Project management is the discipline of planning, organising, monitoring and controlling every element of a project in a logical and systemic way, so that the project can deliver its objectives successfully. This may seem complex and overwhelming, but the six principles of POPMM are SIMPLE:
S…START WITH THE END IN MIND
Conceptualise the end product of the project; provide a roadmap to clearly demonstrate how the project will arrive at the intended outcomes; customise this message for various stakeholder groups, describing the plan and the pending outcomes using terms that matter to the individuals; define the deliverables that must be produced along the way and describe them in vivid detail so that all effort is focused in the same direction.
I… INVOLVE STAKEHOLDERS EARLY AND OFTEN
Identify all those people that are likely to be impacted by the project or its final outcomes – these are your stakeholders; stakeholder support is essential to project success; collaborate with them to define, clarify, and drive a clear definition of the project; consider your stakeholders needs and expectations, and develop a strategy for involving each stakeolder appropriately – from start to finish.
M…MAINTAIN A SENSE OF URGENCY
Projects are temporary ventures that must be kept moving forward; keep the project team focussed on the end goal and the milestones that must be met along the way; ask questions and seek the information you need to take action, don’t wait for information to come to you.
P…PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED
No project goes exactly according to plan; leading a project involves managing multiple forces that can frustrate the process; identify and solve issues as they arise; address project risks and confront them openly; and when events conspire to change the plan, adjust it accordingly to keep the momentum going and to drive the project to a successful conclusion.
L…LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Leadership involves establishing an achievable plan, aligning stakeholders and motivating and empowering the team to achieve the outcomes planned; inspire commitment to the project through your own passion and personal integrity; be objective and honest when communicating how the project is going against the plan; take ownership of risks and issues, and acknowledge your team members for their individual achievements.
E…EVALUATE THE JOURNEY
Gather information and lessons learned during the project; analyse the information collected and take time to reflect how it went against the original objectives and roadmap; make sure to involve the project team and all the key stakeholders in this process, their input will provide a valuable insight for future projects of a similar nature.