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Project Management Objectives
Project management objectives establish the foundation for
any project.
The reason many projects fail is because of the
lack of precise goals and objectives.
Goals and
objectives of a project
define the deliverables expected from the project and when
they are achieved, they contribute to the purpose of the project.
Project management requires different levels of planning; the
milestone plan and an activity plan. Both plans define the road map of
the project focusing on 'what objectives needs to be achieved" and "how
they are going to be achieved".
Once the project management objectives are identified, it is
the the
managers job to decide how to organize labor, use resources
maintain deadlines. Planning sets the stage for success.
Good planing and organization will result in success; poor planning or
a lack of coordination will result in a shoddy product or an unprepared
presentation, and the entire team will seem incompetent. As the one in
charge, the manager
will feel the worst heat; both from subordinate
workers and from upper management. Like a good or bad film, the
producer takes all the credit, even if the project is credited with
pouring enormous money and human resources into a sink-like-lead
disaster.
Project management objectives must define the long-term vision as well
as a detailed schedule broken-down into monthly activities,
responsibilities and expected outcomes. As a manager you must ensure
that the work is completed thoroughly, with no stone
left unturned, and every angle covered. When the project plan is
presented
to the board or a higher-up, it will be ruthlessly scrutinized, and the
flaws will be the most defining feature.
Where to start?
The first step is to understand the purpose of the project.
Why does the organization needs the project? What gap is going
to fill? What system is going to enhance? What is the desired
situation once the project is completed?
Do the research together with your team. Talk to other managers in
other departments, solicit their view on the project. Understand what
you do not know and assess who knows what. This is the most
important phase, because
it is from here that the plan will spring and work will follow.
The next step is the design phase. Given a thorough grasp of the
project and the team's capabilities, a course must be charted. Allow a
free exchange of ideas, and allow them to be criticized without remorse
for individual feeling. The objective is results, not pleasing a
coworker.
All ideas should be fairly
considered, and then edited into a streamlined blueprint. Perform a
good sifting of the ideas, probe them with your team without being
emotinoally attached. Drop the ones that are feasible. It's not the
time to be sensitive, it's time to roll-up your sleeves and develop a
realistic plan. Adding too many ideas to the plan it's like
adding too many ribbons to a kite: It will be too
bulky to fly.
The plan must finally be implemented, and this is where skilled
planning meets hard labor. Planning avoids wasted work, and now each
team member must work his or her best. People should get jobs that are
suited to them, and the entire process must be thoroughly supervised to
ensure quality and continuity. The pieces of the entrepreneurial jigsaw
puzzle must fit.
Afterwards, the entire team must see and evaluate the product. If it is
not up to par, it may need to be reworked. The chance to edit is one
reason to get started early.
Related Articles - Project
Management Objectives:
What
is Project Management
Project
Management Basics
Project
Manager Skills
Project
Management Steps
Return
from Project Management Objectives to Project Management
Basics
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Outstanding Leaders
consider themselves a work in progress
Dr Franklin
C. Ashby
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Management
Terms
Decentralization -
pushing power and decision
making downward.
MBO
- Management by Objectives.
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