Tag Archive for: best practices

Posts

StrategyDriven Project Management Forum

August 19, 2008/in Project Management/by Nathan Ives

“A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result.”

Project Management Body of Knowledge
Third Edition
Project Management Institute

To many, project management represents their worst nightmare. The mere mention of the term conjures images of bloated bureaucracies, large consultant-laden teams, and endless meetings where decisions are seldom made and status is often reported as being behind. Executed properly, project management can be an effective tool for aligning the organization to the successful implementation of simple and complex initiatives.

An art and a science, project management is most effective when implemented with a rigor correlated to the scope and complexity of the work to be performed. Regardless of intensity, the management of projects consists of five phases:

Initiate – initial, high-level project definition and authorization
Plan – project scope refinement and approval; task identification and sequencing; resource to task allocation; schedule development; project cost estimation and budget development; project plan creation and baselining
Execute – project plan execution
Evaluate and Control – project plan execution performance monitoring and reporting; project scope and plan change control; project risk management
Close – final project activity documentation; financial closeout; overall project performance assessment and lessons learned development; product evaluation; project administrative closure

Focus of the Project Management Forum

Materials in the Project Management Forum are dedicated to discussing the leading practices of companies effectively managing projects for the efficient achievement of mission goals. Additionally, all project management information presented will be aligned with, compliment, and expound on the project management processes described by the Project Management Institute’s A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. The following articles, podcasts, documents, and resources cover those topics critical to the effective management of consequential projects.

Articles

Principles

Post Implementation Productivity [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
What is Critical Chain? [StrategyDriven Premium Content]

Best Practices

Best Practice – The Project Management Intensity Continuum [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Best Practice – Define What is Not In Scope [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Best Practice – Line Management Project Ownership [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Best Practice – Team Calendar [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Best Practice – Define Success First [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Best Practice – A+ Players [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Best Practice – Use of Administrative Support [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Best Practice – Roles and Responsibilities Matrix [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Best Practice – Identify the Gatekeepers [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Best Practice – Communication Plans [StrategyDriven Premium Content]

Warning Flags

Warning Flag – Unfunded Activities [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Warning Flag – Breaking-up a Project to Avoid Approval Thresholds [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Warning Flag – Frequent Re-baselining [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Warning Flag – Too Much Time, Too Few People [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Warning Flag – Fast Tracking Everything [StrategyDriven Premium Content]

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor Articles

Adaptive Project Framework is not Your Father’s Project Management by Robert Wysocki
Managing Your Virtual Team by Elmer Thomas

StrategyDriven Podcasts

StrategyDriven Podcast – Special Edition

Documents

Whitepapers

Project Size Determination [StrategyDriven Premium Content]

Resources

Books

To supplement the project management information found on the StrategyDriven website, our contributors recommend the Project Management Institute’s A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Third Edition (PMBOK Guides). This book is a complete process reference covering all aspects of project management including:

Project Integration Management
Project Scope Management
Project Time Management
Project Cost Management
Project Quality Management
Project Human Resource Management
Project Communications Management
Project Risk Management
Project Procurement management

Celebrating Our First Year… Looking Toward a Bright Future

July 1, 2008/in Announcements/by Nathan Ives

Today marks the first anniversary of the StrategyDriven website and what a year we have enjoyed! From a modest beginning on July 1, 2007, we have been joined by 344 registered members and have grown to:

3362 unique monthly visitors – from 54 different countries
10,434 monthly site visits – over 3 visits per visitor
74,993 monthly page views – over 7 pages viewed per site visit

Our website has grown too, now offering insights on strategic business planning and tactical execution through:

147 principle, best practice, and warning flag postings – covering 24 management and leadership categories
19 episodes of the StrategyDriven Podcast
5 whitepapers and
7 models

As a community, we are fortunate to have had several of our members share their insights with us through posted comments including:

Mark Horstman, Manager Tools (www.Manager-Tools.com)
Todd Watkins, The Immigration Truth (www.TheImmigrationTruth.com)
John Bogard, Fountainhead (www.Fountainhead.org)
Kenneth Sawka, Outward Insights (www.OutwardInsights.com)
John Ringland, New Civilization Network (www.NewCiv.org)

Finally, we have been complimented by many reviewers and websites linking to us including:

Small Business Trends Radio (www.SmBTrendWire.com)
EatonWeb (portal.eatonweb.com)
Cision (baconsblog.typepad.com)
Podcast Alley (www.PodcastAlley.com) – ranked number 2 or 3 of over 2000 business podcasts in four of the first six months of 2008
and over 100 other websites linking to StrategyDriven

Goals for Our Second Year

Seeking to be strategy driven, we have established the following series of goals for our second year. In addition to maintaining the high level of quality you, our readers and listeners, have come to expect, we are committed to providing:

2 new members’ only categories
4 new whitepapers
4 new models
a templates area with 4 new templates

Additionally, we will heighten our focus on tactical execution, namely, the management and leadership practices needed to effectively execute the organization’s strategy on a day-to-day basis; creating a more aligned and accountable organization. Management and leadership focus categories will include:

Tactical Execution
Management and Leadership
Standards and Expectations
Communications
Management Observation Program (new)
Project Management (new)

with at least 5 new postings or podcasts in each category

To expand the depth of experience and breadth of perspective offered, we’ll incorporate the insights of additional business leaders through:

periodic podcast interviews with management and leadership experts – at least 10
3 articles written by each of at least 2 new contributors

Finally, we’ll seek to grow our community; helping an increasing number of executives and managers create aligned, accountable, and successful organizations. This growth will be reflective of:

1000+ registered members
7500+ unique monthly visitors
25,000+ monthly site visits
200,000+ monthly page views
Podcast Alley ranking of 1, 2, or 3 from among all business podcasts for at least 8 of the next 12 months

Thank You!

The StrategyDriven family would like to thank you, our readers and listeners, for helping to make our first year a successful one! We truly value the time you spend with and the insights you offer to us and look forward to the continuing journey ahead.

All the Best,

Karen Juliano
Editor-in-Chief and
Director, Communications and Marketing

StrategyDriven Strategic Planning Forum

July 4, 2007/in Strategic Planning/by StrategyDriven

A company’s true value is largely determined by its long-term performance potential as shaped by management’s decisions made today. These decisions guide the translation of the company’s mission, its purpose for existing, into the products and services it provides and hopefully the market wants.

Strategic planning is an iterative, ongoing process consisting of:

Analysis: assessment of the internal and external factors effecting the organization’s ability to achieve its mission
Alternative Development: detailed assessment of the costs, benefits, and risks associated with strategic alternatives including both major, ongoing and newly proposed activities
Alternative Selection: identification of the current portfolio components and proposed activities that will be pursued and the time frame for execution
Resource Projections: aggregation of the personnel, financial, physical, and technological needs including an assessment of the ability to acquire these resources within the needed time frame
Plan Development: final validation of the organization’s mission and compilation and approval of its long-range and annual business plans

Execution of these iterative processes takes place throughout the year with a frequency dictated by the pace of market change.

Focus of the Strategic Planning Forum

This forum will focus on the principles, best practices, and warning flags associated with the leading practices of companies that successfully execute strategic planning processes to define objectives, drive alignment, and enhance performance. The following articles, podcasts, documents, and resources cover those topics critical to an exceptional strategic planning program.