The Importance of Project Preparation

Kenneth has 14 years of healthcare experience in government and private industry. Over eight years of experience managing healthcare IT projects, operations, contracts, and personnel. His work experience includes project management, contracts and procurements, data analysis, claims adjudication, business writing, and business process modeling. Kenneth was certified in 2006 as a Project Management Professional.

  Communications Management   Risk Management  

Other than communication, one of the most important activities of the project manager is preparation. A project lives or dies based on the preparation that the project manager and the project team have performed. Without the correct preparation, the project will simply be aimlessly wandering in the dark. The activities done in support and prior to the project will be what determines how well the project will perform in the long run.

There is much that can be accomplished prior to the work beginning, and throughout the project there are key activities that must be done in order to support the project correctly.

What to Do Before You Do Anything
Before the project work begins, the project manager should be preparing for that work. Meetings can be held with stakeholders to discuss strategies and expectations. Preliminary drafts can be developed detailing the processes that will be used during the project. The project manager can begin to work with the project team to prepare it for the scope of work and the risks and issues that it will face on the project.

Drafts of the project schedule can be developed, and the vision for the project can be refined by the leaders in the organization. This preparation will help determine the overall strategy and path for the project, and accomplishing this before the project begins in earnest can help the project manager have a solid …

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