Project Management Articles
Project Management: Avoid Work Scope Creep!
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...
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The Purpose of Project Management and Setting Objectives
Project Management has developed in order to plan, co-ordinate and control the complex and diverse activities of modern industrial and commercial projects. All projects share one common characteristic - the projection of ideas and activities into new endeavours.
The purpose of project management is to foresee or predict as many dangers and problems as possible; and to plan, organise and control activities so that the project is completed as successfully as possible in spite of all the risks. The ever-present element of risk and uncertainty means that events and tasks leading to completion can never be foretold with absolute accuracy. For some complex or advanced projects, even the possibility of successful completion might be of serious doubt.
Project management can involve the following activities: planning - deciding what is to be done; organising - making arrangements; staffing - selecting the right people for the job; directing - giving instructions; monitoring - checking on progress; controlling - taking action to remedy hold ups; innovation - coming up with new solutions; representing - liaising with users.
Setting Objectives
Effective objectives in project management are specific. A specific objective increases the chances of leading to a...
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