Tag Archives: Rules Internet Project management

Rules on Internet projectmanagement: (7) Communicate on the progress of the project

Category:Projectmanagement,Rules Internet Project management Tags : Projectmanagement Rules Internet Project management Series
[lang_nl]Deel 7 van de regels van Internet projectmanagement gaat over een heel belangrijk onderwerp: communiceren. Dat geldt voor zowel opdrachtgever als leverancier. Deel 7 dus:

Communiceer over de voortgang
Tijdens een project is het van groot belang dat alle betrokkenen weten wat de situatie is. Het is daarom belangrijk dat je blijft communiceren. Communiceer als leverancier de voortgang van het project en communiceer als opdrachtgever welke verwachtingen je hebt en wat jouw visie op de voortgang is.

Het communiceren kan op verschillende manieren. Belangrijk is persoonlijk contact (bellen, afspraken om situaties (bijvoorbeeld uitloop) uit te leggen). Voortgang kan gecommuniceerd worden per mail of voortgangsrapportages. De frequentie daarvan is afhankelijk van de grootte van het project.

Door de te communiceren voorkom je onduidelijkheden tussen de verschillende betrokkenen. Een opdrachtgever weet immers waar hij aan toe is en zal daardoor rustiger slapen, ook als de situatie minder rooskleurig is dan gehoopt. Weten wat er speelt is altijd beter dan onzekerheid.[/lang_nl][lang_en]Volume 7 of the rules of Internet projectmanagement deals with a very important subject: communication. This applies to both client and supplier. Volume 7 is:

Communicate on the progress of the project
During a project, it is very important that all parties involved know what the status is. It is therefore important that you communicate all the time. Communicate as a supplier about the progress of the project and communicate as a client about what expectations you have and what your vision on the progress is.

Communication can be done in different ways. Personal contact is important (phone, appointments to explain situations). Progress can be communicated by mail or progress reports. Frequency depends on the size of the project.

Good communication will help prevent inaccuracy between the various stakeholders. A client knows where he stands and will thereby sleep better, even if the situation is less rosy than hoped. Knowing what’s going on is always better than uncertainty. [/lang_en]

Rules on Internet projectmanagement: (6) Determine the possible pitfalls in the project in advance

Category:Projectmanagement,Rules Internet Project management Tags : Projectmanagement Rules Internet Project management Series

After a "French break", we pick up the rules for Internet projectmanagement. Today a general rule, which provides safety early in the project:

Determine the possible pitfalls in the project in advance

A project can ‘collapse’ in many different moments. That is, of course, exactly what you want to prevent. To have a ‘flexible’ project it is important, even before the start of the project, to map out where you can may get into trouble.

Previously I wrote an article (in Dutch) about Internet pitfalls. They are already eight possible pitfalls which you could identify in advance and for which you can set up countermeasures. However, there are many more potential pitfalls.

Start by creating a matrix with possible ‘bumps’ that you may expect in the project, estimate the probability that it is actually going to happen and define and adopt countermeasures.

If you already have thought about countermeasures in advance you can save two birds with one stone: you create awareness of the potential dangers involved in the project and you can quickly anticipate as a trap actually pops open.

Rules on Internet projectmanagement: (5) Dare to ask

Category:Projectmanagement,Rules Internet Project management Tags : Projectmanagement Rules Internet Project management Series

Already number 5 of the rules for Internet projectmanagement, today a rule that applies to every person in a project:

Dare to ask

A known ruling is "there are no stupid questions". That is all the more true for Internet projects. Too often we thought that something would turn out fine even though it is not quite clear. That can apply to both the sponsor as the contractor.

The sponsor often thinks that the supplier will do a good job, because "they have the experience and knowledge." And that is often exactly the reason why a supplier doesn’t keep on asking for more information: he is ‘supposed’ to understand the needs. Here a good relationship can get disturbed: ambiguity and misunderstanding. Suppliers will start to interpret what they think was meant and that often leads to products of which the client says: But that’s not what I wanted at all!

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to ask. Is something not immediately obvious? Ask! Did you make or build something? Ask for confirmation! Questions are free and asking questions is not stupid. It will prevent a lot of miscommunication. For everyone!

Rules on Internet projectmanagement: (4) Keep Focus

Category:Projectmanagement,Rules Internet Project management Tags : Projectmanagement Rules Internet Project management Series

Today, just before the Dutch holiday Sinterklaas a new gift, Part 4 of the rules for the Internet-project management:

Keep focus

Ever heard of ongoing understanding? That is the understanding of what you are getting during a proces. In particular, a client can have this ongoing understanding. He or she starts off with relatively the slightest amount of knowledge about the project and will grow knowledge the most rapidly. And with growth come new insights. And with the new insights, new desires …

It is fine, even good, that new needs arise. Important, however, is to place these new requirements well. Make sure that you continue to focus on the objectives that had you have committed to at the beginning of the project.

Make sure you place the new insights in it, but keep the focus. Dare to say “no” to certain things if they move. Write them down, do them later, or integrate them, but keep the focus. Losing your focus means you lose control over the project.