. There are usually certain issues that require setup, like... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
If your scope is pointed the wrong way, you're not going to hit the target! In fact, ineffective project control is one of the biggest sources of project distress. For this reason, one of the most important aspects of a project manager's job is controlling the boundaries of the project, that is, the tasks that... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The real benefit of the earned value method is in the early warning signal it provides. In my previous life at a large engineering company, I saw many project managers get to a monthly billing cycle before they realized the project was behind, and even then they would rationalize it by deciding their project team was... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
If there's one part of project management that's bigger than all the rest, it's project scheduling. Since a project is defined as a temporary endeavor with a distinct beginning and end, defining when that end takes place and making sure it finishes on time are extremely important to any project, large or small. Professional project... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Everyone has stories of quality problems and the anxiety they cause: The assembly line is down, a customer complained about the product, or the report missed an important element. In that moment the only thing that matters is that someone didn't achieve the quality expectations. But the very presence of defective products is not inherently... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Before a project even begins, a project charter is a document that incorporates the project and appoints the project manager. Many projects operate without a project charter, even multimillion dollar projects. But the formal authorization of the project by the performing organization can be important to ensure the lines of authority are clear and identify... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Project initiation is where it all begins—the moment a project takes shape, its purpose sharpens, and the foundation for planning is set. But it's significance is far more than administrative, rather, it forms the heartbeat of a project’s potential success. Beyond paperwork or procedural hoops, the project initiation phase builds the foundation for the future... [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
A Project Deliverable is a product or service that a project produces for its customer, client, or project sponsor. It is what the project "delivers" to its stakeholders. A project deliverable is more than just a buzzword; it’s the concrete result—like a finished report, a working prototype, or a launched website—that signals progress or completion. ... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
You've got a new project, and you're anxious to get it started. As nice as it may seem to jump right into the project work, your bosses, as well as the organization, could be well served with a few tasks to initiate and define the project. In fact, the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Although projects span a huge spectrum from big to small, innovative to routine, and technical to repetitive, there is in fact a standard project organization chart within which all projects fall. With the exception of a few variable parts all project fit into a standard mold. According to project management theory, each member of a... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Before a project even begins, a project charter is a document that incorporates the project and appoints the project manager. More than just a formality, it’s the foundation stone that defines the project’s purpose, scope, and direction, setting the stage for everything that follows. Think of it as the project’s birth certificate—a concise yet powerful... [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
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
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
Every project, from software launches to skyscraper construction, follows a lifecycle—a roadmap that guides it from vision to victory. The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) distills this journey into five distinct phases, offering a proven framework for navigating complexity and delivering results. Whether you’re a seasoned project manager or just starting out, understanding these... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Project Management is a field that spans all other fields. Although it is true that the project management field contains its own body of knowledge (technical subject matter), you cannot simply pluck a project manager from, say, a construction site, and drop them into a biotechnology research project and expect to receive the same results. ... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Process groups form the foundation for project management theory. Projects generally proceed through five distinct phases. Each of these phases is called a process group, in fact, I call them "phases" in most of my writing on this site because they all occur in chronological order except for one. In the Project Management Body of... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), projects are divided into five phases. These phases are: Initiating. The project is authorized, funded and defined. This phase occurs on the organizational level (i.e. above the project). The organization defines a business need the project is meant to satisfy. Planning. The project manager develops a... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
If there's one part of project management that's bigger than all the rest, it's project scheduling. Since a project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end, defining when that end takes place and making sure it finishes on time are extremely important to any project, large or small. Professional project managers look... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Once the project has been divided into tasks and resources assigned to those tasks, the next step is to determine the task durations. This may seem trivial, but its importance cannot be understated because these durations will be used to construct the project schedule. Just like the tiny O-rings that brought down the space shuttle... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer