Your organization’s leadership team plays a vital role in project success. The executives are typically key sponsors of high-visibility initiatives and their participation in moving efforts from concept to reality is crucial. There are times, however, when you may discover that senior staff are standing in the way of progress rather than supporting it. If…
Project Management Blog
Improve Project Performance with Templates
October 18, 2019 by
Though they may seem like minor players when it comes to successfully completing a project, templates can be tremendously helpful in closing some significant gaps in the planning and execution process. Without templates, your team may have trouble communicating effectively with stakeholders. They might omit crucial details when handing off a multi-part task to a…
Uncertainty and Project Portfolio Management
October 7, 2019 by
It’s not uncommon for individual projects to encounter uncertain circumstances. Short-term hiccups could delay equipment or material deliveries, or an unexpected contraction in the company’s workforce could temporarily put a project’s scope or timeline into question. In addition to addressing these acute issues for active initiatives, PMs must also manage the potential impacts of uncertainty…
3 Reasons Projects Get Bogged Down
October 1, 2019 by
Everyone in your project team is busy but your initiative isn’t moving ahead. You may be stalled trying to get through a particular sequence of tasks or it might seem like every new activity experiences delays. Sound familiar? You aren’t alone. Even seasoned project teams occasionally run into situations where progress comes to a standstill….
Project Management: Improve Individual Accountability
September 25, 2019 by
Successful project planning and execution requires commitment from every stakeholder. Everyone involved in orchestrating and carrying out tasks must be accountable for the activities under their area of responsibility, but developing this level of individual accountability and sustaining it across the entire project lifecycle is a task all by itself. Along with their normal project…
Uncertainty and its Effects on Project Teams
September 16, 2019 by
When project teams encounter uncertainty, the ability to tap into solid experience and the right expertise is crucial. It may be a situation where you simply need to ask different questions, connect with different specialists, or evaluate different data points to determine how to move ahead. Other times, you could be running up against a…
Project Management in Time of Uncertainty
September 9, 2019 by
A lack of clarity about what the future holds makes almost any endeavor more difficult. Risks can pop up that were unexpected or opportunities could pass you by because you didn’t have enough information to prepare for them. Any time a project team can’t confidently predict the major factors that will influence an initiative’s execution,…
3 Things Project Teams Forget
September 3, 2019 by
Between hectic schedules, stakeholder requests, and the competing priorities that surface when juggling multiple initiatives, it can be difficult to keep track of everything that goes on within the project team. PMs need to maintain awareness of progress, budget status, and potential schedule deviations, ensuring tasks don’t fall through the cracks and that everyone knows what needs to…
Resolve Your Project Priority Conflicts
August 26, 2019 by
For a project to reach a successful completion, the entire team needs to be on same page. Creating a cohesive environment takes work and prior planning, particularly when the project is complex or when it involves stakeholders from multiple functional areas. While it isn’t unusual to encounter a range of opinions and preferences when so…
Beware These Threats to Project Teamwork
August 19, 2019 by
Projects provide a window into many facets of teamwork. People with different backgrounds, skills, and areas of expertise must come together around a common mission. They need to communicate effectively as they share information, solve problems, work through conflicts, and reach consensus on difficult issues. Each of them brings important knowledge and competencies. Though some…
