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project management
project management basics.com.

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risk management basics.com.

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The Complete Project management package

Topics include

Definitions
What is a project and Project Management?
What is a Project Management system?
Human, culture, planning...


General Project Structure
Project visualisation
Start and end
Size, costs, time...


Breaking down a project
Milestones, management
Costs and budgets...


Phases of a project
Concept, feasibility
Specification, design
Installation...


The Project notebook
What is it?
Assumptions, problem statements, mission statements
Strategy, scope, objectives
Customer analysis, deliverables
Exit criteria...


Product specification, work break down structure (WBS)
Schedules, resources, control system
Authority, roles and resonsibilities
Risk areas and benefits ...


Planning overview
Why plan?
Work breakdown structures
Task characteristics
Information and milestones...


Detailed planning
Overview
Procurement
Estimation

initial
overview
too long
too short
budgets...

Dependencies
PERT analysis
Slack or float, elapsed time
Roles and responsibilities
Resources
Gantt charts
Constraints
Critical paths and how to manage them...


Control
Why?
Monitoring, general, what...

Time, cost (terms, overspend, cash flow), quality
Progress reporting...
General, committees, data


Taking action
Assessing the situation
Impact analysis
Resolving issues and problems...


Review
Contingency
Change
Documents and procedures
Project completion...


Quality
Plan
Statistical control


Risk
Overview
Impact analysis
Risk versus impact
Automated planning tools
Consideration of time...

Responsibilities
Documentation
General approach
Identification and costing...

Assess chances and impact
Measures
Contingencies
Records and review
Health and safety...


Reviews
Project audits


Human factors
The role of the Project Manager
Overview
Project teams
Recruitment...

Communication
User expectations
Systematic approach
Empowerment
Appointment of a Project Manager...


Project organisation
Project office and documentation

What is a problem?

A.P.I.M.A.
(assess)
problem definition
analysis of data
objective definition


(plan)
identify causes
select the most likely cause
devise potential solutions
selection of the most appropriate solution
plan for implementation


(implement, monitor and act)

Problem solving techniques

problem identification
prioritisation
analysis of problem causes
identifying key causes
data gathering
evaluation and finalising options


brainstorming

method and system


Pareto analysis

what is it?
method and system


data collection

fact and opinion
documentation
method and system
interviews


cause and effect diagrams

effect vs cause
identification and selection of cause
taking action
method and system


process analysis

examine the steps in the work process
method and system


six word system

what, why, when, how, where and who?
method and system


presentation

histogram, barchart and pie chart
scatter diagram
organisation charts


Time saving templates e.g.

audit reports, customer analysis
deliverables, estimation of cost
mission statement, objectives
problem statements...

project numbering
project progress
strategy and S.W.O.T. analysis
timesheets and work breakdown and many more...


Fully Worked Example

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The complete
Risk management package

Topics include

What is risk?
Uncertainty
Risk versus issue
Risk versus reward
Margins versus contingency
Will a project succeed?
Key areas of concern...


6 basic questions to answer
Who?
Why?
What?


How?
Resource?
When?...


Why carry out a risk assessment?
Is the project too risky?
The threat intensity
Decision making
Helpful documentation...


What should risk analysis provide?
Time factor
Prioritisation
Summary of risk
Decision making
Realism...


How does risk management integrate with project management?
Risk management is key?
Permeates all projects?
Supporting role?...


Accountability
Sharing of risk
Who is accountable?...


Stakeholders
Identification
Customer and supplier
User priorities...


Success measures
How do you measure it?
Assumptions
Clarify objectives
Suppliers versus customers


Basic steps
What are the core process steps to assess a risk?

Identification
Proactive planning
Reactive planning
Monitoring and control
Triggers

A simple process outline
What is the basic overall process steps?

Identifying stakeholders
Success criteris
Plan preparation
Identify and assess risks
Ownership and planning
Aggregation, monitoring and review...


Human relations
Pressure
Timing
Bid and budget control
Risk focus
Planning confidence
Price versus cost
Client versus stakeholder driven...


The Project LIfe Cycle
Overview
Concept
Design
Plan


Allocate
Execute
Deliver
Review


Support
Different areas
Working in parallel
Milestones
Contracting
Decision points...


Cost terminology
Expected cost
Target cost
Provision
Contingency
Commitment


Statistical terminology
Mean or average
Median
Mode
Variance
Standard deviation


The risk management process
Overview
Timing
Defining the project
Defining the risk management process...


Identifying risks and responses
Organisng the risks and responses
Ownership (risks, responsibilities and contractors)
Estimating technique...


Evaluating the estimates
Planning (integrating risk and project management)
Managing (the risk management process)


Estimating detail
Overview
Simple estimating of risk
Cumulative probability graphs
Simple estimating of risk detail...


Simple estimating problems
Obtainng the estimates
Breakdown of variables...


Evaluating detail
Overview
Independent correlation
Cumulative probability graph
Positive correlation
Cumulative probability graph...


Negative correlation
Conditional correlation
Cumulative probability graphs...


Planning detail
Types of plan

Initial
Reference
Base
Contingency
Horizon
Action

Ways to modify plans
General comments


General points to consider
Resource level
Control
Contractors
Customer...


Managing the risk process
Overview
Identifying risk issues
Other issues and the project life cycle
Other aspects

Cost and resources
Effectiveness of risk management
Modelling
Managing the process...


The contractor
Overview
Risk assessment positioning
The contract
Cost plus fixed fee
Fixed price
Screening
Transferring risk...


Risk combination
The issues involved...


Common methods of risk assessment
Overview
The timing, prioritising, summarising and decision making virtues
Issue based
Checklists
Qualitative
Quantitative...


Quantitative risk assessment
Overview
Simple example and detail
Simple cost model
Cost model including uncertainty
Cost model including likelihood...


Monte Carlo distribution
Overview
Monte Carlo simulation
Monte Carlo simulation output
Monte Carlo distribution
Monte Carlo risk distribution
How do we carry out the simulations?
Probability Density Function (PDF)
Triangular Probability Density Function (PDF)...


Uncertain events
Overview
Simple pathway likelihood and frequency versus cost graph
Detailed calculations
A basic risk assessment
Probability versus total cost graph...


Correlated events
Overview
Ranges of correlation
Process summary
Risk assessment versus a traditional approach
How will the level of breakdown structure influence the result?
How do we estimate probability simply?...


General points
Collecting task information
Documentation
Other areas to consider when reviewing risk


Data handling
Overview
Monte Carlo risk distribution
Multiple variables


Budget versus contingency
Overview and setting the contingency
Alternative setting of contingency


Schedule risk assessment
Detailed planning, 4 basic types
Detailed planning, in software


Simple network
Simple network (no lag) duration calculations
Simple network (with lag) duration calculations


Branching
Overview (simple branching)
Complex branching
Complex branching duration calculations
Multiple branching
Multiple branching duration calculations
Multiple probability branching
Multiple probability branching duration calculations
Production example
Production example, one step further
Production model output interpretation graph
Nodes and branching networks
Nodes and branching networks graphical output


Markov chain
Events and transitions
Benefits
When do you use it?


Business forecast
Overview (types of operation, activity, timing and correlation)
Business schedule risk
Business revenue and profit risk distribution
Business profit yearly forecast
Business profit simulation graphical output


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The Complete Time management package

Topics include

Resources
Capital
Physical
Human
Information
Finite time...


Workaholic
Long hours
Work enjoyment
Ambition


Personal life
Routine and mundane
Addiction


Result orientation
Old values
Tiredness and mistakes
Signs...


What is time management?
Problem time solving
Goals or objectives and targets
Strategy and tactics...


Goals
Road to success
Hurdles
Basic tactics
Types
Setting goals


Refining goals
Control
Short and long term
Quality
Flexibility...


Objectives
List of tasks
Dependent and non dependent
Strategic v urgent
Prioritise...


Prioritising objectives
Priority ranking
Multiplication ranking
Tabular matrix...


Urgent v important
Urgent - deadline
Important - time
Matrix
Rank
Category detail
Job needs
Job order...


Human nature
Pleasing people
Avoidance of challenges
Fear of position
Ambition


Pride of ability
Being a perfectionist
Retaining control
Preconceived ideas...


Blame culture
Interruptions
Phone calls
Meetings


Lacking data
What are the goals?
Objectives...


Productivity
Output v input...


Also...

Time log
Prioritised objectives
Weekly plan
Recording the log
Analysis


Identify 'time destroyers'
Identify actions
Implement plan...


Key time destroyers
Action chasing
Being disorganised
Can't say no
Crisis management
Friends


Large reports
Low energy levels
Meetings
Multiple tasks
Other's errors


Other's jobs
Paperwork
Perfection
Poor communication
Poor control and reporting


Poor delegation
Poor information
Poor leadership
Poor planning
Poor preparation


Poor self discipline
Putting things off
Resource issues
Responsibility v authority
Socialising
Staff issues


The boss
The telephone
Travel time
Unfinished tasks
Unwanted callers
Work overload
Your own errors...


Typical process
Review your personal time log
Audit
Decide on your time destroyers
Rank them in order of priority
Review the causes


Consider solutions
Generate action steps
Decide on the time scale
Create deadlines
Teamwork...


Strategies for getting on with it
Visibilty
Rank review
Minimise
Tick off


Your time
Challenge
Delegate
Routine


Desktop
Measure
Check
Negative


Fear
Start
Exposure
Mentality


Others
Positive
Benefit
Part


Reward
Energy
Confidence...


Positive thinking
Positive mindset
Attitudes and beliefs
Self belief
Modifying attitudes
Record the goals
The road to success...


Commitment
Winning
Definition
Not knowing


Meetings
Less interruptions
Resource
Resource...


Delegation process
Monitoring
Review
Problems
Tough personnel
Towards independence...


Information collection
Part of time management
Everything
How and where to?
The purpose


Projects
Delayed tasks
Delegated tasks
Processing information
Other...


Processing the information
Define the purpose
Prioritise
Decide on the action and format...


Filing notes
What should you file?
What system should you use?
Agree
'A' to 'Z'
Day files
Other...


Day files
Detail...


Decision PATH
Priorities
Activity
Time
Health
Decision is not action...


Capturing ideas
Record
Techniques
Computer folders
Software...


Brain storm
Record
Do not criticise
Ideas
Consider


Stepwise procedure
Simple voting procedure
Ranking technique
What next?...


Mind mapping
Brain styles
Mond mapping...


Checklists
Task list of reminders
Yesterday's mistakes
Not exhaustive
Ignored
Orientation
Lacking detail...


Reminders
Processing complete
Delegated tasks
Delayed tasks
Projects
Triggers
Diary...


E-mails
General
Message rules
Back up
Spam
Action...


What not to do
General
Would it matter if you didn't do it?
How to tackle it?
Perfectionist?
Time runs out
Bottle it up
Education...


Projects
General
Plan
Meetings
Decisions and data...


Irritating tasks
Benefits
Get started
Atmosphere
Putting them off...


Combining tasks
Areas to consider
Criteria
Culture...


Time
Historical view
Passing time
Quality time
Culture
Mono and polychronic time...


Monochronic time
Attitudes
Definition
Culture
Plans
Other
Issues
Flexibility...


Polychronic time
Attitudes
Definition
Culture
Plans
Other
Issues
Flexibility...


High and low context culture
High and low
Information transfer...


Divergent thinking
Sees the big picture
Flexibility
Free space...


Convergent thinking
Takes a narrow view
Methodical
Free space...


Blending styles
Ideas
Sharing
Good will
Brain use
Assess, plan implement, monitor and act...


Assessment and planning
Best v easy
Work area ideas
Take a break
Taking notes
Prioritising...


Implementing
Combining tasks
Goal posts
Delay
Scheduling...


Prioritising
Visual sorting
Communication and flexibility
Resource
Restructuring
Inclusion...


Scheduling
Diary or calendar
Visual aids
Odd items
Personal energy
Bits and pieces
Assistant
Overload
Visible
The telephone
Proative...


Review
General
Delayed tasks
Delegated tasks
E-mails and voice mail
Diary
Collection
Projects...


Personality drivers
Faster
Please
Perfection
Try hard
Be strong...


Assertiveness
General
Assessment
Process...


Stress
General
Signs
Sources
Problems
Not enough time
Leading to tension
Tempers being lost
Stress escalates
Coping techniques?
Legal redress...


Coping with stress
General
Personality driver
Experience
Techniques
Ideas...


Playtime
General
Reasons for avoidance
Things to try
Little bits
Imagination...




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Leadership - follow the leaders and adverse behaviour

Leadership requires integrity which you can not demonstrate if you exhibit adverse behaviours...
Negative behaviour
We know that is a good idea to avoid these. However, as a leader if someone else is using negative behaviour to try to score points this needs to be dealt with.
These unhelpful and unprofessional behaviours can cause considerable disruption to team and individual morale.

You must tackle the problem by speaking to the individual. What you must not do is fight fire with fire and stoop to their level.

Simple steps

Firstly tell the person about their behaviour and then give them the option of stopping.
Make sure this is done in private.

If the problem persists talk to them again and seek the help of a mentor who may be able to give you some tips in this area.
Try to ascertain whether the problem is just with you or whether it is a wider issue.

If all else fails go to your boss.
The main aim is to try and sort out the problem for yourself.
It may be hard but try to remain on good terms with the individual.
Power
Sometimes being in a position of power makes people want to demonstrate the fact.
At its worst it becomes no less than an attempt to bully and put down people.

If you practice this loyalty will soon drop off and, with it, trust any thought of support and influence will disappear. Unfortunately,
The boss is in a more powerful position than your self. If you are in such a position you only have a few choices.
  • You could move to another job and hope your new boss is better.
  • You could read a lot more and train yourself in leadership training skills - take responsibility for your career.
  • You could try and get a higher placed (above your boss) leader to coach you and make yourself available to him or her for particular jobs.
This and other aspects of 'the boss' is discussed in more details elsewhere.
Culture
As you move up the ladder of leadership you will begin to deal with a wider variety of people from differing cultures.
It is wise to do your research into these areas so that you make your client feel as comfortable as possible.
It is well known that particular cultures behave in differing ways in particular Japanese culture lends itself to focus on people and ritual courtesies which is a different to the European approach to business.

These behavioural types are also seen in 'monochronic' and 'polychronic' personalities. polychronic societies may be Asian, Arabic, Japanese and favour human contact and patience while the Europe and the USA would be monochronic putting less emphasis on these values in their approach.

These are discussed in more detail in 'The Complete Time management package'.
Punctuality
Punctuality is the prerogative of kings. There is nothing more irritating than a person continually late for meetings.
Being punctual shows good planning being late gives all the wrong signals.

If this is happening talk to the person in private and wait for improvement. The person almost certainly has poor time management skills which could be improved. Poor planning leads to poor preparation for the meeting and that leads to poor input and performance at the meeting.
Listen
Give people your attention when speaking to them. Try to eliminate any distractions.
Turn off your telephone, mobile phone or have all calls redirected.
Use positive body language. Be more receptive and open, don't cross your arms in a defensive manner.

When you pose a question make it an 'open' question. These are questions that can not be answered with a 'yes' or 'no'.
Use other phrases like 'describe the event' or 'can you expand upon' to encourage a more open dialogue.

Get the person to talk more about themselves and be attentive. Don't talk about you and your issues unless absolutely necessary.
Demonstrate that you are listening by asking clarifying questions and summarise what has been discussed at intervals.
Test understanding of any points.

These techniques are very important in helping to create integrity and a lift in staff motivation.
Thank you
Remember to thank people. It will be remembered by the individual. Look for every opportunity to give people a boost about their performance and behaviour.
When you are 'managing by walking about' give them a boost by looking for the positives and recognising it and take the opportunity to thank them for their efforts. Seek out opportunities and morale and motivation will improve.
Communication
Using the telephone is often taken for granted.
Specific techniques are discussed in more detail in 'The Complete Time management package'.

Answering the telephone promptly gives out all the right signals and naturally politeness is an absolute necessity.
Improve your email response skills. Make accurate notes of any messages and clarify if necessary.

Sometimes in leadership or training making an effort shows commitment. Instead of an email why not write a letter?
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The Complete LEADERSHIP package


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