“Having a Project Management system without a methodology is like attaching a speedometer to an orange crate; it measures nothing.”

– Bryce’s Law

The principles of Project Management have been with us for a long time. There has also been a number of Project Management software packages introduced over the years, beginning with mainframe based commercial packages introduced back in the early 1970’s. Some of it has been quite good, others are based on sheer quackery. Some people naively buy such packages in the hopes they will be some sort of panacea to cure all project woes; that projects will start to come in on time and on budget simply because a certain tool was purchased. Inevitably, they are puzzled when projects still go awry even with the latest software. I believe there are three reasons for this:

1. Companies are blinded by technology and fail to recognize the human dynamics involved with Project Management. Instead of working with people to successfully achieve their project assignments, they rely totally on numbers instead.

2. Companies fail to consider the total processes involved in Project Management and tend to attack it in piecemeal. For example, there are interdependencies between planning, estimating, scheduling, reporting, and control. Attacking only one of these problems will inevitably have an adverse affect on the others. In other words, companies fail to grasp the comprehensive nature of Project Management and tend to attack the problem of the moment, such as estimating or scheduling.

3. Companies believe Project Management is an end to itself; that by mastering the mechanics of Project Management, development projects will come in on time and within budget. They are easily shocked when this does not occur.

I refer to this last item as the “tail wagging the dog” phenomenon. True, the mechanics of Project Management are important, but too often people forget it represents nothing more than the dials and gauges to our business. To illustrate, a company using an assembly line process can effectively produce products without the aid of Project Management. The assembly line simply denotes the dependencies and sequencing of the work effort in order to produce a product. Project Management can then be applied to monitor activity and determine slowdowns and work stoppages or accelerations of production, all of which may require corrective action by management. However, trying to apply Project Management without the assembly line is an exercise in futility (it measures nothing). In other words, the assembly line represents the road map from which we will start and end our development efforts. Without the road map, Project Management is useless.

Ultimately, the assembly line represents the methodology for a project which defines Who is to perform What task, When, Where, Why and How (which we refer to as the 5W’s + H). Without a defined methodology, you simply cannot perform Project Management. Without the road map, you cannot plan; without a plan,you cannot estimate or schedule; without an estimate or schedule, you cannot determine if you are ahead or behind. Bottom-line: Everything starts with the road map.

Although companies may occasionally have a project using a unique methodology that will be executed no more than once, most companies have standard and reusable methodologies they use for different parts of the business. For example, a methodology for engineering a product such as an automobiles essentially the same for all such projects. The same is true for designing and constructing a building, performing customer service, managing finances, laying out marketing campaigns, or engineering enterprise-wide systems and software. Unknowingly to most, companies have a portfolio of reusable methodologies they regularly use on projects.

Methodologies consist of a work breakdown structure which expresses dependencies between steps in the project. Each methodology is normally defined using different levels of abstraction which breaks the project into smaller, more manageable pieces; such as phases, activities, and tasks. By doing so, the methodology defines the 5-W’s + H. Other characteristics include review points (for stop/go/revise decisions) and benchmarks used to substantiate completeness of a step within the methodology. Such benchmarks typically take the form of “deliverables” to quantify completeness before proceeding with the next step in the project. Finally, a methodology includes a beginning phase for planning,middle phases for execution, and a final phase for review or audit. As an aside, Industrial Engineers have been devising methodologies for many years (long before the advent of computers).

The current fascination with Project Management is healthy and should not be discouraged, but people should be reminded that it is only possible with an effective methodology; it is the Achilles’ heel to Project Management. Without it, you will inevitably drive in circles. This may all sound rather obvious, but as I have discovered in this field, the obvious isn’t always obvious.

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

About the Author:

Tim Bryce is a writer and management consultant located in Palm Harbor, Florida.
http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm

He can be contacted at: timb001@phmainstreet.com

Copyright © 2008 Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Project Management Requires a Road Map

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Project Management – More info?

Thanks to those who have already answered about PM related work.

The BEST resource on project management is the Project Management Institute http://www.pmi.org/info/default.asp . They have research, publications, information about the profession and other information you need to start this career

Other good sources of information:

PM Forum http://www.pmforum.org/
Gantthead Forum for IT project managers http://www.gantthead.com/
Association for Project Management (UK but has loads of great information) http://www.apm.org.uk/
ProjectManagement.com http://www.projectmanagement.com/

There are also tons of books on the topic. I suggest you check out your local library for information

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Software testing tactic is a vital method that includes mechanism of software development lifecycle. There are lots of firms that stopped working to execute QC (Quality Control) effectively and standards describe the range of tests for application can deconstruct product reliability, damage the overall project and create a cost feast.

Software testing plan form is a part of the project documentation. The functional, objectives and goals needs of software application are restricted and scoped by the project planning. Mostly, test documents are planned to make test cases to succeed the application for platform constancy, system strength, functional fit, performance and usability.

First of all, functional test needs are performed throughout the last all stages of the first software construction. Development team OR developer locates software through a cycle of tests to make sure that it rally the primary stakeholder needs and to prepare the path for more testing team, end user testing and beta testing, for testing sample. Sometime employed specialised software is during the testing phase. Deterioration software permits the development team to build record and adjustment the changes along the way. This allows ‘rollback’ in the occasion that a change negotiations accessible code utilities.

Testing phase permits fresh eyes set to subject the function to a range of ‘real world’ testing external the paperwork followed by team. It can contain testing software on different machines with different OS, testing for simplicity of application and functional testing. Reaction from this permits development team to make better applications performance and ease of use. In some cases, at first release of the software is offered to plan viewers to secure a wider range of testimonial.

About the Author:

Get the detailed information about UK performance testing tools, IT software testing tools, Testing computer performance tools, website performance testing tools at NMQA.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Introduction of Performance Testing Tools in UK

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Maintaining a good academic performance takes a lot of work to do. You have to juggle different requirements – the quizzes, exams, projects, etc. There are also extra-curricular activities and out-of-school activities plus your personal life and social life. So how will you maintain that excellent academic performance? It is said that it takes a lot of skills to have a better academic performance. These are note-taking skills, listening skills, studying skills and time management skills.

Time management skill is one of the predictors of better academic performance and some study supported it. A study shows that effective time management strategies increase academic performance and achievement especially for college students. Furthermore, another study is conducted to determine which of the two – time management or leisure activities- is effective in lowering the academic stress. The result shows that time management had a greater effect in lowering academic stress than leisure activities. Because of this, students are encouraged to attend seminars about time management and to be provided with a lot of information and training on time management.

Time management can also be applied to all areas of your academic life, in studying, in planning, in making your requirements and in your everyday life as a student.

How you will manage your time in studying for an examination? Here’s how. Avoid cramming. If your exams are in two weeks time, set a schedule for each subject to study, don’t study all subject in just one day. Your brain can’t process all the information in such a rapid rate and you may have difficulty retaining all the information in your memory. Other suggestions in managing your study time are: Study first the subjects which you like least, study during your best time of the day: If you can process more during night, then study during that time. But you have to make sure that you study in a place where there is no distraction or noise.

In accomplishing all the requirements which are usually projects, don’t procrastinate! Procrastinating is waiting to do the task until the last minute. If you have a lot of projects to do, finish first the project with the nearest deadline. Plan and make a schedule on your projects so that they will not pile up.

Also don’t forget that time management includes the fun part. There should have a balance between work and fun. If you are already tired of studying or making projects have a little time off to stretch and reward yourself for what you’ve done. Say for example after finishing an examination, plan with your friends to have an outing! This is a great way to relieve stress and the good thing is that you don’t sacrifice any of your study time because you already planned it. But remember to also say no if someone asks you for fun and you know that it will greatly affect your study time. There is an appropriate time for studying and fun!

Time management shouldn’t be considered a task; take one areas of your school life like studying and apply time management. You don’t have to impose it in yourself in just an instant. This is best effective if it is gradual.

By ensuring that you allotted time for the different aspects of your school life you will surely have a better academic performance. This will also make your school life fun and not a burden because you will be free from stress and pressures.

About the Author:

Jesslyn Reinecke is an avid fan of Time Management Techniques, and runs a resource center on
Time Mastery
. To learn more about managing your time, visit
www.TimeMasteryNow.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Get Excellent Grades With Better Time Management

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Often when a recession strikes training budgets are unfortunately one of the first to be slashed, according to research that looks at previous recessions this is a fatal error! Trends show that companies who carry on investing in training are then in the healthiest position to gain competitive advantage when during recession recovery. Research from the OGC (Office of Government Commerce) also highlights one of the top reasons for project failure is poorly trained Project Managers when businesses often rely on successful projects & programmes to pull them through downturns and business change.

This view on training was recently hailed by an alliance consisting of some of the UK’s most senior business people including Sir Mike Rake, Chairman of BT group and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. The alliance took the first-time move to issue a joint call via an open letter to employers advising them to invest in training during the downturn and to make it a top priority.
 
The letter stated “the skills of our people are our best guarantee of future prosperity – and the best investment a business can make in challenging times. We must not pay the price of failing to invest in the very talent on which our future will be built.”
 
This view was also supported by a recent report Nurturing Talent by Cranfield University which stated development of internal talent was a cost effective way to boost business performance during any period especially a downturn. The report also found that successful organisations were those that had invested in long-term focus on employee development.
 
A good example of this philosophy was demonstrated by an American based airline that trained its way out of the 2001 recession whilst still managing to make a profit.
 
By now the importance of well run projects should be obvious. It is critical that projects are delivered within time, cost and quality constraints. There is very little tolerance for delays or overruns. Customised project management training that caters for the exact needs of an organisation and its projects provides much better ROI over generic public courses. During the recession is the time to invest in your internal talent to ensure you come through strong.

About the Author:

Baz is a PRINCE2 Practitioner and a senior project management consultant for Wellingtone Project Management; the UK’s leading Project Management Recruitment agency who also offer project management consultancy and customised Project Management Training based on best practice from PRINCE2, APM and PMI.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Building Skills For Business Recovery Through Project Management Training

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Product Marketing and Product Management in Electronic Media?

For example..how does the marketing department of a tv channel carry out the exercise of product marketing and product management effectively..are there any relevant tools or research tools to assist in this exercise???

A TV Channel bases its marketing strategy via same media means as used by other companies. They shall go for print media, electronic media.

They might advertise on other channels about their particular products, create some hue in the market via print and internet media.

It is almost the same.

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The busiest people in this world right now will be the high school students. Studying, taking classes enroll in school activities and also socializing are a few things they ought to be doing in school. They could be having an equal load of work at home too.

Getting things organized must be the top most priority of high school students. It might seem like you do not have sufficient time to finish all the work you have, being a high school student. You might feel you are running out of steam and time and have doubts over the end result.

You often end up craving for more time in a day so that you can complete all your tasks and have ample time to spend with family and friends. No one would obviously want to sacrifice hanging out with friends.

This could be possible, however, if you could manage your time properly. Planning is such an important aspect of time management.

Here are a few tips for high school students:

Set your goals for every single day: before you go to bed, jot down the things you need to complete the next day. This might help you avoid the unimportant tasks and guide you towards the goal. A “to-do” list is mighty important for any high school student.

Set your priorities right: after you have made your “to-do” list, prioritize your goals in order to achieve them. Put the most important one at the top and rate them accordingly.

Being realistic and generous in your list and planning is very essential as well. Base your tasking on what you need to achieve rather than what you want to achieve.

Use spare time: being a high school student, spare time would seem like a blessing, but then it is important that you use them effectively whenever you encounter them. For instance, the traveling time to school by bus or train can be utilized nicely.

Use your spare time to full effect. You can either study or do some homework given to you. These small things can provide you the edge over others in terms of time management.

If you happen to be a working student, what you will need to do is utilize the rest periods for studying and doing some homework. You should be able to say a “no” to your boss if you have an examination on the next day.
Find the right time: Students need to find their “best time” to study. They have to manage it pretty well if they need to have good grades in their examinations. If you could solve math problems well in the afternoons, you should not be waiting for the night.

Take notes: taking down notes is very essential. It is the most effective way of studying, much better than plain reading. Writing will help you remembering it. Reading texts won’t help you in terms of memorizing your subjects well.

Review the noted you have taken down as your teacher might pop quiz you the next day. So these reviews will give you a fair bit of idea and not let you down during these tests.

Get good sleep: a good sleep, especially before exams or a big day ahead, is very important. It can provide you the best results and help you achieve your goals listed.

Goals must be realistic: Realistic goals have to be set up and things to be proceeded in order to achieve it must be started right away. Set goals that are achievable.

About the Author:

Abhishek is a Time-Management expert and he has got some great Time Management Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 62 Pages Ebook, “How To Become A Highly Effective Time Manager!” from his website http://www.Positive-You.com/58/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Time Management In High School Students: You Are Never Short Of Time!

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Where can I learn the basics of portfolio management?

In terms of Project management, where can I learn the basics of portfolio management?

The Project Management Institute has a good reference for thier new Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification that explains the differences between project, product, program, and portfolio management as well as the key success factors.

Another good resource are the Clarity user forums and whitepapers from CA. While the Clarity product is only one piece of the management process, it gives some good ideas around the scope of terms and kinds of processes common portfolio management practices use.

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The following are some ideas to help you choose a project management solution that meets the needs of your team, client and project.

• Security

When you are sharing information online, you should always be confident in the security of the web platform. Choose a solution that allows users to have ready access to their projects while being assured that their content is secure and protected.

• Easy Set-Up and Administration

The workspace should be intuitive and easy to set-up and administer so that users can get to work without a steep learning curve. All of the resources should be clearly labeled and easy to find in the workspace.

• Ability to Manage Multiple Projects

Does the software allow users to manage more than one project simultaneously? How easy is it to switch back and forth between projects.

• Manage Access Control

Look for the flexibility to manage access to your collaborative workspace, and determine the levels of access that each team member should have.

• Custom Reporting

You’ll want to choose a web-based collaboration platform that allows you to create custom project reports quickly and easily without having to request IT support.

• Manage Project Milestones and Tasks

Project managers should be able to easily assign and track tasks and  milestones, set deadlines for deliverables and always be able to quickly see which tasks or milestones have been completed, who owns them and be alerted when there are overdue items.

• Project Calendar

Look for project calendars that can be used to track tasks, and milestones across projects and workgroups.

• Scalability

Choosing the right web-based project management solution can make a big difference in the success of your project. These tips can give you food for thought as you take a look at all of the options available.

About the Author:

Author, Tia Jones, is a freelance writer who contributes articles on collaboration software and project management for Central Desktop. For more information on how businesses can use collaboration software to increase productivity and improve project management visit http://www.CentralDesktop.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Project Management Solution: How to Choose a Web-based Solution

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When grocery shopping, you have the choice of paper or plastic grocery bags. Paper used to be the most common. Now plastic has taken its place. Most people use plastic because that is what is offered. However, you can still get paper and some people prefer that option. Then there are the few who bring their own environmentally-friendly cloth bags to the grocery store every week.

What does this have to do with time management? Really… nothing… except the analogy that even though times have changed the options, the choices are still yours to make. What works for someone else may not work for you.

Modern technology has provided a multitude of time management tools for each of us to use. Paper products such as wall calendars, desk calendars, spiral bound planners and loose-leaf organizers are still very popular options. Over time, PC software tools, website utilities, PDAs and even cell phones have joined in the possibilities. The options are virtually endless. Explore these tools and determine which one, or combination, fits your individual needs.

Scheduling of your time for optimum productivity also presents many options. Consider how and when you work at your best. Are you the type that gets more done when you start a task and stick to with it all day long without distraction? (Is the lack of distraction even possible?) Or do you prefer to complete a big project in smaller steps and do multiple, different tasks in one day? Some people are more productive in the morning, while others work late into the night. Which one are you? Figure out what works best for you and then plan accordingly.

In order to effectively manage your time, you need to choose what tools and management style work for you as an individual. Trying to do it someone else’s way is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole and will only lead to an overwhelming feeling of chaos. Doing it your way, believe it or not, could actually make scheduling a little more… fun!

About the Author:

K.C. Gagne is the proud owner of Connecting Rainbows, a small home based business aimed at providing life balance for the work from home mom. You can find more time management resources on her website. http://www.connectingrainbows.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Paper Or Plastic? What’s Your Time Management Style?

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