Check Your Authority
Avoid problems later by checking early in the project who is responsible for what aspect of the project and who has authority to approve what. Document this.
Meeting Your Forecast Budget Spend Rate
Problem: Some projects have budget allocated to them, rather than being funded by a purchase order or contract or similar. This is particularly the case with internal projects or government …
Automate Project Management Where Possible
Automate as many project management tasks as possible, especially reporting related tasks. A good database driven system is essential for this, especially one of the many online or self hosted project management software tools.
Evidence for Late Completion
Problem: If not properly managed, some projects you are managing will end up being completed late. Even though there may be legitimate reasons for this, it is your responsibility as …
Confirm Details of Verbal Conversations
Problem: Verbal conversations don’t leave a paper trail for evidence of the topic of discussion or agreement. I have often found that a verbal conversation (by phone or in person) …
Organise Design Carefully
When doing a project that requires design, you should plan the time required for design carefully and allow adequate time for the design to be completed. You should also write …
Increase Efficiency In the Office
In an office dedicated to your project, seek ways to improve efficiency, and don’t allow “green” or “efficiency” measures to actually decrease efficiency. For example, I have seen many offices …
Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) and Records
It is important to keep a good record of the things you do to meet your stated goals. E.g. Goal to improve safety – keep a record of all the …
Make Project Policies, Procedures, and Forms Easy to Find
For projects to run efficiently the team members need to be able to find and use policies, procedures and particularly forms easily and without having to spend time looking for …
Start Meetings On time
Starting meetings on time and finishing on time creates in the team a sense of organisation and planning. If meetings constantly start late, people will turn up later and later. …