Execution 101

Vincent is a Senior Project Management Consultant and e-Learning Developer.

  Decision Making   Leadership   Stakeholder Management   ProjectsAtWork  

Project schedules are idealized predictions of the future. Execution is about dealing with reality. In this new series, we look at the elements of effective execution, from managing milestones and assessing current status to dealing with change and balancing the big picture with the details.

In a previous series of articles we examined the elements of Schedule Centered Planning. The focus of this approach is the schedule, which must reflect all aspects of your total plan. Your schedule is many things: it’s your roadmap; it helps set expectations; and it provides critical inputs for the project business case. It must address potential problems (risks), assure that quality is built in, and reflect the needs of procurement. It’s about creating a comprehensive vision of the future. In this new series, we focus on execution.

There’s an old adage: well begun is half done. For the project manager, well begun means the creation of a realistic project plan. Planning provides more than a roadmap laying out how the project is expected to proceed. Planning helps us understand the nature of the project and prepares us for execution. With planning and understanding — and frequently before they’re complete — the real fun starts: the making of the project deliverable.

Managing execution is about dealing with reality. Your initial schedule is an …

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