Re: Project Management Skills and Tech Writing.

[Kris Olberg <KJOlberg -at- AOL -dot- COM>]

In a message dated 95-09-18 22:19:41 EDT, gwen -dot- barnes -at- MUSTANG -dot- COM (Gwen
Barnes) writes:

>We want to be able to keep the free exchange of ideas paramount because
>that's really at the heart of our corporate culture, but we don't want
>to get snowed under with flowcharts, intermediaries, rigid
>specifications, paperwork and bureaucracy that seem to evolve from most
>models of project management I've seen.

Free exchange of ideas and project management are two separate things. You
can have a free exchange and still manage a project with an appropriate
degree of controls. I'm not aware of an existing project management model
that, taken full force, will fit your needs. But you could use bits and
pieces of other models as needed. Ask yourself: What's the most important
aspect of this project that I want to control? Write it down. Then ask
yourself: What's the second-most important ...? Write it down. Continue until
you've reached the ridiculous. Then go back and choose the top two or three
or four or five items and find simply ways to manage each. Your list might
look like:

1.  Schedule. Marketing has posed this product for release on xx/xx/xx.
2.  Resources. Jane is leaving and there are three holidays coming soon.
3.  Equipment and software.
4.  etc.

A schedule may be nothing more than a table showing dates and milestones.
When in need of a simply project management tool that covers almost
everything, I use this method. Good luck!

Regards...Kris