Techniques to build a successful project management track record

The humble small business is often referred to as the “engine-room for innovation”. These are the companies that have the ability to experiment with new concepts and move quickly in order to be able to bring in a job on budget and on time.

These companies should think about following a project management approach that allows a piece of work to move away from their normal path when it comes to things like risk exposure, scale and even the value that it might have to the company. APM, PMP and PRINCE2 training can be a very valuable learning tool for their project management team. In fact, PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) should be considered as their first point of call. This provides a company with a good introduction into definition of scope, control and implementation of projects in an effective manner.

It is possible to introduce new project management techniques quickly into any business and this can be a very valuable tool.

Project management tools

In addition to training courses for project managers there are some very good project management tools out there that can really be of value to any business. Many of these tools may already be known to small businesses including online platforms like Asana and Trello. Not only are they already widely used, but they offer a great way in which you can assign tasks and organise planning, all within the same place. This type of software is very practical when it comes to bringing teams together from a number of different sites. They encourage the ability to monitor progress and encourage the sharing of information.

As with any other aspect of business operations, projects can be highly susceptible to threats, both of an external and internal nature. If you want to make sure that you can identify these threats, track and then find solutions for them then a risk register is invaluable.

Gantt charts and other similar documents are a great way for a project manager to not only visualise but also track any activity that is scheduled. However, no matter how useful this particular tool is, it is important to avoid creating charts with high density of information as this can make it harder to see the important paths to success.

Communication

It can never be stressed just how important quality communication is within the project team, and with stakeholders, for the success of a project. This might take the form of face-to-face planning meetings on a regular basis and risk workshops that will allow information to flow whilst also ensuring that there is consistent feedback.

New processes are always something of a trial and error process. It is important to make sure that any knowledge that is gained from experiences in project management are kept within the business so a critical review at the end of a project is vital to access the performance of a team. The key is really to ensure that any project management plan that is put in place is a responsive one that is communicated properly and is adaptable.