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Showing posts from September, 2010

Lean Methodology for Greater Profits

The basic principle in the lean methodology approach is to remove all possible waste from every system and component in the company. Just like a project life cycle that is continuous, so is this approach to business. By it being a continuous process of removing what does not contribute to being beneficial to the deliverable, the product being produced is less expensive to manufacture. To deploy the lean methodology approach would then mean there is a constant need for new documents. This is because there is a continuous cutting out of the fat, so to say. A program that has the right project management templates would then be very beneficial. With less people doing more, the best possible tools should be on hand for the remaining employees to use. The lean methodology was first used in the manufacturing sector as a cost cutting measure. Since then, it has been slightly modified to fit other industries as well. Anywhere there are process and tasks that do not contribute to the quality

The Application of a Six Sigma Methodology

When a company decides to implement a six sigma methodology , they are employing the most rigorous and disciplined methodology known to exist in the business community. The purpose is to improve the performance and quality of the deliverables, but using statistical data to properly identify any place where defects could or are occurring and then eliminating them. Because the six sigma methodology is filled with statistics or numbers, the people involved with the methodology should be well versed in mathematics, along with statistics. While the process of improving the performance of your company sounds simple, it can get complicated rather quickly with piles of data that has to be processed in order to do a thorough job. The overall goal of the six sigma methodology is to reduce or eliminate any variables that are involved in the process being examined. This will identify any possible defects in the processes or methods being used to produce the deliverable. A side benefit of the six

Project Quality Deliverables

It is often a concern that the  project quality of the deliverable that is being produced. The approach to achieve this goal can only be successful if it is properly planned. By making project quality an integral part of the planning process, the deliverable will have the necessary checks and inspections that will ensure this will occur. What most project managers do not like is the fact that checking for the quality in the deliverable does take time. From the point of view of the customer and stakeholder, this is time well spent. To speed up the process of ensuring project quality , there has to be a well thought out quality plan in place. This will have the necessary procedures that will be needed to monitor and check the deliverable during and after the production process. Some project managers would prefer to have the project quality checks done at the end of the production line. This will be necessary, but not the only place. If it was the only inspection place, then once a def

The use of Life Cycle Methodology

The standard life cycle methodology starts with the projects initiation that progresses to the project planning when the project is defined. Once the projects plan is defined and documented is can progress to the execution stage. With careful monitoring of the quality the projects closure can be obtained. This brings the manager of the project back to the beginning with a new project and its initiation. This is the basic structure of the life cycle methodology . During each of the phases of this type of methodology a documented plan must be in place. There also has to be a record of what was accomplished thought the projects progression so a permanent record can be kept on file for further reference. The initiation phase of the life cycle methodology is where the ground work of the prospective project is put into place. Before the project can really be called a project it must be approved by the stakeholders. For them to approve it there must be a positive result from the feasibility

Quality Management Systems made for the Business World

The quality management systems that are in place in the business world have a very specific purpose for being. They are to increase the credibility of the company’s reputation as a supplier of goods or services. To obtain this does not require your business to produce the best product in the world, just that you produce what you claim to do on a consistent basis. The structure for businesses quality management systems are in their business plan. This is where it is stated what they are producing as a deliverable and to what quality it is. A good example of this is in two German car manufacturers. Mercedes Benz has always been known for high quality in the luxury line of cars they produce. Volkswagen has always been known for reliability in an economically obtainable car. By choosing different target audiences with their product, they have achieved the goals that their quality management systems have set out to accomplish. Mercedes Benz is one of the top of the line manufacturers of

Quality Management System

The quality management system of a company is like an insurance policy against defects. The trick is having this system properly documented so it can be implemented as planned. The documentation of a quality management system is when all the details and planning are set into place. To assist with this process, a project manager can use the templates in a project management software program. These templates can help show which areas need to be developed and completed. In larger companies, there are separate quality assurance and quality control departments. In smaller businesses, the leader of the quality control department is generally the quality assurance department alone. The purpose of the quality assurance department is to document the quality management system so there is a record of what the quality procedures are to take place. The quality control department can then take these documents and follow them to make your quality management system an active participant in your bu

A Total Quality Management System

To be a success in the business a total quality management system has to be in place as a functioning component of your business practices. This is a complete set of procedures that must be documented so those employees that are responsible for carrying it out have a guide to follow. The basis for your total quality management plan has to come from the business plan of the project you are initiating. For each project, the specification will vary but the procedures will be similar. The establishing of the procedures is done by your quality assurance department. To create the documents for your total quality management system, many business are using the software programs’ project management templates. These serve as a guide in creating the documentation so every detail that will be necessary can be included. Because each project will have a varying degree of differences, the templates can be set up to incorporate your business philosophy to make sure each procedure is following the c

Project Management Methodology used by Businesses

With a project management methodology program a business’s whole project life cycle can be documented step by step. This allows for each team member to know exactly what their responsibilities are at every step of the project. A project management methodology is a documented way to how a project is approached and planned that follows within the guidelines set forth by the business model of the company. This can be the “Just in time approach” as many manufacturers follow today or the “Agile” methodology that most software creators use. The reason the project management methodology program must be known by the project planner is so that every step can be documented properly. In the lifecycle approach, the process can easily take the deliverable back to the developmental stages for improvement while in the waterfall methedolology, this is not an option. By using a project management methodology program, each project will have some commonality no matter what business or industry you ar

Quality Management the Necessary Evil

A quality management plan involves both quality assurance and quality control. By those managers that have to turn in their deliverables to these departments, they are considered the necessary evil of doing business. For a quality management plan to be effective, it must be written as to favor the clients and customers and not the company that is funding their work. This might not sound like a profitable way to run a business, but it really is the right way. The main focus of the quality management plan is to have a documented set of procedures in place to make sure the level of quality that a deliverable has in its business plan is achieved with each and every item. This actually saves the company money be either reducing or eliminating the return of an item because it is rejected by the clients. A quality management plan is broken down into two separate areas. The quality assurance department is responsible for the development and documentation of all the quality procedures that

Organizational Change Management

The term organizational change management is in reference to an organized structural approach to a transition period within a company. This can be in terms of a business practice or personnel change. The focus of any organizational change management should be specific. This should include the business process in terms of management and also the improvements that can be made. To implement this, there should be an assessment of the change along with how it was designed and how it will be supported. Another factor that should be an area of focus of the organizational change management is the performance of the change so it can be optimized for the maximum benefit of the company. Very few processes are perfect when first used. It is important to test out any change and tweak it so it will have the greatest positive impact on the business. To properly implement any procedure in organizational change management , there must be training. This must be approached properly so it can develop t

Change Management Risk Assessment

When you are involved in a change management risk assessment , there should be some forethought into the plan before any action is taken. A hastily made decision in this critical part of your business could spell disaster, so tread cautiously in the beginning. The first step in any change management risk assessment is to identify what will absolutely not be changed, those things that will be changed, and what items could go either way. With these three lists, you can begin the process. On the first list for the change management risk assessment , are the things that must stay in place. Make sure these are essential to the core business and not just the preferred items. This should include key personnel, patents, the building and other capital assets. The second list of the change management risk assessment should be the assets that definitely have no value to the company’s core business. This can include outdated equipment, space that is standing idle, underused positions in the comp

Change Management Model That You Can Follow

A change management model needs certain aspects for it to work appropriately. The leading aspect is that the company as a whole is behind the change that is about to be implemented. This is the ideal situation, but realistically, only 75% of a company’s upper management needs to bite on the need for change to give it any chance of success. Another factor in any change management model is the show of backing for the change from key personnel within the company. Effective change comes from strong leadership for it. The leader should be able to bring together a strong coalition to be the base of the team that will implement the change within the company. Once the decision for the change is made, a vision needs to be incorporated into your change management model . Have ideas floating around which have a connection to the change you are going to implement. For some, the next part of the change management model is the key, it is communication. Unless the right message is sent out and rec

Project Solutions That Can Be Used

When looking for project solutions , the path will vary depending on the different factors that are involved. A risk is handled differently than an issue. For this reason, different plans of attack must be used. To apply the correct project solutions  to your problem, it first has to be identified. This is when the appropriate part of the business plan should be referenced. Inside this document should be a plan on what should be done with a risk, an issue, or another obstacle that could cause a problem with your project. The project solutions that involve a risk are the most complex to handle correctly because of all the variables. First, the risk must be identified. Then, the risk needs to be analyzed so its probability of impacting the project can be documented. The next stage is determining the level of impact the risk will have. Then finally, you can find the project solutions for the different risks that documented. The main confusion in this area is what would be the best solu

Change Management Plan so Everyone is on the Same Page

The change management plan is the announcement by a business that a commonly used procedure or process is being modified. This is done so when the change comes into effect, it is used and no one can use the excuse they were not aware of the change. With a documented change management plan the upper management has made it clear that the change they are instituting is not optional for their employees. Within this kind of plan is the documentation process to make the change official. For most, change is unsettling occurrence. For this reason there must be an announcement that any major changes are going to come into effect before the actual day. This way the employees will be ready or at least aware of it. One of the most important parts of a change management plan is the communication aspect of it. Posting the change of a process or procedure on the bulletin board is acceptable, but in no way should it stop there. With the use of email as the main source of communication in the workpl

What is Risk Management

Just what is risk management and how should it be applied to my business is the question every project manger must ask and then answer. The reason is because without a plan for this part of a project, unforeseen obstacles could delay or end the hopes of your project from being a success. To define, what is risk management , a manager must first have a project plan started, this way the correct risks can be identified that might interfere with the project. Even in the same industry, every project will have common risks and specific risks that will only impact their project. Knowing specifically what risks need to be managed is important. The procedure to knowing what is risk management first takes a documented plan on the different issues that need to be addressed. In this plan must first be the process for properly identifying the different risks that may have an impact on your project. For this to occur, you must know what you are looking for. The next level of what is risk manageme

Project Planning In Teams Takes a Good Collaboration Effort

For project planning in teams to be effective, there must be input from all team members. This can still be accomplished even if the team members are located in different parts of the country, or the world, with the use of collaboration software programs. In the past, project planning in teams would consist of all team members assembling in a single place, like a meeting room, where ideas and thoughts could be exchanged. The purpose behind this approach was to get as many different points of view on the subject so the best possible plan could be arrived at. Since the market place has become global in recent years, this approach is no longer economically feasible for a company to pay for. This is why project planning in teams took a new approach. With the use of the latest collaboration software, the different team members can now share ideas and thoughts instantly. This is independent of their physical location. With the new collaboration software that is present in a few of the pro

Enterprise Project Management Programs

The enterprise project management or EPM programs are a very specific type of programming used in the business world. When it was first introduced, an EPM program was designed to only handle one project at a time. Over the years, it has developed into a multi project program. The purpose of enterprise project management is to monitor, manage and evaluate the current status of each and every project that an enterprise consists of. This system is intended to be used by large corporations that have large scale projects too numerous for a standard project management software program to handle. Included in the newly developed versions of the enterprise project management programs are the methodologies of PRICE2, PMBOK or the principals of IPMA to be used as a guide for industry wide acceptance. This will also give the companies that utilize this type of program a baseline for their project managers to judge their success and allow for certification of their projects. The developers of th

Project Charter Template to get the Scope Correct

The project charter template that is part of a project management software program is designed to assist the manger of a project in creating the right scope for their project. Within the lifecycle of a project, the proper construction of the scope of the project can be simplified with the use of a project charter template . This type of guide is used to help define the exact parameters of the project. The reason a project charter template is used is so that the manager can lay down the projects vision, objectives so it can be properly implemented with the boundaries the project team can follow. A good project charter template will contain certain elements for this to be of the most use by the project manager. A preformatted template is designed so the project manager can start designing the charter instead deciding on which format would best suit the company’s needs along with what it should contain. In the project charter template there is a place where the projects vision is desc

The Project Management Templates a Necessary Tool

The Project Management Templates is an essential tool that the well equipped project manager should have on hand in their arsenal of equipment for them to do their job. Their main job is too efficiently and thourghly initiate, manage and conclude a project in the most efficient manner possible. In the set of Project Management Templates are the necessary categories to do the required documentation of a project. This includes the planning of the project, the formulating of the business plan, the feasibility study and the resource plan. Other Project Management Templates that are necessary to be completed before the initiation of the project are the sending out of the request for information and proposals to all possible third party venders so the required resources can be lined up to complete the project will little or no delay. The risk management plan also has to be formulated and documented. The risk management template is a part of the Project Management Templates that are avail

Project Management Templates ready to be used

Having access to over 50 Project Management Templates is the best and fastest way to get a project off the ground and operational.  These preformatted documents are designed to be the digital secretary that is ready and willing to assist any project manager when the time is appropriate. It has been shown that when Project Management Templates are used in the process of not only planning but the monitoring of a project, the success rate increases. This is because of the fundamental reasons of cost and time savings.  By utilizing the temples in every stage of the planning and progression of a project, less time is spent on paperwork and more time spent on actually being involved with the project. The Project Management Templates are part of a project management software program that has the capabilities of assisting the manger in properly monitoring the progress and progression of the project every step of the way. This allows for the maximum information to be readily available at a m

Why use Project Management Templates

The reason why so many business use Project Management Templates is because of the money savings they experience. The money is saved because of the speed in which the project manager can assemble the plan for the project. The less time spent in planning, the more time they can spend on other details that need to be addressed. The speed at which it a project can be assembled is important but the Project Management Templates have a dual reason for being used. They help with the completeness of the planning process. It is a known fact that less than 10% of all projects are completed on time and under budget in the business world. The templates give the project manager the tools necessary to have a project come in under budget and on time. The reason so much success is seen with the Project Management Templates is how they are utilized. When anyone has a guide to make sure all the details are included in a plan, the completeness of the plan has a better chance of being correct. With som

Are you looking for Project Management Templates

When looking for Project Management Templates , the programs that offer the most will be the greatest benefit to you and your business. While it is not always true the bigger is better, it sometime is. There are a few programs with 20 to 30 different templates that are ready to be used. These are preformatted and can be used readily by any company. But it is the attention to detail that makes the difference in this line of business. That is why bigger is better and those with 50 plus templates are best to utilize for the most cost savings with your company. In the beginning of a project, timing is critical. Having Project Management Templates for the business plan, feasibility study, terms of reference and job description is essential to initiating the project. The faster a projects gets going, the soon the initiation phase can commence. In a good project management program, there should even be an initiation phase review template to help make sure all the different bases have been co

Project Management Courses you should take

There are many project management courses available to take on the market today. The right ones for you should fill the requirements you need to obtain the knowledge you are in search of. Not every course is equal and many only show you paths of using software and not how to use the programs to find solutions to your business needs. The purpose behind taking project management courses is so the project managers, project team members and engineers of a company can use the different components of a project management software package better in their daily business tasks. There are two different types of project management courses that can be taken. There are the general knowledge courses that cover all aspects of the available software tools. In most cases the specifics of the tools that are discussed are from the software that is being sold by the instructor’s company. The second type of project management courses are more targeted to specific areas within a program. These can inclu

Importance of Risk Management

The importance of risk management cannot be overstated. This is a fundamental part of doing business that must be addressed appropriately for the company to be successful. Risks are just part of doing business and by having a procedure in place to deal with them does make a difference on their impact. When a company is first addressing the importance of risk management , a procedure must be complied. To do this there are many different program that can assist in the proper development of them. These programs are advantageous to use since many of the variable of this kind of policy are known. The programs can use templates to help guide the managers as they formulate the policy for their particular business. The first factor of importance of risk management is the proper identification of all known risks. You cannot mitigate the risk if you are unaware of it. So this step must be done accurately and thourghly so all possible known risks can be addressed when the time is appropriate. T

Change Management Process

There is a change management process that every business precedes with whether is it a written document or just done. The reason more business are writing this type of procedure is because of the complexity of their business requires this so all that should be informed about the change are informed. The reason for a written change management process is because of all the different things that must be accomplished for this to be done correctly. In addition if it is documented, then there is a permanent record of the change. The change management process begins with the identification of the change that is being requested for altering. This way the original request and who is initiating it is recorded for further reference. The next level for the request to travel will be the confirmation of the changes feasibility study. The central nervous system of the change management process is the approval process. The authorizing personal must judge that the feasibility of the change is posit

The Project Management Training Courses for your Team

Like with everything new that is introduced in a business, project management training courses are needed when this type of software is to be implemented into a company’s programming. This is a very complex program that no person would be expected to utilize properly without being shown at least the basic makeup of the functions. Most makers of this kind of software programming include project management training courses as part of the overall package they sell to their clients. This is a necessary item that should be expected as part of the deal. If it is absent or you get the response that a course is not required, then you and your business should look else ware for a program. The project management training courses are necessary because of what is required out of the users once this type of programming is deployed in a company. The specific breakdown of courses the different manufactures have to offer will vary for each company. What is really important is that the courses are bas

The Basics of Risk Management

The basics of risk management must first be known before this type of system can be understood and properly implemented in a company. This has to be a proactive type policy for it to do what it is intended to do, handle the risks associated with doing business in the best possible manner. To begin in the basics of risk management , a plan must be laid out or procedure written that can be implemented into a company’s business plan so it can be used. In this plan has to be certain elements. The first element in the basics of risk management is how are the risks going to be indentified and by who. The decision on who the person responsible for the identification process must be made for this process to begin before anything else can be done. This is because the approach to identification can be different for each person and so there is someone who can be held responsible for the completion of this task. The second element of the basics of risk management should be the criteria that are

The Principles of Risk Management

The different principles of risk management define this necessary process of business. For most types of business there are a total of 12. The first of the principles of risk management is the organizational context of the system. Since no two business or industries are the same, this area has to be modified for each specific application. The second involves the depth of the stakeholder’s involvement in the business. They have to be kept informed so any decision they make is with all relevant data. The third part of the principles of risk management involves the organizational objects that have been laid out. This is the part that needs a leader to address each risk while keeping the bigger picture or the needs of the company in the forefront and properly mitigating the risks along the way. The forth in the line of principles of risk management is involving the approach of following the best available practices. This involves learning from the mistakes of the past and what others d

Integrating Risk Management into your Business

The integrating risk management into a company’s business plan is of a major interest in the market place today. By properly aligning a company’s business strategy and activities with risk management, the benefits are overwhelmingly positive on the economic integrity of the company as a whole. By proper integrating risk management into the business plan, the benefits that can be expected are many. Not only is the company better prepared for any risk it may encounter, but also it can be used to determine the root cause of some of the risks. Root cause analysis is important when a business is integrating risk management because the more about the nature of the risks associated with a business; the better a company can mitigate their negative impact. This type of analysis helps a company know exactly where the risk is generating from and all of the factors that influence it. Integrating risk management with the root cause analysis can show what are the original causes of the risks and

Project Management Templates for Managers

The use of Project Management Templates by managers is very useful and common in today’s busy working atmosphere. Time is money and the less time a manager has to spend on a task, the more they can accomplish. This is the advantage of having highly detailed templates as a convenient tool for your project manager to use. There are numerous different Project Management Templates that are ready to be used that have already been preformatted to fit the business needs that are required of them. There are 13 different ones that are of the most usefulness. These are to be used in project initiation, planning, execution, closure, risk management, change management, quality management, cost management, issue management, time management, procurement management, acceptance management and communication management. The known benefits from using Project Management Templates are many. The leading reason managers and the business they work for see in their use is that less time is spent preparing f

Your Risk Management Policy must be Documented

For a risk management policy to be active and followed by company personnel it must be properly documented and approved by the management of the business. Once it has been written and approved, it must also be implemented. This will require some training so the key individuals that must utilize this procedure are fully aware of its contents. Within a risk management policy there should be many necessary items that will thourghly explain what is to be done and when it should be conducted. The more complete the procedure is, the better chance of it being implemented as it was intended. Included in every risk management policy there has to be a procedure in which the risks are identified. Within the different industries there are known risks of doing business. The particular ones that are associated with each business must be properly identified and listed. Once the risks are identified the risk management policy should explain how the risks will an analyzed for their impact on the bu

Online Project Management Training

The use of online project management training is becoming noticed and preferred because of the advantages in the present business climate. This is because of the need to cut cost by most business and the increased load of the workforce. With online project management training , the cost of traveling to seminars in airline tickets and then accommodations is removed from the budget. This is a significant cost savings for any business. While there is some cost to online of training, it is insignificant to travel costs. The other advantage with online project management training is probably the most useful for the management team. By having the courses available from any computer terminal that has an internet connection, any available time slot can be used for training. This can be before each day’s regular work hours or after. It also makes available the time spent off site, like at home as a possible time to take a training course. The offsite online project management training is genera