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Critique of project management
The role of project management in achieving project success
Project management
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Questions Drive Projects
The successful completion of any project starts with a plan. Asking the right questions before beginning a project can lend direction to the plan of attack. Questions can help to identify both pitfalls that could hamper completion of the project as well as strategies that will be effective towards completing the project.
Brainstorming is an effective way of maximizing the amount of questions and solutions by incorporating the thoughts and ideas of others (Clark 2014). The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines brainstorming as “a group problem-solving technique that involves the spontaneous contributions of ideas from all members of the group.” This increases the number of minds working on solving problems. Moreover, brainstorming leads to those working on the project being more invested because of the inclusion of their ideas.
Asking questions about all aspects of the project and receiving input from all those involved can also help to eliminate any surprises that may come about during the course of the project. It can be extremely demoralizing and frustrating, not to mention costly, to have to backtrack or start again on a project. When given a project, there is an innate desire to get started quickly and finish the project on schedule or early. However, the best course of action is to pause and formulate a strategy. Albert Einstein once said
If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on it, I would use the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.
According to Clark (2014), “a detailed plan normally includes the who, what, when, where, how, and why.” The information that is most pertinent when beginning the project is the desired result or goal of the project. Next, you need to determine who will be working on the project and who will the project affect. Those involved in the project should be aware of any deadlines or due dates. These must be taken into account while planning how to complete the project.
Most projects consist of multiple steps that have to be completed. Generally these steps will have to be completed in specific order. Therefore, a chronological step-by-step guide will aid in successful completion of the project. Good planning and monitoring are essential to make sure a single phase of the project doesn’t delay the overall completion of the project.