A project checklist template is a type of informational job aid used to reduce failure by compensating for potential limits of human memory and attention. It helps to ensure consistency and completeness in carrying out a task. A basic example is the “to do list.” A more advanced checklist would be a schedule, which lays…
Roles and Responsibilities Defined
The roles and responsibilities inside an organization should be understood and employed everywhere, but somehow we have managed to get it wrong in so many cases it’s astonishing. I’ll say no more about it, and just jump to doing a quick recap on the topic as well as offer a free template for you to…
Learn How to Perform An Effective Stakeholder Analysis
Stakeholder analysis in project management is the process of identifying the individuals or groups that are likely to affect or be affected by a proposed action, and sorting them according to their impact on the action and the impact the action will have on them. This information is used to assess how the interests of…
See How a Status Report Template Should Look Like
Projects and project managers live and die by information. Have each member of your project management team fill out this project status report template to tell you everything you need to know about your project at a glance: activities in progress, scope change, date slippage and status of pertinent deliverables. Writing a Project Status Report should…
Define A Complete Risk Log Using This Template
A Risk Log/Register is a Risk Management tool commonly used in risk management and compliance . It acts as a central repository(Our Risk Log Template will cover all bases ) for all risks identified by the organization and, for each risk, includes information such as source, nature, treatment option, existing counter-measures, recommended counter-measures and so…
Business Case Overview
A business case captures the reasoning for initiating a project or task. It is often presented in a well-structured written document, but may also sometimes come in the form of a short verbal argument or presentation. Similarly the business case template should have the same characteristics. The logic of the business case is that, whenever resources…
Building Trust the Key to Exercising Influence
We all know people who have influence but whom we do not trust; these individuals are often referred to as “political animals” or “jungle fighters.” While these individuals are often very successful in the short run, the prevalent sense of mistrust prohibits long-term efficacy and hinders them from building trust. Successful project managers not only…
Ethics in Project Management
The idea of ethics has already arisen in my previous articles where I have discussed padding of cost and time estimations, exaggerating pay-offs of project proposals, and so forth. Ethical dilemmas involve situations where it is difficult to determine whether conduct is right or wrong. Is it acceptable to falsely assure customers that everything is…
Managing Upward Relations Like A Boss
Research consistently points out that project success is strongly affected by the degree to which a project has the support of top management and that ties directly into your ability to handle managing upward relations. Such support is reflected in an appropriate budget, responsiveness to unexpected needs, and a clear signal to others in the…
Leading by Example
A highly visible, interactive management style is not only essential to building and sustaining cooperative relationships, it also allows project managers to utilize their most powerful leadership tool—their own behavior, thus creating what is called leading by example. Often, when faced with uncertainty, people look to others for cues as to how to respond and…