When running a project, its ultimate success or failure can only be defined when measured against predefined goals and objectives. Definition of these takes place during the planning phase of the project. It is imperative that these goals be SMART. By that I mean: (more…)
Category: Project Management
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Managing expectations
Some years ago, I wrote about Tom Peters‘ Formula for Success, which hinges on doing two things; promising less than you can deliver, and delivering more than you have promised. I can’t foresee a future when this will not be true, however, I think it bears expanding on. Simply put, by telling the user what to expect, we not only set their expectations, we manage them too, particularly if the user’s expectations are wildly unrealistic. -
The Tuckman model and Project Management
In Project Management, we talk about the Tuckman model, also known as Tuckman’s stages of group development. Though of particular importance in project management, the stages bear some relation to most aspects of working life. I think most of us would benefit from knowing the basics of it, and how it all works. Originally proposed with four stages in 1965, the fifth stage was added in 1977. The stages are, in order: (more…)
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Defining the objectives of a project
Roughly put, we can say that all projects must deliver: (more…)
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Project Management: Three ways to look at stages
My journey towards a Bachelors degree continues, now with the OU Module M258 (IT Project and Service Management). As I continue to study the module, I will write down my thoughts on various subjects. Like with my first module, TU100, these will all be collected under a category for easy reference. This time, unsurprisingly, the category will be M258.
These days, I am making my first serious foray into the world of Project Management, as I am studying the Open University’s module M258 (IT Project and Service Management). From working with the first chapter of our assigned text book I have gleaned the following three ways to look at the stages of a (software) project:
The basic overview (more…)