What is a Detailed Process Map ?
The first step in the measure phase of a six sigma project is to create a detailed process map of the processes and sub-process under question. Participants often get confused between a high level process map and a detailed process map. This article will help articulate the link as well as the differences and clear […]
Role of Project Champion in Six Sigma Project
The Project Champion is the person responsible for identifying the Six Sigma Project and making it an organization reality. The role of this kingpin in the conception and execution of the Six Sigma project has been detailed in this article. Stage at Which Required The Project Champion is required at very early stages of the […]
The Motorola Six Sigma Story – Birth of Six Sigma
No understanding of Six Sigma is complete without truly understanding where it came from – Motorola. The backdrop of the story shows how Six Sigma implementations changed the way Multi-National Corporations conducted operations worldwide. It started in 1981. Motorola like most American companies was reeling under the threat of Japanese competition. Recovering from World War-2, […]
Effect of BPO on the Economy of United States
In previous articles, we looked at how the BPO phenomenon has played itself out in India and other Asian countries that have derived humungous benefits to their economies. In this article, we look at the other side of the coin i.e. the benefits that accrue to the economies of the Western countries as they outsource […]
Why Electric Cars Arent Really Environment Friendly?
Elon Musk launched his car company Tesla in order to make cars that would not harm the environment. He has marketed Tesla as being an eco-friendly car. Also, some of the largest economies in the world like China and the United States plan to switch to electric cars in the next couple of decades. The […]
Communications planning involves identifying the information and communication needs of the stakeholders. This includes determining what needs to be communicated, to whom, when, with what method and how frequently. This is a very proactive approach.
The PMBOK guide often suggests work to be done in a more structured way than many project managers previously thought to do. Hence, the guide emphasises a structured approach towards the art of project management. Communication is no exception. In order to do it well, one must understand the organisation’s environment such as culture and standards.
One must also take into account the organisation’s processes and procedures for conducting work and communications, historical records from previous projects, lessons learned and stored information. This means that communications management is the whole process of end-end communication loops that involve feedback and other mechanisms as well.
It is important to realise that communication is not one-sided. During the early part of project planning, the project team would have had a chance to interact with other project stakeholders. This gives the project manager a chance to identify any potential risks and plan to meet with the stakeholders periodically to mitigate the risks. This would mean that a project communication plan has to be drawn up and the appropriate stakeholders identified. Project communications are both internal and external.
The internal communications are within the team and involve the project manager along with the team members. This can take the form of weekly team meetings, status updates and one-one meetings that chart the progress of the individual along with his or her concerns, if any.
Internal communications are a good way of ensuring that all team members are in sync with the objectives of the project and that they know what is expected from them.
External communications refer to the processes that have to do with the project manager communicating the status updates to the project sponsors, identifying risks and changes to the bottom line of the project and meeting with the other stakeholders to resolve them to the satisfaction of everyone concerned. This is the external component of the communication process. An effective communication management plan takes into account the needs of the relevant stakeholders along with that of the project team.
Effective project management is the art of striking a balance between competing demands from the different stakeholders and ensuring that the bottom line objectives of the project are met. The practice of project management has to do with the way in which the project manager acts in unison along with the team members and delivers the project to the sponsors. The role of the project manager is that of a facilitator as well as an enabler.
The facilitator role comes into the picture when the project manager has to balance the competing demands of the sponsors and the stakeholders and enabling role comes into play when the project manager has to motivate his or her team members and make sure that the project objectives are met.
In conclusion, effective project management is all about situational leadership without losing sight of the big picture. This is the bottom line towards which all project managers have to strive and something that the project manager must aspire towards.
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Costs in Project Management – Costs associated with the Projects
February 12, 2025
