Are You Suffering From Project Management Overload?
Project management is a “me too” business process. Everyone does it; but very few do it well. It is a perplexing dilemma. Thousands of professionals study countless hours seeking project management certifications, nearly every organization has its own version of a project management office, and there is vast amounts of material written on project management. How then can all of this activity result in more projects failing than being delivered successfully? Maybe, the answer lies in “data overload”. There is so much available information on the topic of project management, where does one start? How can a manager know what techniques should be applied, versus what is possible to apply. Finally, someone has done that for you. With over thirty years of successful project management consulting and training engagements, PMAlliance has summarized the best practices that directly drive successful project management initiatives.
- How to get clear direction from your sponsors
- What the best approach is to get the team aligned
- How to quickly determine whether the project is realistic
- What the most effective approach is to compress a project
- How to keep the project schedule updated
How Do we Address These Issues?
PMAlliance believes the Pareto Principle applies to project management. In other words, we believe you will gain 80% of the project management value from 20% of the available techniques. Many project managers attempt to over-complicate project management by weaving too many “exotic” techniques into a hodgepodge that, in truth, sounds good but doesn’t deliver much value. To uncomplicate matters, PMAlliance has developed a planning and control methodology that streamlines the best practices proven to drive successful projects. We call this distinguishing “the vital few” versus “the useful many”. The key is to keep managers, team members and stakeholders focused on what works, versus what sounds good.
What is Duration-Driven® Planning and Control?
Duration-DrivenPlanning and Control is a team-based methodology founded on the basic principle that in order to keep a team committed to a project schedule, they need to have input into building that schedule. Further, to more accurately reflect the fluctuation in their daily work schedule (various responsibilities, multiple projects, juggling priorities, etc.) they should plan their projects according to estimated durations instead of best-case effort approximations. This approach results in a network-based project schedule that more accurately reflects reality and is a higher quality work product. The methodology provides a clear set of guidelines, terminology and techniques to be used by the team during the project planning phase. Duration-Driven Methodology doesn’t stop with the development of a project plan; it extends into the critical importance of project control. The methodology addresses the entire project management lifecycle from initial stakeholder alignment, to schedule development, through the control process. Its comprehensive nature ensures participants gain value from project inception to close-out.
How does this methodology focus your efforts?
Duration-Driven Planning and Control focuses project management on techniques that can be applied immediately, while remaining sustainable for long-term value. The methodology, though aligned with the Project Management Body of Knowledge, is more direct in providing guidance on which techniques will deliver the best results. Participants are provided prescriptive instructions on how to gain clarity on what the executive stakeholders “really” hope to accomplish with the project. Guidance is provided on exactly what information is needed to clarify project scope and objectives, as well as aligning those elements with possible project risks. The methodology provides clear guidelines for how to develop an integrated network schedule and quickly determine the right activities to address if the schedule is not meeting its target dates. Finally, Duration-Driven® Control techniques clearly outline how to keep the project schedule up-to-date throughout the life of the project. By offering a step-by-step methodology for the entire project lifecycle, practitioners can streamline their project management efforts and stop wasting valuable time!
How can I acquire these skills?
Duration-Driven Planning and Control is delivered during a 2-day instructor-led event. Throughout the two-day event, practical challenges are posed, participants engage in various group exercises and students learn how they can adapt the general techniques taught in the class to the unique aspects of their projects. At the conclusion of our program, participants will be well equipped to participate in creating comprehensive project plans, implement disciplined processes for maintaining those plans, and utilize management reviews to ensure deliverables are completed in a timely manner.