Almost everyone has managed a project at some point in their lives. Whether you’ve remodeled a bathroom, planned a wedding, or implemented a new software system at work, you’ve managed a project—likely without giving the concept of project management a single thought.
Though the steps we take to accomplish our goals—planning, doing, and troubleshooting—can be intuitive, using a systematic approach can be more efficient, effective, and successful.
“Most people who manage projects at work aren’t in the profession of project management,” said Jeff Rand, project manager in the training simulations group at General Dynamics Mission Systems. “A project is anything with tangible results—deliverables—that have to occur within a definite period of time. There are certain tools that can really help these things go more smoothly.”
Below you’ll find information about the basic components of project management, and learn about an opportunity to deepen your project management understanding and skill through AACRAO’s online professional development courses.
Start at the end
To be efficient, start with a clearly-defined project, broken down into component parts. These include:
- Initiation. Define the project objectives, stakeholders, and project team.
- Planning. Create a schedule, document plans, and define deliverables.
- Execution. Move through the activities involved in completing the work to produce the deliverables.
- Closure. Verify the project met the requirements, ensure all stakeholders are satisfied and acceptance criteria are met.
This structure can be helpful when you’re responsible for implementing a new system, creating a new process, or putting new policies into place—things that AACRAOans are doing every day.
Plan for potential risks
“The problem is—projects never go exactly as planned,” Rand said. “Developing the project management mindset—the real art of the job—is ask yourself: ‘What’s going to go wrong?’”
Rand recommends a risk register, which:
- Identifies predictable problems.
- Assesses the likelihood of each and prioritizes them accordingly.
- Establishes ways to mitigate the most likely issues.
“People who are really good at project management are good at heading off potential risks before they become problems,” Rand said.
Register now
To develop your project management competencies, consider enrolling in AACRAO’s two-week Essentials of Project Management course, taught by Rand.
“My goal with this course is to take the mystery out of why some projects work and some don’t,” Rand said. “We’ll discuss the mechanics and the mindset, and give people a system so they have a level of comfort and ease with taking on projects.”
For one attendee, the course resulted in approaching projects in a more formal and structured manner.
“I’m keeping in mind more aspects that might not have been on my radar before—ranging from the various stakeholders to certain risks that may occur,” said Travis Huinker, a Web Content Coordinator with Luther College. “I feel more confident when I approach new projects as the primary lead and coordinator.”
As for the online learning experience? Huinker particularly enjoyed the student-professor interaction that occurred throughout the course. “Feedback was provided for each assignment and the professor was always available if we had questions along the way.”
The course will be held November 7 to 19.
To learn more and to register, visit the Essentials of Project Management page.