Five successful project management techniques

Project management success is not limited to the completion of the task in hand. Increasingly, project managers are required to complete projects faster, more effectively and to a more stringent budget. There are many techniques that can help achieve this, but there are five key approaches that can promote success.

1. Plan ahead

This may seem obvious, but there is a tendency for people to rush head-long into a project, especially when there are time constraints involved. Planning a project allows for project control, from the beginning to the end of the process. There are many project planning steps that should be undertaken: 1) Define the project, aims, outlines, potential risks 2) Establish a timeline 3) Establish budget constraints 4) Put back-up plans in place, in case the timeline and budget are affected 5) Define procedures that should be undertaken during the project 6) Get approval for plans from superiors if you have them

2. Choose the right team

Project management planning will only take you far, but without the right team, the project will be doomed to failure. You must remember that this does not only encompass people having the right technical skills for the project, but also whether those people will work well together. This does not necessarily mean choosing alike people, but differences can combine to create strength as a group.

3. Be aware of warning signs

Projects often fail, because the point at which managers notice a problem, is the point at which it is too late to halt. Warning signs can include evasiveness of team members (people may try to cover their potential mistake) and schedule slips (could indicate another look at scheduling is required to provide realistic targets). It can also include a slight increases in prices across the board (bear in mind that small increases across the board will result in a huge budget difference).

4. Continue to re-assess

Many project managers assume that because a project is up and running, it is acceptable to let the team continue with less supervision. This is unwise, so, make sure that you have constant control over the project and continue to re-assess the goals and risks involved. Don't be afraid to admit that you could have been wrong in your initial plans. Not changing schedules or budgets when there could be an issue early, results in problems further down the line. Remember that the earlier you attempt to solve a problem, the easier it will be.

5. Seek approval

If you are project managing in a larger firm, you have to seek the approval of superiors, before you make any changes. This will not only keep management up-to-date on the successes or failings of your project, but it will also remove culpability from you, should anything go wrong.