PM Fundamentals: Project Success Starts Early

Fred is a Senior VP & Project Manager at Packard Consultants International, Inc. LLC.

  Communications Management   Leadership   New Practitioners  

In project management we encounter problems every day, and must handle them as they come. No roadmaps can cover the majority of these issues—we must rely on a project manager’s ability to do the right thing and keep the project moving toward successful completion. Close coordination with the team and stakeholders—coupled with initiative and decisive action—are needed to keep a project on track.

This must be followed by documentation of the problem, solution and feedback to the team. Keeping track of problems and the solutions ensures that everyone involved knows what was done and why. This is valuable information for future projects, and can prevent a repeat occurrence.

What tools does the PM have to succeed in these situations? Let’s take a look at how a PM can set themselves up for success.

First and foremost, success is laid out at project initiation. The project manager must work with the team, the client/end-user, and key stakeholders to define project details in order to develop an actionable project charter to help the project reach successful completion.

As this process unfolds, the PM must always keep the “iron triangle” of project scope, schedule and budget at the forefront of project planning. A well-defined project description followed by detailed planning forms a solid foundation for project success.

Team …

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