How To Create A Successful Project Management Plan

Rob Boirun
I am a SEO consultant and have helped many large e-commerce sites achieve good rankings. Reviewster is my new project and I also manage an offline advertising store at Advertising-Flags.net where we make custom flags for your business.
Rob Boirun
Rob Boirun
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Successful businessman

Every professional project, no matter the industry or personnel involved, is bound to have many aspects and require carefully coordinated efforts. Without a competent project manager to provide centralized oversight and keep the interworking parts running smoothly, even seemingly simple jobs can quickly go awry. So project managers have an important job cut out for them. Not only must they be the glue that holds together the often-complex components of the work, they must also take ultimate responsibility for the failure or success of the endeavor.

But many inexperienced PMs, in their eagerness to provide direction to their teams, overlook the importance of giving their own job a focused direction. Effective project management means having a thorough, comprehensive plan. Here’s what to keep in mind when developing one:

Invest Enough Time

First and foremost, it is essential to give yourself enough time to plan. Timing is crucial to every project from how long each stage will take and allowing for delays. By diving into the work without a clear idea of what you will be up against, you’ll be certain to waste company resources and provoke frustration from all corners of your project, not only will this cause frustration but the workers involved will become less motivated. Remember, it takes time to develop a successful plan, so don’t handicap yourself with too much haste at the outset. Create a roadmap of activities and schedule in potential set back and set a point at where to evaluate the progress against time, once you have managed to plan this stage accurately the future will be brighter.

Communication is Key

This timeless advice is particularly relevant in project management. Your team needs to work together, without interfering with or undermining each other’s efforts. The best way to ensure they can is by keeping communication channels constantly open and trying to identify areas where team members might be making unfounded assumptions. Plan for regular meetings and facilitate informal talks frequently. When thinking about communication in your plan, make sure you take into consider your own ability to lead, what are your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats within communication; the SWOT analysis is a useful tool to use in the communication process. Not only will the SWOT analysis help drive your project forward but you will learn how your workers can improve further on a project, optimising them to perform better.

But communication also dictates that everyone involved in the project has an understanding of the big picture. After putting together your project management plan, distribute it in a simple form to your team. Visually oriented plans are especially effective, and creative options (like creating an infographic outline for the project) can clarify and reinforce memory while also saving time.

Know Your Highs and Lows: Budgeting Within Your Plan

Developing a successful plan is only possible if you can first define what success means. One of the first

things to do is sit down and crunch those numbers to determine your minimum goals for success and maximum allowable expenses. Knowing your limits makes planning a whole lot easier. With budgeting in mind you project plan will be under control and calculated for. Projects incur extra costs every now and again and knowing in advance if you have the budget for this is important. Plan to accommodate all costs on a project by calculating the risks.

Schedule Flexibly

When drafting schedules and timelines, remember that problems are bound to arise. Do not cut things so close that minor setbacks become major disasters down the line. Also, when it comes to hiring contractors and scheduling meetings with inspectors and other outside consultants throughout the project, contact them as early as possible to give a rough timeframe. Then, solidify plans with them several days in advance, when things have become more certain. Creating a focussed schedule allows not only time for inspection on projects but feedback to amend areas in need of recovery.

Agree on In-Process Goals

Auditing is a crucial part to projects; plan to construct an audit checklist of what needs to be accounted for. Do not expect to get everything finished by the ultimate deadline, without setting in-process goals to help the project proceed efficiently. Make sure everyone is aware of the goals, and be strict with intermediate deadlines. If your goal is to make sure a construction project is safe for example, plan to check everything on site, are the pathways clear, is their signage around, is chemicals contained all of these are important. Not be aware of what is happening on site is a danger hazard in itself. Plan a goal to make sure your project is adhering to all safety regulations.

Know the Local Codes

For some industries (like construction) planning is largely a function of ensuring the project agrees with local legal standards. If you’ll need any municipal approval or inspections, schedule them well in advance and make them priorities. You may also want to check government regulations and standards that may affect your project, plan to contact the right people in the right department and question every detail you feel insecure about. At the end of the day, you would not want to plan and build a project  to turn around and be told it must come straight back down because it is not in line with building regulations. If you have worked a Careers in Construction and happened to manage a construction project then you know the reasons for doing this.

It is important to remember that even the most carefully laid plans become ineffective if they are overly rigid. Scheduling isn’t the only aspect of the job influenced by unexpected delays. Project managers have to think on their feet, revising their plans to meet the unique demands of the work.

So the next time you find yourself in the important role of Project Manager, make a plan, use training tracking software,  and stick to it as best you can. But don’t forget that a plan is just an outline to provide goals, instruction, and direction. When it comes to the practical reality of getting the job done, you and your team will have to be adaptable. 

Comments


  1. Twitter:
    Awesome post Rob, as an offline business owner (we provide business services) I utilize a project manager to ensure milestones stay on track and to report potential issues ahead of time enabling the issue to be monitored.
    James Paul recently posted..How Do I Give What My Readers Want?My Profile


  2. Twitter:
    I think another important aspect of a plan like this is analyzing the plan you’ve developed once it has been implemented, fine tuning things into something that works for you. There is no sense in implementing a project management plan if it is impractical or does not give you the time needed to complete. Once you complete a project, evaluate your plan, and make the appropriate changes to ensure that your plan is working as efficiently as possible.

  3. Hey Rob Boirun !
    Great tips indeed. I liked the idea of project manager, specially “schedule flexibly” is awesome concept, it secures one to the maximum extend. Now I can foresee different areas where one can apply this project management.
    Thanks.
    Matt
    Matt recently posted..Quicksilver the Supremely Generous slot siteMy Profile

  4. great tips these tips are very helpful to made success full plan thanks for sharing.


  5. Twitter:
    Hi Rob,

    Great article, I think time management and allocation is very important when planning and implementing projects. That way there is no rushing, and no shortcuts, and this gives time if errors or setbacks arise.
    Justin Musiker recently posted..Buying A High PR DomainMy Profile


  6. Twitter:
    Interesting article Rob,

    Accountability is also very important.

    The project manager needs to have multiple ways to hold people accountable.

    They should always have a carrot and a stick.

    The good ones know when to use each.
    Darnell Jackson recently posted..What I learned from Matt Smith – Q&A with The Online Income Teacher.My Profile

  7. Nicole Sa. says:

    The time management and distribution is very important in the planning and implementation of mega projects. In this way, there is no rush, and no shortcuts, allowing time for any errors or failures.

  8. Lane Bryan says:

    Great article Rob. True PM tips that can be applied instantly.

  9. Hi Rob,
    Great article, I think time management and allocation is very important when planning and implementing projects
    I think another important aspect of a plan like this is analyzing the plan you’ve developed once it has been implemented, fine tuning things into something that works for you. There is no sense in implementing a project management plan if it is impractical or does not give you the time needed to complete. Once you complete a project, evaluate your plan, and make the appropriate changes to ensure that your plan is working as efficiently as possible.

  10. anil bhogia says:

    Any project make the already thought our mind like budged,controlling ,plan ,resources ,market value ,staffing etc. well every project complete the certain time limit so manager do the work lot of worker do the particular work. that means resources effective manner use .

  11. Great post I must say. Touching on this point “Communication is Key”. Oh how it sounds like an old wives tale to some but it is the key any successful management plan. You fail in this area and you are done

  12. Great article rob,Shows the role of the project manager from a complete perspective.
    Ketan Gaikwad recently posted..Dealing with Public Finance DeficitsMy Profile


  13. Twitter:
    Communication and basically all the “bigger” headings were all very valid.

    In order to have successful results with your management, invest time into what you want to accomplish through that!
    Samuel Pustea recently posted..3 Twitter Tools For You To Succeed On Twitter!My Profile

  14. Hello Dear

    its very great article in fact i loved your article, i think time management is important when planing and implementing project, really thanks for the sharing me

  15. handling mega projects requires patience, punctuality and especially time management can be a critical factor in the implementation of the plam.
    wazz recently posted..Yeah !!! You can workout at home !!!My Profile

  16. This is indeed a keep. Your article is just so on point and i loved it. Thanks for the lovely post.
    babanature recently posted..How To Change the default avatar in blogger blog to a more professional lookMy Profile


  17. Twitter:
    Creating a plan is must till you are into blogging. Really some things have to be planned before hand such as link building. But that’s what I have senn through my experience ;)
    myles recently posted..Improve Gaming on iPad using Audojo CaseMy Profile


  18. Twitter:
    Nice post on project management. I’ve always found that the key to project management is not to focus on tools (MS Project, etc.), but instead to focus on the project itself. Find a good way to build the project step-by-step, instead of forcing it on others. That way, as you bond with your peers through the project, you can continue to push it (and others) forward.
    Gary recently posted..Nothing to do with bondsMy Profile

  19. Project management is simply guiding a project from inception to successful completion, making coordinated use of processes and systems to guide and encourage people to successfully perform a project’s work.


  20. Twitter:
    This is unique and useful plan.Your article is just so on point and I loved it. Thanks for the lovely post.


  21. Twitter:
    You’ve covered everything in a small post. I would just like to add, “Set milestones in the project an meet them within the deadlines. It really helps when you’re planning something huge”.

  22. Hello Rob i read your article and it is very nice post and i realize that there is very helpful tips.Thanks for posting such great article.

  23. I want to add that one should make sure everyone is aware of the goals, and be strict with intermediate deadlines. If your goal is to make sure a construction project is safe. Plan a goal to make sure your project is adhering to all safety regulations.


  24. Twitter:
    Amaing article bob, Thanks for sharing.
    Great tips.
    Salman Ahmad recently posted..10 Top Paid Brain and Puzzle Games for AndroidMy Profile

  25. Excellent article for any project.i think experience and time management is the most.
    Shamim recently posted..Insurance Mobile Marketing Experts In SMS AdvertisingMy Profile


  26. Twitter:
    Identifying the project stakeholder is first task that you should do once the project charter is signed. Communication is second most important task because a project manager spends most or her/his time on communicating.
    Fahad recently posted..Total Float versus Free FloatMy Profile


  27. Twitter:
    i agree with all your points..flexibility is something thats the demand of the hour especially when you have got to work for those long hours..
    Suraj recently posted..Payday 2 release date teasedMy Profile

  28. Hey Rob,
    Nice post and Thanks for sharing these useful tips for creating a successful project management plan. I really like all the tips you mentioned above and surely gonna applied them.
    Sudipto recently posted..How do You Make a Video with PicturesMy Profile


  29. Twitter:
    These tips really gonna a newbie as well as a established blogger. Really great t tips. These tips surely help me.
    Prakash recently posted..Download Viber for PC or Computer, Mac, Android, BlackberryMy Profile

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