Project Management

2011 AgVantage National User Conference

Project Management – Part 1

Defining a Project and Steps to a Successful Completion

What is a Project??

1.something that is contemplated, devised, or planned; plan; scheme.

2. a large or major undertaking, especially one involving considerable money, personnel, and equipment.

Project Manager Perspective

To the Optimist – the glass is half full

To the Pessimist – the glass is half empty

To the Project Manager – the glass is twice as big as it needs to be

8 Steps to a Successful Project

• Clear Specifications/Expectations for the Project• Plan the Project• Communicate the Project• Agree on and Delegate Project duties• Manage and Motivate• Check, Measure and Monitor Progress• Complete the Project• Follow Up

Clear Specifications & Expectations for the Project

• Describe and Define the Purpose and ‘Deliverables’

• Get an understanding of the Parameters like timeframes, budgets, range, scope, territory and authority

• Consult those with previous experience or knowledge of a similar task

• Establish Break points for reviewal and progress

Plan the Project

• Involve the Team in Planning• Start from the End and Work your Way Back• Create Project Timescales and Costs• Establish a Project Team with clear roles and

needs• Brainstorm with the Team• Use Tools like Calendars or Project Mgmt

Software and Share that Info• Project Financial Planning & Reporting• Project Contingency Planning

Communicate the Project

• Informs people of what has happened• Informs people of what is happening• Informs people of what is happening next• Keeps everyone on the same page• Creates maximum buy in and accountability• Make sure to communicate appropriately to all

‘stakeholders’

Delegate Project Actions

• Clearly described and adhered to• Team members ‘doing their own thing’ can

undermine the best planned project• Avoid Project Fragmentation• Ask for help when needed• Give help when asked

Manage and Motivate

• Inform the Project Team• Encourage the Project Team• Enable the Project Team• Pass the Praises on to your Team, don’t keep

them for yourself• Conversely, be prepared to take the heat as well• Watch for signs of stress on your team and deal

with it accordingly• A Happy Positive Team with a basic plan will

outperform a Miserable team with a brilliant plan every single time

Check, Measure & Monitor Progress

• Progress Checks at Every Single Turn• Adjust the plan as needed in light of performance,

circumstances or new information• Delegate new actions as appropriate• Communicate changes to stakeholders• Identify your ‘go to’ people and USE them• Keep on communicating

Complete the Project!!!

• Review Results with your Team• Openly discuss what went wrong, and learn from

it• Openly discuss what went right, and hold on

tightly• Look back on failures positively, objectively and

without passing blame• Document what you learned for the ‘next’ time

Follow Up

• A wide variety of tasks included in follow up– Training– Support– Reporting Project Results– Benefits of the Project

• Continued Communication• Appreciation• Continue to Learn with each Project that comes

your way

Oh, Those Project Managers……

So, a Clergyman, a Doctor and a Project Manager were all playing golf

one day…..

Project Management – Part 2

Group Exercise

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