Planning
It Always Takes Longer Than You Expect
By Ray Myers, Jr., PMP Douglas Hofstadter’s law of programming simply states that, “It always takes longer than you think, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s law.” While Hofstadter was writing about programming when he introduced his adage, it may also apply to the estimates we do as project managers. If your experience has been... »
Ready, Set, Start Your Project
By Ray Myers, Jr., PMP Congratulations! You have been assigned to manage your next project and you’re eager to get started with planning. There’s a lot to be done, build the WBS, schedule the work, assemble the implementation team, and meet with the client. But with so much to do, what should you do first? ... »
4 Things to Do When You Start a New Project
By Ray Myers, Jr., PMP What are the first four things you should do when you begin a new project? It’s a good question and every project manager should know the initial steps he or she will take when beginning a new assignment. Starting on the right foot may not prevent future problems, but it... »
RACI Matrix
By: Ray Myers, Jr., PMP The RACI Matrix is widely used by project managers to identify project roles and responsibilities. It clarifies team member responsibilities and clearly displays who is responsible, who is accountable, and who needs to be consulted and/or informed of project activities. Responsible (R) – This is the person that owns the work,... »
Parkinson’s Law
“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” (Cyril Northcote Parkinson, 1909-1993, English political scientist, historian and writer, from his book, Parkinson’s Law – The Pursuit of Progress, written in 1957.) The fuller vesion of the quote known as ‘Parkinson’s Law’ is: “Work expands so as to fill the time available for... »
Can a PM Manage Multiple Projects?
By Ray Myers, Jr., PMP Project managers frequently ask if it is possible to manage multiple, simultaneous projects. The answer is, it all depends; it all depends on the size and scope of the projects being managed. Consider the following situations: A project manager responsible for the construction of a 6 lane bridge over the Columbia River... »
Are You Planning to Fail?
By Ray Myers, Jr., PMP If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail – Author unknown Today’s business climate requires new and creative new business initiatives to capture market attention and to stay ahead of the competition. Senior managers often believe that these new business strategies are so important to corporate survival that they... »
Document Project Assumptions
By Ray Myers, Jr., PMP Early in the initiation or planning phases of a project, the project manger should document all project assumptions. Before we discuss documenting assumptions, we should be sure that we understand what they are. The American Heritage dictionary defines the word assumption to be: Something taken for granted or accepted as true... »
Three Point Estimates
By: Ray Myers, Jr., PMP The accuracy of an estimate can be improved by considering uncertainty and risk. PERT uses 3 estimates to define a range for an activity’s cost. This formula can be used for cost estimating and for scheduling. Most Likely – based on a realistic assessment Optimistic – estimated cost based on the best... »
4 Cost Estimating Techniques
By: Ray Myers, Jr., PMP There are 4 cost estimating techniques discussed in the PMBOK: Expert Judgment Influenced by variables such as labor rates, material costs, inflation, risk factors, etc. Guided by historical information and insights from prior similar projects May be used to determine whether to combine other estimating methods or reconcile differences between them Analogous or Top-Down Uses the... »
