Is This A Project Managers’ Favorite Task?

You know what task I’m talking about. Your project is up and running, you’re moving on to another project, gearing up, getting organized, motivated, excited about the new project, just can’t wait to get going, when the boss says, “Oh, by the way”. These are words no project manager wants to hear, but I digress. The boss comes in and says, “Oh, by the way, don’t forget, you have to close out your last project”. Talk about being deflated. Project closeout is the least enjoyable project task there is. It is boring, you’re not motivated, the other team members are... Read More»

Vendor Data Requirements (continued)

In the last article I started a discussion on Vendor Data Requirements and their importance to your project. This is the vendor data you require with their proposal and later in the project should they be the successful bidder. In review, this document is typically used when purchasing equipment and outlines to the vendor exactly what information you expect him to include with his quote. In this article I will cover additional information that you should be asking for and why you need the information. Following are some additional data items typically required from a vendor ; 6. Transport As... Read More»

Information Required To Get The Job Done

Vendor Data Requirements In the last article, I talked about the Standard Component List and it’s importance to your project in helping make sure you get what you want and what you need. Another important document, that goes along with the Standard Component List, is the Vendor Data Requirements. This document is typically used when purchasing equipment and outlines to the vendor exactly what information you expect him to include with his quote. This document comes in a couple of formats, one as a printed document describing in detail what information you are looking for and the other as an... Read More»

Don't Fumble That Handoff

In honor of the impending (and long overdue) start of the college football season, I wanted to talk a little bit about project handoffs, specifically changing project managers in the midst of a project. Hopefully project handoffs of this sort do not happen as frequently as the handoff between a quarterback and running back occurs in football, but in the past six months I have experienced more project handoffs than expected. Through these experiences, I have discovered a couple of techniques that decrease the chances of dropping the project, just like grabbing the ball with both hands is very crucial... Read More»

Show Me the Reports

A few years ago I wrote about outsourcing considerations (http://bit.ly/9DpMTI) and another article on cultural considerations (http://bit.ly/c4BpHt). These ideas still hold true and possibly more so, in our ongoing efforts to do more with less. Ensuring we meet organizational objectives for the lowest cost possible requires thorough analysis and due diligence when choosing a vendor. I strongly believe the devil is in the detail when it comes to numerous areas, including contractor selection. Proposals you may receive when going through an RFP process, likely include standard/marketing content prepared by those employed to close the sale through written promises. During the... Read More»

How can one size fit all?

I've been discussing a lot of development philosophies lately, and I find it amazing how many people think that one methodology (theirs) is superior to all others in all situations. I agree that in the interest of efficiency and effectiveness there needs to be known structure throughout an organization, but is there really a methodology that is a "one size fits all"? I don't think there is. So, if we take a look at a number of Project methodologies (of which we have a quite few to choose from), let's consider Waterfall, Agile & RAD, Six Sigma, and JAD to... Read More»

The Benefits of Documentation

As a practitioner and supporter of agile and lean, I am a strong believer in doing things for a reason and only those things that add value. So when it comes to documentation, many with basic exposure to agile may think that the methodology means that project documentation is not created. Instead, it should be more about creating meaningful plans and if that means documentation, then it should also add value and be the proper amount. I do not believe in producing documentation (unless the contract specifically requires certain documents) for the sake of documentation. While many technical individuals balk... Read More»

The Amazing World of E-Mails

Isn't technology wonderful? I have a friend who works in Papua New Guinea and through the wonders of e-mail we have instant communication. I just type out a few words and hit send and within seconds he receives my musings. That is truly amazing. However, as you are well aware, there is a good side and a bad side to everything and e-mail is no different. We have all had times when 2 seconds after hitting the send button we have second thoughts about what we have sent and at the speed of light there is no getting it back.... Read More»

Assumptions: Your Get Out of Jail Free Card?

"The worst mistake of first contact, made throughout history by individuals on both sides of every new encounter, has been the unfortunate habit of making assumptions. It often proved fatal." -David Brin "What a man believes may be ascertained, not from his creed, but from the assumptions on which he habitually acts." -George Bernard Shaw You must stick to your conviction, but be ready to abandon your assumptions. -Denis Waitley I really enjoy quotes if you haven't already ascertained that fact. Above are three quotes about assumptions that I really enjoy and hit the mark-especially from the project management perspective.... Read More»

We Received The Wrong Equipment Again? Put A Stop To It.

What Does The Owner Want? As a consulting engineer we recently did a project where the specification called out asbestos gaskets. Knowing that asbestos has not been used for years in North America, plus the fact that a different project engineer, working for the same company, on another project did not want to use them, we assumed that this project engineer would do the same. We spent some time researching what was used in the past, made up a specification deviation (asbestos gaskets were still in their standards) and sent it to the owner. To our surprise he refused the... Read More»