Use Your Project Management Skills

by Jeanne Sawyer

Solving a big problem is a project: you’re far more likely to solve it successfully if
you treat it like one. That means you’ll need to identify tasks, make and adjust
assignments, and keep track of what is due when.

Get on the right track immediately by starting a task list as soon as you start working
on the problem. Every time you think of something that needs to be done, put it on your
task list along with the owner, due date and completion criteria (how you’re going to
know the task is successfully completed). That way, you won’t have to worry about
forgetting important details, or waste time constantly reconstructing the list in your
mind.

Once the problem is defined, you can lay out a project schedule and estimate the
resources you’ll need. At the very least, you’ll need access to key people who have
knowledge of the problem. Some of them may need to be released from other
responsibilities to work on your problem-solving team. You may also need money for
travel, special equipment, exclusive use of a conference room, etc. Figuring this out in
advance and making sure it is allocated will help you run your project smoothly.

In addition to the tasks to analyze and solve the problem itself, you’ll also need a
communication plan and a contingency plan. The communication plan will identify who
needs what information about your problem solving effort, when they need it and how you
are going to provide it. The contingency plan identifies the things that could stop you
from solving the problem and specifies what you are going to do about it. Add the
appropriate tasks to implement your communication and contingency plans to your task
list.

HINT: Orient tasks to deliverables. Each task should result in something tangible, which
will help you make sure the tasks actually accomplish something.

copyright 2006. Jeanne Sawyer. All Rights Reserved.

::About the Author::

Jeanne Sawyer helps her clients solve expensive, chronic problems, such as those that
cause operational disruptions and cause customers to take their business elsewhere. Find
out about her book, When Stuff Happens: A Practical Guide to Solving Problems
Permanently, and get more free information on problem solving at her web site:
www.sawyerpartnership.com

Subscribe To Our RSS Feed
You can trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.