Successful Project Management - nextcompTV - Episode 5

Bob is starting a new project so we thought it might be good timing to discuss project management and how best to run a project to achieve a successful outcome.

Bob and I drove out to the Pacific coast of Washington State to have an initial meeting with the organization's leadership. Bob has been exchanging e-mails and having phone calls with the primary Human Resources contact over the last few weeks. He's been explaining the consulting engagement process, the expected time lines, the deliverables, and asking for some initial information he'll need to start the work.

It was time to get started in earnest with the project and so Bob and the HR Director thought it would be prudent to meet with the leadership committee.

I went along to provide some backup and I had an ulterior motive of wanting to photograph the coast and get some video along the way.

I also thought it would be a good case study on running a successful project. I'm of course assuming that this will be a successful project. I'm sure it will be!

Here's an outline of the steps Bob and I have used for over 20 years in running our projects as independent consultants. These are generic and I've used them in my work with subscribers of NEXTCOMP.NET as well.

1. Initial Communication
2. Setting Expectations
3. Data Gathering/ Information Gathering
4. Staying Flexible
5. Working Within The Culture
6. Adjusting To Unexpected Events
7. Completing The Work
8. Ongoing Communication
9. Presenting The Findings
10. Wrapping Up The Engagement

I'm going to be talking about these on nextcompTV and in the blog as Bob works through this project. It seems that Bob's consulting work is picking up! Maybe that means that the economy is improving? I hope so!

Here's a 6 minute video discussing the importance of the initial communication and expectation setting in a project.



Here's a video of our drive out to the coast. Be sure to check out the following, these go by fast, so keep an eye open:

1. The elk
2. The ribbons tied in honor of our troops
3. Nuclear power plant cooling towers
4. The Starbucks
5. The logging truck
6. The Tsunami Evacuation Route sign
7. End Of County Road sign
8. 1950's era fighter jet
9. Modern day transport plane



Enjoy the videos and stay tuned for more in the future.