Tuesday Nov 29

On committing to project plans.

Putting together a tender response is a perfect example of when to use a project plan. A deadline has to be met. A number of people are involved. One activity depends on another. It can all go horribly wrong.

As the project manager it would be reasonable for you to expect that others, responsible for smaller elements, would make sure that they complete their tasks on time. After all, their task is not particularly demanding. On the contrary, quite often they de-prioritise their task, and it completely passes them by.

So, my tips are twofold. If you are the project manager always build in prompts to remind people of their commitments. If you are a contributor to the project be aware of the bigger picture and prioritise your task in accordance with the importance of the project as a whole. However insignificant it may seem to you it may be a tiny, but crucial, cog in the machine.