Welcome to the Blog
The articles here will help you to manage your IT projects effectively. Please feel free to comment and come back regularly for more.
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Sharing spreadsheets
Posted by Cathryn in : Project Management, Technology , 2 commentsWhat’s the most useful project management tool there is? It’s not MS Project, or your favourite all-singing, all-dancing planning tool that allows you to create Gantt charts, do Earned Value Analysis, Critical Paths or any of the other (admittedly useful) techniques around project schedules. (more…)
Engaging Consultancy Suppliers
Posted by Cathryn in : Project Management , add a commentMost projects will need some external service or consultancy, whether that’s technical expertise you don’t have, extra staff because your own organisation is too stretched or (please!) someone to help you manage the project. Whether you’re engaging a major consulting firm or a one-person band, it is very important to make sure that they are given a clear understanding of what they’re expected to deliver, when its needed and your criteria for accepting their work. The easiest time to agree all this is at the beginning, before you’ve given them a purchase order and before they’ve committed a lot of time and effort.
The Best Laid Plans
Posted by Cathryn in : Project Management , add a commentYou’ve put your plan together, you have your resources and staff lined up, everyone knows what they’re supposed to do and you’re all ready to go. What could possibly go wrong?
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Planning for Hardware
Posted by Cathryn in : Project Management , add a commentSetting up a new server or two to run the application you’ve been building for the last few months is a simple matter, of course! Ironically, its something that often goes wrong in smaller projects, rather than larger ones, because it is forgotten in the rush and stress of testing and preparing for installation and teams don’t necessarily have anyone responsible for this area of the work.
Creating Focus
Posted by Cathryn in : Project Management , add a commentAside from the fundamental tools and techniques of Project Management, such as planning and controlling, one of the most important aspects of the project manager’s role is to create focus for the project within the organisation. (more…)