Projects range from unique work which may take days to complete to super projects which can span over decades. The issue is many organisations use the same approaches in the management of projects across the spectrum. However, should we apply the same rigour that we do to a high-risk complex project to a small scale initiative – the answer is no.
In this discussion we are going to look at how to manage small projects, the key here is to balance the project management requirements with getting the work done. Project management was never about paper work and I don’t want you to spend more time managing the project than it takes to do the work.
Our friends at Easy Train has developed a course to guide business owners through the management of small projects, they have kindly given us access to the course and related templates.
To save some coin and access the Easy Train course simply use “friend of scope” in the coupon code – there you go, value already.
The course will take you on a practical journey through the steps in managing a small project. Basically the key steps to managing a simple project are:
- Proposing a project: framing your idea into something that can be considered by the organisation and hopefully turn into a project.
- Evaluating whether it should be undertaken: using collaborative methods to identify risks prior to commencement
- Creating a birth certificate: essentially giving birth to your project, this is usually termed a project charter – but since we’re managing small projects, let’s convey that in our terminology.
- Developing a simple project plan: to be honest for simple projects we are looking at a project on a page or a couple, not a novel.
- Instilling mechanisms for tracking and control: a plan, is just a plan – so making sure we have ways to track our progress is super important.
- Communicating and updates: project management works well when stakeholders are informed, so having status reports and providing regular updates is critical for success.
- Project close out: your project is not a project if it goes on forever, even small projects should be formally closed, handed over and benefits tracked to make sure we are getting the expected value.
Now follow me if you’re looking for some simple templates for managing small projects.
