project management

[pixiesparkles13]

Hello all

I wasn't sure where to put this post...

I need some advice on project management.

The steps...

and any advice on how work more effiently in a team.

I just started this new job, and they really seem to be lacking
the ability to communicate effectively and organize projects

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks:)

[JGizmo]

dude, get yourself a nice book to study. Now I am reading "Software engineering" by Ian sommerville which I learn about things like set up milestone, solfware lifecycle and lot of stuff which many IT manager should considered to have in mind.

John

[pixiesparkles13]

dude...

a book? I was hoping to hear how other people
work effectively and efficiently with their teams...
what makes a good team "work"
I am looking for life experience not a manual...
thanks anyway,

any other ideas?

[dr.swank]

i think there are a number of important issues to consider, here are a few that come to my mind:

1. communicate regularly
2. divide and conquer, or, who can and should do what.
3. make a timeline and stick to it (I can hear my cleints rolling their eyes already :rolleyes: )
4. plan your development in steps and don't get too involved with "smaller" issues until the larger issues are done.
5. sleep enough
6. make sure your co-workers sleep enough.
7. keep focused on the goal
8. make sure you ask enough money that, when the timeline is way overdrawn, you still enjoy doing the project
9. write down what you have done
10 be honest with yourself and you co-workers

wow, 10 commandments.. hehe. ok, I hope this helps. It's abstract, but still accurate (I think:confused: )

doc

[bluegel]

heres my apt words of wisdom


1. Be Proactive
"Taking initiative does not mean being pushy, obnoxious, or aggressive. It does mean recognizing our responsibility to make things happen."

2. Begin With the End in Mind
"(This habit)...is based on imagination-- the ability to envision, to see the potential, to create with our minds what we cannot at present see with our eyes..."

3. Put First Things First. Prioritize!
"Create a clear, mutual understanding of what needs to be accomplished, focusing on what, not how; results not methods. Spend time. Be patient. Visualize the desired result."

4. Be friends with your boss

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

6. Synergize
"it is teamwork, team building, the development of unity and creativity with other human beings."

7. Take time to snack!

8. Share stories -- funny and serious

9. Offer words of appreciation

10.Acknowledge gifts and talents of all team members

11. Sleep lots

12. But most of all, enjoys your job and socialise

[pixiesparkles13]

thanks you guys
that helps...
I think I am understanding better what to do,
All of these things mentioned and I guess a bit of time
and I think things will start working out:D

[jubei]

Hi there. At the start of this year i got the project management job, and had to try to sort out all client work and make sure it runs properly. I've learned heaps doing that. I'm not sure what sort of stuff you want to hear about though, so i'll just write what i think of (and i wont use buzzwords, i promise) :)

The biggest thing is communication. If you're in charge of it, try to make sure you send stuff through you to whoever is above. It's -really- annoying when a client calls with questions, and you've found out that they've been emailing back and forth one of the people at your work and you have no idea what's going on. I imagine the same would be said for your boss though. So try to make sure anyone who emails a client sends a copy of the email to you, and also try to make sure even just once a week you get an update of the work. But at the same time, make sure you funnel all that through to your boss (unless you -are- the boss :)) so they're aware of it all as well. It also means if it all comes crashing down, they wont think it's your fault.

Plan your projects out in stages. We never really put dates on stages, but it does help keep it all together in your own mind. Plus if you have one person who designs, and another adding content, you all need to know when the designer is done and the content adder can start.. so it's important to have the stages, and to know where it's up to. Which is again back to communication. It's really not good when one person thinks they're done, and another thinks they haven't started yet.

It's a good idea to have a procedure in place for emergencies. I found it more necessary because i'm not the "boss" of the people, so i can't tell them what to do.. but if i job ocmes up that only one of them can do, and it needs to be done -today-, you have to be able tyo tell them to do it. A procedure will mean they're less likely to think that you're trying to order them about.

But basically the biggest thing for me was communication. I had assumed that my coworkers would all be fine with passing on what they did, so i'd know where each job was up to at any given time - not so. They happily work away, email back and forth, and it's not until you get the phone call you realise you've got no idea what's going on. Thankfully i recognised this at about the same time as my boss, so we've both been working towards ways around it, like requesting the weekly updates. It's easily the most difficult part of the job, though, because it's the part you have the least control over.

Hope that helps some.