One thing you can't afford on a project is wasted time. Time wasted on a project will affect both the budget and the schedule. Fortunately, proper planning and accurate activity duration estimates can be used to keep your project on time and within budget.
Project managers use activity attributes to select and sort the activities that comprise a project. They look at all aspects of a project before determining the project schedule knowing that a "missed" or inaccurately estimated activity can drastically alter the project schedule.
Activity lists, which describe all the activities to be performed on a project, are used in estimating the duration of project activities. Resource requirements that detail the people, equipment, and materials needed for a project are also used as inputs in this process.
Activity duration estimates are quantitative assessments of the likely number of work periods that will be required to complete an activity. Activity duration estimates give project managers a range of possible results.
Project managers can determine a timeline for a project from the range of possible results. This range can be an indication of the number of work periods or the probability that the activity will take as long or longer than expected.
Sam is a project manager for an aerospace company. He is using activity duration estimates as an input to project schedule development. Sam has estimated that assembling the wing will take at least 8 days, but no more than 12.
There is a 15 percent probability that the assembly will take more than 12 days, and an 85 percent probability that it will take less than 12 days.
Since there is a high probability that assembly will take less than 12 days, the project manager will schedule 10 days for this activity.
While activity duration estimates help project managers determine how long activities will take, activity attributes also play an important part in selecting and sorting the given project activities.
Activity attributes are important because they enable project managers to select activities and sort them into convenient groupings. Project managers use these groupings to find out information about a given project. Activities exhibit three types of attributes: responsibility, geographic area, or building, and activity type.
The responsibility attribute refers to who will perform the work. The geographic area or building attribute refers to where the work will take place.
The activity type attribute refers to whether an activity is grounded in specific details or is based on a summary of events.
Activity duration estimates help project managers determine the likely number of work periods an activity will take to complete while activity attributes are important for sorting and selecting project activities. Both inputs are essential in planning a project so that it remains on time and within budget.
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Tag: PM201A52. Let me share all of you about #5 Tips for Project Management Success,, I hope you enjoy it
1. Plan your day using time management techniques
As a project manager, time management skills are essential because you are dealing with a wide range of tasks that demand a quick turnaround time. Planning your day will go a long way in keeping you organized and increasing your productivity. Assist your task planning by using project management software which helps you track the work of you and your team.
If you are not very tech savvy, a simple to-do list can also be a great organizational tool. Prioritize your most important tasks by putting them at the top of the list and less important ones at the bottom. Having a visual plan of your daily tasks helps to keep you on track and aware of time.
Related post: Free ebook 104 secrets to become a great project manager
2. Include stakeholders in important project conversations
While you will have plenty of responsibilities regarding the project, don’t neglect your clients.
Good communication is essential is keeping both parties informed of project progression, curtailing scope creep, and apprised of changing requirements. Some clients may have different expectations when it comes to communication, so make sure to establish the frequency and type of communication (like emails, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations) at the beginning of your project.
Establishing communication expectations early helps alleviate stakeholder uncertainty about communication frequency and delivery.
3. Regularly communicate with your team
Daily team communication helps keep misunderstandings and unclear requirements under control. Keeping your team informed in every step of the project is essential to project management success.
For example, a study published by Procedia Technology found that good communication skills were the cornerstone of project management. The study examined over 300 “construction project managers, architects, construction managers, engineers and quantity surveyors” and their successes and failures on various construction projects.
4. Anticipate project setbacks
Even the best-laid plans often go awry.
Remember that even with a high amount of planning and attention to detail, your project may still encounter some challenges. Pay attention to complaints from stakeholders or colleagues, and other warning signs, like a missed deadline or cost overrun, that there may be a problem.
Preventing a crisis will keep your project running smoothly, save you a lot of time, and keep you, your team, and your stakeholders confident in progressing with the project.
Unfortunately not every complication can be avoided. Crisis management skills are essential for dealing with the unexpected. Project managers need to be flexible and pragmatic. Improvise and make sharp decisions when needed.
Related post: 92 free project management templates
5. Stay focused on the details
A common problem project managers encounter is having the project aims not aligned with the organization’s objectives. A great project manager will strategize a plan for the project to lead back to the overall success of the business.
Know your project’s scope by heart and avoid wandering outside of the project’s requirements. It’s too easy to get lost in minor details and forget what your focus is, so a well-planned project scope is essential for success.
And final, you should use KPI to measure effectiveness of the project, here are full list: 76 project management KPIs
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