A few days ago, I got a reminder about what seems to be a very useful meeting being run by my engineering institution [Institution of Chemical Engineers] and the Association of Project Managers entitled “Budget, what Budget”[http://www.icheme.org/pdfs/BudgetWhatBudget2PMSGAPM10Dec2010.pdf] in London on 10th December. This focuses on the issues around getting the best budget for your project. [...]
One of the most difficult situations for a project manager to deal with is that point in the implementation stage where one of the future users of the facility realises that what is being delivered is not what they were expecting. Usually, this means that there has been a communication error at some point in [...]
I caught a section of one of those property redevelopment programmes on TV today. I always find them interesting as examples of how [not to] do projects but this one was exceptional. It pre-empts some issues on the practical recommendations series so I’ll return to them in detail later but I felt this was worth [...]
Virtually all projects require some form of team working and efficient communication is vital for success. This is borne out by the emphasis on communication in most books on project management. Unfortunately, many concentrate on the formal elements of communication; reporting channels, report content and format, appropriate procedures, forms etc. Formal Communication – necessary but [...]
For those at the front line of project management, it can be very tempting to see the project as an end in itself but this can be a dangerous perspective. Projects are always done to meet the needs and expectations of at least one stakeholder group. Successful projects require effective management of all the stakeholders [...]
We had quite a rainstorm here yesterday and as is usual in these conditions traffic got very slow. The main road near where I live has lots of minor roads joining it – each has a give way sign [equivalent to "Yield" in some countries] what became clear was that as the traffic slowed down [...]
