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Project Management Orientation

Click the photo to listen to Marjorie talk.

 

Why Is Tracking so Important?  

Methodical tracking of projects is the only way I can keep my projects on schedule.  I have to know what's happening so that I can anticipate the problems before they impact my project.  I have weekly status meetings where we discuss the status of the project compared to the plan and review all the issues and concerns.  I document the issues and track them through resolution.  That's the only way I can be sure each issue gets resolved in a satisfactory manner.
  
Another tool I use is earned value.  I think it's difficult to know if I'm on schedule.  If the project makes its first milestone on time, I know only that the milestone is on schedule.  But what about all the other activities that are happening at the same time?  By using financial measurements like earned value, I can see what areas are behind or ahead of schedule and where I'm overspending.  I know how much money has been spent, and I can calculate how much money I should have spent.  It's a great tool for getting an objective view.
  
As a project manager, the worst thing that can happen to me is that I get surprised.  If there's a problem that I wasn't aware of and I didn't make the appropriate changes to mitigate it, it will impact the cost, scope, or schedule of the project.  I need to understand what's happening on the project so that doesn't happen.

 

Click the photo to listen to Marjorie talk.
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Audio Script
1: Getting Started
2: Define the Project Team
3: Team Management
4: Identify and Validate Requirements
5: Create Decomposition Structures
6: Risk Management
7: Project Estimates
8: Project Schedules
9: Change Management
10: Project Control and Execution
Defining the Project
11: Project Management Review
12: Project Closeout
13: Project Management Tool Suite
14: Self-Assessment and Final Exam
Fast Points
Concepts
Seven Keys
Case Study
WWPMM
Mentor
Check Point
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