P roject C ommunications M anagement

“The Biggest Communication Problem is we do not listen to

understand, we listen to reply”
Includes the processes required to ensure timely and appropriate generation,
collection, dissemination, storage, and ultimate disposition of project information.
It provides the critical links among people, ideas, and information that are necessary for
success. Everyone involved in the project must be prepared to send and receive
communications in the project “language” and must understand how the
communications they are involved in as individuals affect the project as a whole

In some book I research it was stated there that many project managers have
executed the technical work to perfection only to find out that stakeholders were
not satisfied because communication was poor. Because of this, project
communication is sometimes more important than the technical work.

Therefore I infer that the project manager needs to communicate especially when
unexpected problem occur and should always communicate, in order to be inform
every happening within the team. That’s the main activity of project risk
management. Also, continues communication with the stakeholders, prevents the
occurrence of project issues that falls under the Project Communications
Management knowledge area.

 Without Communication among all the team members & project stakeholder there
can be a breakdown in processes w/c could have a negative impact on the final
product.

Is a two way process of transferring information from one entity to another.

Can be either
 written
 verbal

IS PLANNING Student: Erlene T. Danjel

 P roject C ommunications M anagement

Form of communication methods;

• Formal written
• Formal verbal
• Informal written
• Informal verbal

 Communicating is the huge subject and involves a important body of knowledge that is not
unique to the project context
 For example:
• Sender-receiver models—feedback loops, barriers to communications, etc.
• Choice of media—when to communicate in writing versus when to communicate orally,
when to write an informal memo versus when to write a formal report, etc.
• Writing style—active versus passive voice, sentence structure, word choice, etc.
• Presentation techniques—body language, design of visual aids, etc.
• Meeting management techniques—preparing an agenda, dealing with conflict, etc.

Communication Technology
 Refers to the various media used for communication
 Telephone
 Fax
 Emails
 Messaging software
 Meetings
 Skype
 Facebook
 Twitter
 blogger

IS PLANNING Student: Erlene T. Danjel

 P roject C ommunications M anagement

Communication Model
• Encode – Translate thought to language
• Message – Output of encoding
• Medium – Method to convey message
• Noise – Interference with transmission/understanding
• Decode – Translation back to thought/idea

Communications Planning
Involves determining the information and communications needs of the stakeholders:
who needs what information, when will they need it, and how will it be given to them.
Thus, all project needs to share the need to communicate project information, the
information and the methods need vary widely.

The important factor for project success

 identifying the informational needs of the stakeholders
 determining a suitable means of meeting.
Communications planning is often linked with organizational planning since the project’s
organizational structure will have a major effect on the project’s communications requirements.

Inputs to Communications Planning:

1. Communications requirements.
Communications requirements are the sum of the information
requirements of the project stakeholders. Requirements are
defined by combining the type and format of information
required with an analysis of the value of that information. Project
resources should be expended only on communicating
information which contributes to success or where lack of
communication can lead to failure.
2. Communications technology.
The technologies or methods used to transfer information back
and forth among project elements can vary significantly: from
brief conversations to extended meetings, from simple written

IS PLANNING Student: Erlene T. Danjel

 P roject C ommunications M anagement

documents to immediately accessible on-line schedules and

databases.
3. Constraints.
Constraints are factors that will limit the project management
team’s options. For example, if substantial project resources will
be procured, more consideration will need to be given to handling
contract information. When a project is performed under contract,
there are often specific contractual provisions that affect
communications planning.
4. Assumptions.
Assumptions are factors that, for planning purposes, will be
considered to be true, real, or certain. Assumptions generally
involve a degree of risk. They may be identified here or they may
be an output of risk identification.

Tools and Techniques for Communications Planning:

1. Stakeholder analysis.
The information needs of the various stakeholders should be analyzed
to develop a methodical and logical view of their information needs
and sources to meet those needs

Outputs from Communications Planning:

1 Communications management plan.
A communications management plan is a document which may be
formal or informal, highly detailed or broadly framed, based on the needs
of the project. It is a subsidiary element of the overall project plan.

Therefore:

The process of developing an appropriate approach and plan for project

communications based on stakeholder’s information needs and requirements, and available
organizational assets.

Identifies and documents the approach to communicate most effectively and efficiently
with stakeholders.

Effective communication means that the information is provided in the right format, at
the right time, to the right audience, and the impact.

Efficient communication means providing only the information that is needed.

IS PLANNING Student: Erlene T. Danjel

 P roject C ommunications M anagement

IS PLANNING Student: Erlene T. Danjel