How to Tackle a Project
Posted June 1st, 2015
When you are assigned a project at work, there is a lot to consider. There are a number of moving parts that go into good planning and execution of any project. This can be especially daunting if you are facing a project for the first time.
So, for anyone who is tackling his or her first project, or anyone looking to get another perspective on doing a project efficiently, here are a few tips on how to go about doing it.
1. Come up with a business case.
Many times projects don’t work because those doing it fail to understand what needs it is intended to fill. Those involved need to understand why the project is needed, what its fundamental purpose is, whose needs it is geared to. Who are the stakeholders involved – who wants to have this project done?
It is also a good idea to do a cost-benfit analysis – how much will the project cost, how much time will it take, what other resources will be needed. Compare this to what the benefits of doing the project are.
2. What is the range and reach of the project?
How comprehensive is the project? To determine this you need to look at the time and resources that will be needed to complete the project. In other words, how many people will be needed, and how long will it take? What is the job of each person involved in the project?
3. Look at goals.
Establish a goal for the project – spell out clearly what you are trying to accomplish. How can you measure achievement of this outcome? Once you have done this, set up some benchmark goals along the way as you complete various phases of the project. How will you know when each phase is done?
4. Come up with a plan for executing the project.
What do you need to do and how do you plan on going about doing it? It might help at this point to break down the project into broad topics that are the main pieces of the project and then list under these topics the jobs of each individual and when these jobs need to be completed.
5. Record your progress.
Set up a record that compares your scheduled completion dates of various tasks and the actual completion dates. This will give you a good idea of your progress. If you get way behind schedule, you need to come up with some explanation of why this is happening.
6. Review the project.
After the project is done, do an assessment. How well did you do – how well did you meet the goals you set for yourself and your team? You should have some means of measurement and evaluation to back up your assessment. What conclusions have you arrived at with regard to the success of the project? These conclusions should include recommendations for improvement.
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