8 Things Every Manager Should Know About Managing Projects

There are 8 areas of project management managers need to be aware of to make a project succeed. Managers need to plan for and work in each of these areas as they prepare, do and follow through on each project.

Scope

Project scope is about “what are we making?” and “how will we make it?”. Complete and accurate scope planning is the key to project planning. If the scope is defined correctly, every other part of the project such as the budget, the schedule and the quality plan will fall in place as well.

Time

Once we have defined what work is to be done, the next step is to plan activity lists to decide what will be done and when. A schedule will be drawn up to estimate how long it will take to complete the project.

Cost

After the schedule has been planned, we can estimate what the project will cost. A budget will have to be set aside for the time and money that will go into doing the project. It is crucial to keep track of the costs as we go along the project to ensure that we stay within the allocated budget. 

Quality

On a project, we have to pay attention to doing good technical work, achieving project goals and ensuring customer satisfaction. Not only do we need to do the job right, adding value such as reducing the time or money spent is also a focus of quality management.

Risk

What if a key personnel leaves the company? What if some technical problem occurs and causes a delay in the project? We need to prepare for things that might change our project plan or get in the way of success. Risk management consist of managing risks actively and keep looking ahead for new risks.

Human resources

Planning human resources is about getting the right person on the team for the job and making sure they can do the work. Good teamwork is essential to ensure everyone is focused on the goals to achieve success.

Communications

Clear communication between team members and customers ensures that everyone is on the same page and up to date when changes hit the project. Understanding the fine details, keeping records of requests and being open to feedback helps to promote cooperation amongst all involved in the project.

Procurement

Procurement is akin to making a shopping list and making sure we get the right materials and getting them delivered on time to support the project. It also deals with hunting for cheap alternatives, vendor selection and managing contracts too.