If you could build a project schedule up front from scratch that was right for your project, you would want to do that, wouldn’t you? I know I would. Usually I take an existing template and force my new project to fit into it. What I’m left with is a project schedule that needs constant tweaking and revisions for the first few weeks as I become more aware of the garbage I left in it from the last project that doesn’t apply to this project.
Starting out with a more meaningful project plan from the outset means you assign real, meaningful tasks to your team at the beginning of the project instead of handing them tasks that aren’t really applicable this time around – they’re just still in the schedule because you neglected to remove those old tasks that really don’t apply. Same goes for tasks you’ve assigned to the unsuspecting customer. And what you’ve now done is confused your team and your customer and left them less than confident in your ability to fully understand this project’s tasks and lead them on a successful engagement. Ouch!
There is a webinar coming up later this month that we should all think about signing up for. The Project Butler is a new, interactive product from adaQuest that helps walk the project manager – and team if applicable – through the process of creating a meaningful and accurate project schedule – FOR THE CURRENT PROJECT - at the outset. And it’s all done through a series of questions and answers. You answer the questions about your specific project and let The Project Butler build the right task structure into the project schedule for you. Period. Easy. Accurate.
Go to the adaQuest webinar site to signup – it’s one hour, it’s free, and it’s scheduled for Monday, March 26th at 10:00am PDT.