If project management was like cooking, we’d all be Paula Deen or Emeril Lagasse. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. But there are common ingredients that make managing projects much more palatable. Hungry for more? Read on for the basic recipe necessary to take the bite out of your next project.

If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen.

In 2009 the Standish Group reported…

·         32% of IT projects were considered successful (completed on time, on budget, and with the required features/functions)

·         24%, nearly one in four, were considered failures (cancelled before complete or delivered, but never used)

·         44% were challenged (finished late, over budget or with fewer than the required features/functions)

The Fallen Soufflé.

Projects fail for a number of reasons. At the top of the list are lack of user involvement, long or unrealistic timeframes, poor or no requirements, scope creep, no change control system, and poor testing. Understanding the obstacles you face when beginning a project is the key to overcoming them.

Key Ingredients.

Forget Betty Crocker. There’s no such thing as a pinch of this or a pinch of that when you’re talking about project success. You need it all, you need equal parts of each, and in no particular order. Executive support, user involvement, project management, clear business objectives, minimized scope, and formal methodology are all critical components of successful projects.

The Recipe.

As is most things, it’s the start that stops most people and managing projects is no exception. You definitely need a project schedule outlining project direction, tasks, resources, timelines/milestones and deliverables. Make sure to set expectations at project kickoff – for all team members. Reinforcing and updating expectations as the project progresses is also a must.

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew.

It’s your kitchen and you are the chef. Should you choose to accept the challenge, wearing that fluffy white hat means you are responsible for managing the project contract, financials, communication (internal & external), schedule, resources, and issues. Knowing when to do it yourself and when to hire an expert is also important. If managing projects is not a cornerstone of your business then hiring a caterer may be in order! When hiring, make sure you employ a project management professional (PMP) - these folks are highly trained and “seasoned”! VeBridge requires project managers to secure PMP status before undertaking any project. BAM! 

Tools of the Trade.

While a Kitchen Aid mixer may be shiny and quite handy, it’s not the tool we need. To manage your project to success, you need at a minimum:

·         Project Charter – The project blueprint.

·         Requirements Definition Document – What are the business requirements and how are we meeting them?

·         Communication Plan – Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How will information be communicated?

·         Training Plan – Address training needs, change management – what behavior are you affecting?

·         Change Control Document/Process – If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen!

·         Risk, Issue, Jeopardy Tracking/Resolution Process – Conflict happens, be proactive.

·         Financials – The bottom line.

·         Methodology – Solid, repeatable, proven.

Ding. Are We Done Yet?

The timer goes off, the project is complete. But don’t leave the kitchen yet. The project cleanup should include a lessons learned session – what went well, what didn’t, what should we change next time? Additionally, if there’s another project on the horizon, start the planning now.

Managing projects is not an exact science – it’s an art, much like cooking. By understanding the challenges, getting started, preparing the ingredients, selecting the right tools, and espousing the right attitude we can all emulate the kitchen craftsmanship exhibited by Paula Dean and Emeril Lagasse when managing our projects. Have no fear… take that bite!