Project Management Information Resources
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Project Management Information Resources
Whether you are searching for a professional to guide your major business activities or you want to implement best practices in-house, you can benefit from project management information resources. These resources fall into two categories: project manager directories and project management guides.
Project manager directories give you a list of qualified consultants in your area. You can hire these individuals and firms for a number of reasons. You may want help rolling out a new company-wide payroll system, implementing a major change to the organization structure, assessing existing project management processes, or forming a project management office. Project management consultants can help you take advantage of existing resources to improve day-to-day operations and the future of the company.
At the same time, many businesses like to grow their project management activities from within. Guides provide insight into the best practices associated with controlling costs, sticking to deadlines, and improving the quality of outputs. You will likely benefit by learning how to implement the standards set by the Project Management Institute. This organization publishes one of the most important resources in the industry: the Project Management Book of Knowledge, PMBOK.
Whether you need external help or want to improve your internal team, you can gain valuable insights by consulting project management information resources on Business.com.
An Overview of Project Leadership and Project Management Training
Project leadership, project management trainingBy Diane Benson Harrington, Freelance Writer Diane Benson Harrington Streamlined project management doesn't have to be the stuff of dreams. Look at the task as a step-by-step process instead of one big headache. Use these simple steps to help your projects run much more smoothly:
- Set project goals
- Delegate and follow up
- Remember that attitude is everything
Divide and conquer
When viewed as a whole, any project can seem daunting. Breaking the project into several smaller parts not only makes it seem more doable but also makes it easier to delegate and/or schedule each component.
Try:
Delegation Template Tools can help you determine how best to divvy up a task based on various employees' skill sets. Use Project Management Templates from the Project Agency or various Excel forms from eLounge's eProjects, BusinessArts or Systems2Win to keep track of which tasks you've assigned to which employees. Programs like FranklinCovey's PlanPlus will help you plug everything into to-do lists.
Watch the clock
Whether you delegate or do it all yourself, one key to a successful project is keeping each aspect on track.
Try:
Assign a time frame to complete component, then use software like TimeWhiz, TimeSheet or Hours (all of which are Palm compatible and can be imported into a spreadsheet or database) so team members can keep track. Use a program like EasyProjects.Net to keep on top of progress, or schedule a weekly touch-base meeting to ensure everyone's on target.
Have a plan B
Be on the ball with lists of suppliers, technicians and support staff in case something goes wrong. You'll want to be able to fix the computer, quickly procure new supplies or shift another employee over to fill in if someone runs into trouble.
Try:
Head to PMForum, eLounge's eProjects or ProjectSmart, which all have generous communities of project managers around the world community who share expertise and answer questions. Project management software like AtTask, OzGrid and dozens listed on InfoGoal help you monitor all aspects of project management to avoid, or at least fix, snafus.
Be accessible, optimistic and supportive
A frazzled, negative attitude is a sure route to project failure. Announce your availability to your team, keep them energized with encouragement, and praise jobs done well.
Try:
Humor is a terrific motivator. Check out Despair.com's "demotivational" workplace posters to lighten the mood in your office. Try a Ken Blanchard workshop, video or book for positive leadership tips.
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