Project Management Articles


Ways to Reward Employees and the Project Team

As a Project Manager do you give much thought as to ways to reward employees - although more likely as a Project manager it would be ways to reward your Project Team. Depending on your organisational structure it may not be within the power of the Project Manager to give pay rises, so here are some suggestions as to different forms of renumeration

One of my favorite ways to reward high performing employees is with public recognition. Whether you run a pizza joint or a Fortune 500 company, never underestimate the significance of public recognition. By praising an employee in front of his peers, you indicate what types of behavior are most valued and give your employee increased esteem to recognize his good work. This is no small motivating factor, and can inspire hard workers to work even harder.

Of course, bonuses are a great way to reward employees. These awards don't have to only come in the form of money, however. Some of the most popular ways to reward employees in lower paid industries are with tickets to various events, but these methods can also be transferred to higher-level positions. Why not give your top...
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The Benefits of Time Management

Our society is getting faster paced with each passing year. We are all looking for ways to help us complete the things that we need to do in the shortest time possible so that we can have additional time to have for ourselves. This can get us into trouble if doing things fast means that mistakes are made. When this happens we spend additional time correcting mistakes. This can create a vicious cycle. There are times when we simply need to slow things down.

One of the best things that we can do to help ourselves is to become more organized. Organization can help us manage our time better. There are many benefits of time management. We can be more productive as well as more efficient. When we are more efficient we save time and money. Other benefits of time management involve helping the company you work for save money. This creates a happy employer and when this reflects back to you, it may mean additional compensation in money or time off.

I think all of us release the benefits of time management, but implementing the skills may be something new to us. I...
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Project Management: Avoid Work Scope Creep!
By Wendy Maynard




Congratulations! You've just got a new client for an exciting project that is going to be fun and profitable. You carefully discuss the work with her and she sends in a down payment.

BANG! You are off and running!

The following week, you are happily working on this exciting project and your phone rings. It is your great new client...wanting to make a slight change to the project. Hmmm...

Being the wonderful and oh-so-easy-to-work with consultant that you are, you agree, hang up the phone, and get back to work.

A couple of days later, the phone rings. It's your {AHEM} great new client again with a "few more ideas for changes."

"Well, okay," you agree, somewhat reluctantly, and hang up the phone. Now, you have to go back and revise some of your work to date and your original estimate no longer covers the scope of work. Your new and exciting project just officially became a stressful time suck that won't be such a great moneymaker.

Yes, it's the Dread Work Scope Creep. {B-horror film sound effects kick in here with a woman's scream at seeing the monster}

Does this sound familiar? If you - like many consultants - aren't managing the change process properly, the result will be:

# stress # long hours # inadequate compensation # missed deadlines # an unhappy client # an unhappy YOU

Well, there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage those "little" changes to keep them from growing into the monster project with no end in sight:

Create a Contract: Ever heard the expression contracts keep friends? Well, it's true. Your written agreement should describe what you doing for this specific project, what each party is responsible for (deliverables), and how much it will cost. Also, make sure to include a line that explains costs for additional services, revisions, meetings, and so on that are requested by the client and are outside the scope of the agreed-upon project. Both parties should sign this BEFORE the onset of the project.

Communicate Changes: When your client calls asking for changes, make a note of the conversation. Then, write them down and e-mail or fax them to your client. Make sure you are clear about how this affects the project budget and/or deadlines. If it is a new client, you may want to consider a follow-up call to ensure they understand how their request will impact the project.

Don't Overcommit: Don't say "yes" just because you are afraid to say "no." It is perfectly acceptable to tell your client "it won't work." Make sure to follow up with a valid explanation and tell them what you are willing to do. If your client doesn't respect you, your abilities, and your time constraints, he or she is not a client you want to keep.

By managing your work change process effectively, you will avoid the Dreaded Work Scope Creep {Horror flick scream again}. This will help ensure your projects and client relationships are profitable, pleasant, and manageable.

Wendy Maynard, your friendly Marketing Maven, publishes REMARKABLE MARKETING, a weekly ezine for business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. If you're ready to skyrocket your sales, easily attract customers, and have more fun, get your FREE REPORT at: http://www.gomarketingmaven.com






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Project Management Articles


How To Set Goals That Stick


What do you think about when the word goal comes up in conversation? Do you cringe and snort thinking to yourself "right, goals . . . whatever. What's the point of making them if I won't keep them?" Or, do your eyes light up as you tick off a long list of goals for the New Year that will be impossible to complete?

No matter if you have an optimistic or pessimistic outlook about your small business goals for this New Year, both outlooks have something in common and it is this: Unless you know how to set goals properly, you will fail to complete them. So let's start by defining exactly what a goal is: A goal is something that is meaningful, powerful, and transformative. A goal is something that will change your life, your business, your career, or your family in some meaningful way.

A goal is fierce!
• A goal is clearly defined
• A goal is very specific
• A goal has an action plan and time line for completion

To be an accomplished goal setter, you must become a fearsome time manager by:
• Setting priorities
• Completing tasks on...
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ISO9001 & Risk Management

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bones

In every human endeavour there is an element of risk; personal, project or financial, or a combination of them all. The task of the responsible individual is to identify the risk and act accordingly. We all do these 'risky' things, almost daily, aware that we are taking a risk. Rather than avoiding risk we become adept at identifying it and having a strategy for dealing with it if the risk materialises. This is what risk management is about, and is a skill that is important in virtually every endeavour.

The popular misconception that risk management is difficult or complicated stems from the bureaucratic methodology of some system-oriented organisations and managers. It is neither complicated or bureaucratic, and need not be. Risk management is basically a simple proposition with a complexity dictated by the nature of the situation to which it applies - usually a project, and the parties involved. In its basic form risk management involves:

1. Identifying risk - Looking for anything that threatens the successful completion of the project against the original requirement. Risks can be environmental, organisational, technical, legal, economic or commercial.

2. Counteracting risk -...
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