The Available Free Project Management Templates 

September 19, 2013

The available free project management templates to the business world are useful in many different fashions. Not only can you begin to use them immediately in your next business venture, but you can actually see how efficiently they work in a real world scenario.
The offer of free project management templates from a supplier will never include all of the templates they have to offer. Instead there will be a limited number of them available. This is usually done over the internet with a free downloading option. How you use this free offer to evaluate the product is your choice. Many just rummage thru them to see just what they contain. This is advisable as a first step. This allows for the new users to see just what type of content the template has to offer them.
When you are analyzing the free project management templates, it is advisable to take some critical notes on what you are discovering. One of the critical items you need to note is just how easy the template is to use. Ask yourself, does it follow intuitive thinking? The easier the template is to use and follow, the faster your project manager will be able to document the particular process the template is designed to generate.
Another item to note is what does the final product look like? Most free project management templates have the format and style of the finish document already set in place. Make sure the type of document that is produced will be acceptable by your organization.
The two main reasons an organization is looking at free project management templates to use include the ability to save time in the documentation process of your project. The second is for the consistency that will be generated in using such a project management tool. Both of these are relevant points and should be considered when evaluating the templates you have downloaded.
No all free project management templates that are available today are equal. Know what you need out of this type of tool before you begin to evaluate them is essential. This will make the decision process of choosing the right one for your organization the easiest.

Five Tips to Help You Excel in Project Management (Part 4)

Hi,

Let's go straight to Tip number 3: Learn to be a power negotiator

The manner in how you behave during a negotiation can have a dramatic impact on the outcome.

When you walk down a crowded street you negotiate the path you take. A couple negotiates their relationship before and during marriage. Although you may not realise what’s happening, for example you take out the garbage tonight and I will do the dishes.

Nowhere do we seem to need good negotiating skills more than at work where we negotiate with staff, clients and suppliers.

And of course of the negotiation is one of the skills that needs to be acquired by managers
Over the years I’ve noticed that some people are very good at getting terrific deals.  Most others simply get what the other party is willing to give. What’s the difference?

The first group knows how to negotiate.

These principles are always at play in the negotiation process, and will help you smoothly achieve your goals:

·         Know what you want before negotiating.

·         Get the Other Side to Commit First

·         Concentrate on the Issues

·         Aim for a Win/Win negotiation.

·         Always Congratulate The Other Side

·         Ask Questions

In our next article we will explore tip number four: Be a positive thinker. Please join us.

Project People Limited

Five Tips to Help You Excel in Project Management (Part 3)

Hi,

Lets go straight to Tip number 2: Communicate to be understood

Communication is the most important skill in managing a project. You spend years learning how to read and write, and years learning how to speak. But what about listening? What training have you had that enables you to listen so you really, deeply understand another human being? Probably none, right?

Communication is important for any project. It is next to impossible to have a successful project on any level without good communication. Most project managers only practice one part of communication, the speaking. However, the second part of communication is to listen. Listening is a vital part of the communication and it takes a lot of work. Individuals have to listen with their ears and their reasoning open and judgment closed. The reason is, when most have a conversation instead of listening, the other person will spend that time thinking about the rebuttal. Listening to what the person is saying and seeking to understand is a step in the right direction toward communication success. The best way to begin a conversation is by creating an object; know what you want to accomplish with the conversation and work toward that end.

Next week we will explore tip number three: Learn to be a power negotiator. Please join us.

 

Project People Limited

Five Tips to Help You Excel in Project Management (Part 2)

Hi,

Lets go straight to Tip number 1: Give Attention to Details

Details are critical for the following points

It is important not just to have a vision but also to know what are the scope and all exclusions of the vision.

Don’t just understand the project’s objectives but have a detailed direction on how to achieve those objectives

Project plan. A well defined and clearly communicated project plan taking into consideration all known factors like time, cost, risks etc

In our very lives today details are not common place. An average Nigerian working professional does not run a budget, neither does he have a retirement plan. He just wakes up everyday and goes to work without a clear cut mission of how long he intend to stay on the job and step-by-step plan to get him out when the time comes. The same attitude is carried on to our projects. Projects are different from processes. We must have very detailed parameters governing not just our projects but also our lives.

I have discovered people will naturally yield and give more to a vision than a need. The vision therefore must be very clear and unambiguously defined. What is the use of a vision that stakeholders cannot relate to because it is not well explained. As a manager with project team to guide and provide leadership to, you must adapt the vision to each person and their role. This is necessary for simplicity sake. Though details must be achieved on all that has to do with the project at hand, simplicity should not be compromised.

Next week we will explore tip number two: Communicate to Be Understood. Please join us.

Project People Limited

Five Tips to Help You Excel in Project Management

Hi,

I have been privileged in my many years of professional activities to meet many project managers both home and abroad. I discovered that we have so many schooled and certified professional but very few real leaders. According to a Survey Carried out by KPMG of 252organisations, technology is not the most critical factor that determines project success. Inadequate project management implementation constitutes 32% of project failures, lack of communication constitutes 20%, and unfamiliarity with scope and complexity constitutes 17%. Accordingly 69% of project failures are due to lack and/or improper implementation of project management methodologies.

The above project failure indices are directly or indirectly the project manager’s shortcoming. The most popular definition of leadership I believe is influence. As a project manager, the ability to inspire the entire project team toward achieving the desired goal and project objective is key to successful project implementation. Some project managers are simply administrators, while some are project coordinators. However, the game of being a ‘leader’ project manager is far more than just administration or coordination. I gave presentations and facilitated workshops on this subject in our numerous professional forums. Many times, beyond the presentation, it was the debate with the novice and the experienced project managers about what are the most important skill set that drives me to further increase my study and concepts in this area.

I made sure that my points are not out of head knowledge or some form of pseudo perception of the ideal. I have carefully studied exceptional project managers and have documented my discovery not just for classroom purposes but for life application.

All the points mentioned below are crucial for superlative project governance:

• Give attention to detail
• Communicate to be understood
• Learn to be a power negotiator
• Be a positive thinker
• Be as flexible as you can

We shall expatiate further next week. Please join us.

 Project People Limited

Guidelines for Effective & Efficient Meetings

One of the essential ingredient for team building, making group decisions, solving group problems and achieving

a group consensus is a meeting.

The project manager should abide by the following guidelines for ensuring efficient and effective meetings that hold the attention and interest of all team members:

1. establish a meeting policy

2. Only call a meeting when there is a real need

3. Make the purpose of the meeting very clear

4. prepare an agenda

5. Follow the agenda

6. Encourage participation

7. Include a team-building element

8. Issue mistakes.

9. Follow up on all task assignments and action items

  poor meetings are usually a result of poor preparation and inept or incompetent chairperson.

  
Project People Limited also provides Trainings and Certifications that increases the employability of individuals and deliverable of organizations.  

For our offers:

• PRINCE2
• PMP
• ITIL
• BUSINESS ANALYSIS
• M_o_R
• PCPM(Professional Certificate in Project Management)

For more enquirires: 
Call: 08188094965, 08064861659
E-mail:admin@projectpeopleng.com

Project Management Jobs in Nigeria 2013

Find Project Management Jobs in Nigeria:

• British Council Nigeria Recruitment 2013 for ELT Project Manager

The British Council Nigeria is looking for a suitably qualified and experienced individual to fill the post of ELT Project Manager. The role is based in NIGERIA.  

Apply Now

• Personnel Logistics Assistance Services in Nigeria

Our Client a leading global operator is seeking a Personnel Logistics Assistant with experience in offshore logistics on large-scale capital projects in the petroleum industry and . . . . .

 Apply Now

•   Senior Project Manager/Asset Manager job in Nigeria

Spencer Ogden is working in partnership with a Nigeria based Oil and Gas Exploration Company based in Lagos, to help them bring on board a new Senior Project Manger/Asset Manager to take ... . . Apply Now

• Contractor Administrator job in Nigeria

One of the major engineering companies within the oil and gas industry is looking for a contract administrator to work a 12 month renewable role in Nigeria.
Apply Now