
There are a lot of important project management news stories to keep up with this week, so we’ve compiled a list of the top five for you. In case you missed it, here they are:
- A new study finds that many small businesses don’t have the resources to effectively manage their projects.
- A software company is using AI to help its employees better predict and manage project risks.
- A survey finds that most HR professionals don’t believe AI will replace human resources professionals in the future.
- A new report shows that agile methods can reduce project risk by as much as 50%.
- And finally, a new app is helping teams collaborate more effectively on project tasks.
Top 5 Project Management News Stories Of The Week
This week’s top project management news stories include a report on the challenges of modernizing government project management, a review of best practices for stakeholder engagement, and updates on two major open source software projects.
- The Challenges of Modernizing Government Project Management: A study released this week found that government project managers are facing significant challenges in adapting to changes in their environment, such as increased scrutiny from stakeholders and increased dependence on technology.
- Best Practices for Stakeholder Engagement: In this week’s edition of the PMI Global Forum blog, five best practices for effective stakeholder engagement are outlined. These include building a relationship with all key stakeholders early in the process, facilitating dialogue and negotiation, managing expectations wisely, and creating a transparent governance process.
- Updates on Two Major Open Source Software Projects: This week saw updates on both the Linux kernel 4.12 release and Drupal 8.4 release milestones. Additionally, Pantheon Desktop 6 was announced as the latest desktop platform to join Core Infrastructure Initiative (CII) memberships.
- Five Ways to Boost Team Performance: This article from eHow offers tips for boosting team performance through better communication, delegation of tasks, setting clear goals and timelines, providing feedback regularly, and creating an atmosphere of trust and respect.
- Preventing Distracted Walking With These Tips: This article from Forbes recommends ways to prevent distracted walking including setting boundaries with technology use during working hours and using breaks strategically
What You Need To Know About Project Sponsorships
- The importance of project sponsorships:
A recent study by the Project Management Institute revealed that project sponsorships are one of the most important factors affecting success or failure in projects. Sponsors play a critical role in helping to ensure that a project is successful and meeting its objectives.
Sponsors can provide financial support, help with recruitment, provide expertise or resources, or even act as surrogates for team members. Without sponsorship, many projects would be unable to get off the ground or would ultimately fail.
- The benefits of having a sponsor:
There are numerous benefits associated with having a sponsor on a project. Sponsors can provide an important impetus for getting the project started and can help to ensure that it proceeds smoothly and on schedule. They can also provide guidance and direction during the development phase, ensuring that the project objectives are met.
- How to find a suitable sponsor:
Finding a suitable sponsor for your project is not easy – but it is essential if your project is to be successful. Here are some tips for finding a sponsor:
- Research your options carefully – there are plenty of qualified individuals who would be happy to become sponsors for your project. You just need to find them!
- Reach out to organizations that you know – whether they be business partners, colleagues at work, friends from social networking sites, etcetera – and ask if they might be interested in becoming sponsors of your project.
Tips For Creating A Project Plan That Gets Results
- Keep your project plan simple: One of the most effective ways to keep your project on track and achieve results is to keep your project plan concise. By breaking down your project into manageable tasks, you’ll be able to better manage the scope and timeline of your project.
- Define key milestones: One of the biggest mistakes that novice and experienced project managers make is failing to define key milestones along the way. Without milestones, it’s difficult to gauge how well you’re progressing, or whether you need to adjust your strategy.
- Prioritize tasks: Once you’ve determined what needs to be accomplished in order for your project to succeed, prioritize those tasks accordingly. Try not to overload yourself with too many smaller tasks, as this will only lead to frustration and potential delays.
- Establish a communication plan: It’s important that everyone on your team is aware of progress updates and changes so that there are no surprises during implementation. Set up a communication schedule early on in order to avoid any misunderstandings or disputes down the road.
- Delegate responsibilities appropriately: When assigning tasks within a project, make sure that everyone involved has the necessary knowledge and skills needed for success. For example, if someone on your team is better equipped with technical expertise, assign them specific responsibilities within the project rather than handing everything over to someone else altogether.
3 Lessons Learned From A Failed Construction Project
Construction projects can be very risky and often result in great expense. When a construction project falls short, it’s important to understand what went wrong so that similar projects can be avoided in the future.
Here are three lessons learned from a failed construction project:
1) Quality control is essential: A construction project can fall apart quickly if the quality of the work is not up to par. Make sure that all aspects of the project are tightly controlled from start to finish to avoid any issues.
2) Plan for contingencies: Always plan for potential problems and ensure that you have enough resources available to deal with them. This will help keep your project on track and minimize costs and delays.
3) Communicate constantly: It’s essential for everyone involved in a construction project to keep communication open throughout the process. This allows for smooth coordination and avoids misunderstandings or disputes down the line.
Why You Should Avoid Using Social Media To Manage Projects
If you’re looking to manage a project using social media, you might be in for a disappointment. According to research by the Project Management Institute, only 3 percent of project managers use social media to manage projects. And even fewer use it as their primary means of communication with team members (1 percent). So if you’re hoping to get some help from your online friends in getting your project off the ground, you’re out of luck. The best thing to do is to stick with more traditional methods, like email and meetings.
The Importance of Meeting Deadlines