By Tzatzil LeMair
This five-phase model can help you achieve your goals on any project.
“Success is simple. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time.”
Arnold H. Glasow, American Businessman, Author, and Humorist
Project managers play an essential role in a company’s ability to achieve its goals. They direct projects from start to finish by managing resources and tools to achieve the desired outcome within a given timeframe. To do so, they rely on a series of distinct phases to make sure the project is completed on time and within the budget, and that the objectives are met. Optimizing each phase can be the difference between success and failure.
These are five phases of project planning you can apply to anything from planning a party to launching a new product.
Phase 1: Initiation – During the initiation phase, you take an idea and analyze it to decide if it’s realistic and beneficial to you or your business. To do so, you need to gather all the information necessary to understand the scope, purpose and requirements of the project.
Phase 2: Planning – Developing the roadmap or plan of action is at the heart of the planning phase. This requires setting goals, developing task lists, evaluating your resources, identifying stakeholders, assigning roles and responsibilities and creating a timetable.
Phase 3: Execution – Once roles have been assigned and a tracking system is in place, you are ready to put your plan into action. During the execution phase, it is vital for the project manager to keep everyone focused on his or her tasks and report on progress.
Phase 4: Performance Tracking – Keeping track of the project’s budget, timeliness and results allows for adjustments to be made along the way. Is everything going according to plan? If not, what modifications or changes need to be made?
Phase 5: Closure – Once the project has concluded, you need to recognize the project’s successes and shortcomings to identify and document the lessons learned. These valuable insights can then be applied to your next project.
Following these five phases of project management will put you and your project on the path to success.
Consider custom project management training for your team. We can bring an instructor on-site to train your staff or host you on-campus, and we can tailor the curriculum to your team’s industry and experience.
Or, if you prefer taking a course on your own, explore our online and classroom Project Management Certificate Programs.
Tzatzil LeMair s currently the Senior Director of Social Media at Real Chemistry and is a former account director of Sensis TX. A graduate of the Boston University Questrom School of Business, she is an experienced advertising executive and leader in cross-cultural, multi-channel marketing.director of Sensis TX. A graduate of the Boston University Questrom School of Business, she is an experienced advertising executive and leader in cross-cultural, multi-channel marketing.
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