CHAPTER 9: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
CONTROL
Project Management – planning, executing,
scheduling & controlling (PESC) activities to
provide solutions to identified problems.
A. Project Plan – nucleus of a consulting
engagement & provides a guide to staff
assignment & completion dates.
NOTE: Project Plan begins with an Engagement
Kick Off Meeting – key element in getting the
project off to a good start.
Important Topics in Meeting:
 Review of the Engagement Proposal
- Summarize what has taken place to
date as a springboard for looking
ahead to the project objectives &
work required
 Discussion of Work Objectives
 Definition of Intermediate Work Results
Important because:
o Beg. Point
development
detailed work plan
o Measuring point for
progress
o Break the project up
into mini projects of
satisfaction for reaching
a goal
 Responsibility Assignments & Client
Participation
 Project Completion Date
NOTE: Details of decisions should be made
regarding – Time, Venue, Participants, Agenda
(TVPA)
Detailed Work Plan (DWP) – blueprint for the
execution of the engagement in w/c they can
monitor the progress of project.
& Elements/Components of DWP:
 Task Identification & Description
- Identifying each activity required to
accomplish both intermediate &
work end results
 Task Relationships
- Determining the relationships
among the tasks
Method: PERT (Perf., Evalua, Review
Technq), Gantt Chart, Bubble Chart
 Estimating the Work Efforts
- Determines how long in terms of
workers, each tasks will take
 Scheduling Tasks
- Scheduling – process of taking the
task estimates and dependencies as
well as project team assignments &
availability.
 Determining Review Points
 Staffing the Project
NOTE: Overlooked of Project Staffing is
Project Management – critical element
in the success of engagement
 Project Costing
for
 DWP Review
of
- Critical point in the engagement
- Means of explaining to the client
how the project results will be
accomplished
B. Organizing the Project Team
NOTE: Team Briefing should be made before
assigning the project tasks to members
Briefing should Discuss:
o Responsibility for a) Clerical Functions b)
Travel Arrangements
o Working a) Space in Client’s office b)
Hours to be observed
o Unusual aspect of working
o Project a) Progress Reporting b) Strategy
C. Project Schedule
- should be based on specific tasks, time
estimated to complete tasks & critical
completion dates
D. Project Control
o Gantt Chart
NOTE: Horizontal Axis shows the elapsed
time required to complete activities;
Vertically is the listed tasks
o PERT diagram
- Outlines activities & time estimates
for completing activities
NOTE: Critical Path – set of
connected lines w/c will take the
longest time to complete
E. Documentation Policies & Guidelines
- ensures that event and agreement affecting the
project findings and conclusions are properly
documented
It should Address:
- Defined structure of docu
- Timing for preparing, updating and
completing
- Procedures outlining instructions
- Responsibilities & review at various
project
Work Papers are Necessary:
o Provide historical substantiation of
work performed
o Source of reference
o Support for recommendations
The Report Format should include:
o Statement of Engagement Obj
o Background info & activities conducted
o Findings & Conclusions
o Recommendations
o Benefits of Implementing Recomm
Time Management – more a matter of good
management practice than complex systems
Important Rules in TM:
o Be aware of Time
o Prioritize Tasks
o Anticipate Tasks
o Avoid Putting off Jobs
o Break Down Tasks
o Ensure Deadlines are Understood
o Be Prepared
o Support others w/ TM
3 Essential Parts of TM System:
o Breaking down projs into their
component tasks
o Reminding when task due is completed
o Reviewing the tasks
One Page Plans – flow chart that illustrates
the stage of the project
Tasks to Do List – system that divides the
projs into intervals (weeks/day)
Job Cards – splits the projs into task types
rather than time intervals
Project log – used as the basis of or to
support effective TM
Reasons why Project is Knocked Off:
- Change in Client’s a) Interests b)
Business Situation
- Cuts in Expenditure
- Misinterpretation of Information
- Loss of Key people
Ground Rules that make Man. Of a Crisis
Effective:
- Be prepared
- Avoid Panic
- Refer Back to aims and objectives
- Evaluate Resource Implication
- Modify Plans
- Communicate