5 steps for more successful project management

culled from:bdc.ca

1. Design

Every project must start with identifying objectives. Consideration must also be given to the constraints that might jeopardize the project, including those related to the market, technology, human resources, budget and timeline.
“Set realistic goals. Good design leads to good execution,” Lortie says.

2. Planning

After you have determined the project is feasible and will benefit the business, you can move onto planning all the activities and setting a timeline. This step involves writing a detailed description of the activities in chronological order. Who will do what? Does the company have all the skills it needs in-house?

3. Execution

Now the plan has to be executed. It takes a stringent approach and discipline to stick to the timeline and produce deliverables. Weekly or quarterly meetings, depending on the complexity of the project, will help you take stock of your progress and avoid delays.

4. Completion

Momentum is often lost during the last 10% of the project. “People feel like everything is finished and they forget the final details that take a lot of time to complete,” Lortie says.

5. Post-mortem

Get the project team together to look at what went well and what didn’t, so you can avoid the latter in the future.

Here are some tips on overcoming the most common obstacles to successful project management.

• Do detailed feasibility studies to estimate all of the costs. “Rather than using the lowest estimate, it’s always better to use the highest so that you know if the project is still profitable under the latter scenario,” Lortie says.
• Divide big projects into small steps. This will help you navigate through a complex landscape and avoid problems caused by forgetting steps. It’s also an excellent way to keep your employees motivated because they see progress. 
• Have contingency plans in place from the design phase. These should include red flags to watch for and what to do under different scenarios. This will help you assess risk factors and manage unforeseen developments better.
• Always keep your eye on the “critical path”—the activities that are vital to the success of a project. Follow this path carefully.
• Flying solo is not recommended. Recognize the value of a team approach and seek help with complex projects that exceed your management skills. BDC consultants are there to help you.
• Free up employees involved in the project from some of their usual tasks. “Put pressure on the process, not on the people,” says Lortie.
• Each project represents a change. Always keep your employees posted on the project’s progress, expected benefits and potential problems.
• Don’t rush into things. The more time you spend developing and planning the project, the more likely you are to be successful.