Project Management 101

- Getting projects done is all about getting people to do tasks

- First action is to identify all the tasks
=> Break down from high level to low level
=> Each task should be a single complete action
=> Estimated the size (effort) of each task
- Second action is to sequence tasks
=> What needs to be done first?
=> What can be done in parallel
=> What tasks are dependent on others being completed?
- Third action is to assign people to tasks
=> Utilise skill sets
=> Balance the load (will never be even)
=> Give most important tasks to best people
- Fourth action is to put a deadline on each (group of) tasks
=> Work backwards from the final date
~ What has to be done by when to make this happen?
~ Work in blocks of time (usually individual weeks)
=> Try to make everyone equally busy
=> Different people may have different workloads at different ti
mes
- Finally, monitor tasks to make sure they are being done
=> Actual effort vs. estimated
=> On track to meet target dates
=> Delivering to deadlines
- People react to the deadline when half the time has elapsed (also see
motivation)
=> Have smaller tasks with short deadlines as much as possible
=> Give deadlines that are a reasonable stretch
=> Make sure the task, and the standard that it needs to be done
to, are absolutely clear
=> Remind people just before half the time has elapsed (share in
fo so it's not just a nag)
=> Chase people up shortly before the deadline to provide encour
agement
=> Have a contingency on the deadline of a few days
=> If late, get an absolute commitment when it will be finished
by
- You can't motivate anyone else, only help them find their own motivati
on
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