7 Keys to Project Success
Michael R. Wood is a Business Process Improvement & IT Strategist Independent Consultant. He is creator of the business process-improvement methodology called HELIX and founder of The Natural Intelligence Group, a strategy, process improvement and technology consulting company. He is also a CPA, has served as an Adjunct Professor in Pepperdine's Management MBA program, an Associate Professor at California Lutheran University, and on the boards of numerous professional organizations. Mr. Wood is a sought after presenter of HELIX workshops and seminars in both the U.S. and Europe.
Reflecting on the successful projects I have led over the past few decades, I identified several principles in each. The sense of accomplishment and pride that came from these successes was tremendous. I figured that if these principles helped me, they might also help others. Here they are.
1. Design complexity and activity dependencies out of work plans
Early on in my career as a project manager, I found I could significantly simplify and accelerate progress by designing work plans without complexity and activity dependencies. This approach helped me to streamline workflows and optimize resource allocation by identifying critical paths and potential bottlenecks early.
A well-structured work plan accelerates progress and consistently empowered my teams to deliver high-quality results. Designing out needless complexities and dependencies helped me to create a framework that enhanced efficiency and accelerate outcome delivery.
2. Maximize the use of parallel work streams in work plans
In virtually every large project I managed, I found that maximizing parallel work streams in project plans was crucial for several compelling reasons. It significantly enhanced efficiency, compressed time and accelerated the overall project schedule. Managing parallel work streams helped me to optimize resources and eliminate bottlenecks. This approach minimized downtime and maximized …
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"When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge." - Albert Einstein |
