Hub You
Hubs | Hubbers | Topics | Request
#1 in Business Subscribe Email Print

You are here: Home > Business > Management > Project Management System Evaluation Checklist

Tags
  • after
  • request
  • rateallow multiple
  • relationship between
  • service requests
    		•

    Links
  • Living With Lunatics: They're Crazy and They're in Charge!
  • The Service in Here is Terrible!
  • IRS Offers Free State Sales Tax Deduction Calculator
    		•

    Hub You - Project Management System Evaluation Checklist

    The Power of Reflection
    When people think of the word “reflection”, they typically think first of a mirror. After all, we use it as a part of our normal morning routine. We walk to the bathroom and look at ourselves in the mirror. We do that, out of habit, to see “how we look” and to help us improve our appearance for the day ahead.Mirrors are useful tools in our day. In a short amount of reflection time we get information about ourselves that helps us have a more successful and enjoyable day. Most of us would miss having a mirror around, and some perhaps wouldn’t think they could live without one.It puzzles me that while we use the power of reflection with a mirror as our tool; too few of us, far too infrequently use the greater powers that reflection can bring to our lives for much greater good. In other words we use a mirror to improve our outward appearance, but may not use the reflection tools that will improve us from the inside – in our m
    es will inevitably need to be revised).

  • Provide a means to maintain estimating guidelines and generate tentative estimates accordingly.

    SCHEDULING SUPPORT:

    The Project Management system should...

    1. Provide for automated calculations using "Effectiveness Rate."

    2. Allow multiple versions of schedules (project schedules, like estimates, will change over time).

    3. Provide facilities to manage resource allocations. This includes plotting both estimated and actual project assignments, as well as monitoring "effectiveness rates."

    4. Be able to calculate critical paths of projects.

    REPORTING SUPPORT:

    The Project Management system should...

    1. Provide facilities to record and verify time on project assignments.

    2. Provide for the recording of "Estimate to Do" (the amount of time remaini
      Vibration Isolators
      Vibration isolators, as the name suggests, are components that prevent an object from touching or affecting another object. They are important devices designed to decrease the effects and consequences of shock and vibration. A well-made vibrator isolator system usually has two parts: a spring that is aimed to support the load and a damping element to disperse input energy.An isolator usually allows one object to vibrate without passing on the energy of the said vibration to another object. It is usually used to keep machines and other objects attuned and prepared against the dangers that may be caused by vibration. Vibration isolation is usually accomplished by employing equipment like a felt or rubber pad or cork or by utilizing coil springs.A vibration isolator works as a mechanical filter, and its efficiency typically changes with frequency or the amount of swings per unit time. Additionally, the effectiveness of vibration i
      "An elegant solution to the wrong problem solves nothing."
      - Bryce's Law

      INTRODUCTION

      Commercial Project Management systems (PM) have been available since the early 1970's. As PC's proliferated in the workplace, so did PM software, which also brought an ease-of-use element to project management. A multitude of PM products are now available on the market, some expensive, and some very reasonably priced. However, to say all PM packages were created equally would be a gross exaggeration. Each has a specific niche they address in project management or target a specific industry.

      As I described in my article, "Why Does Project Management Fail?", one of the main reasons for failure is because there is a lack of consideration for the magnitude and complexities of project management and, consequently, there is a natural inclination to attack it in piece meal. As a result of the bulletin, I have been asked as to what criteria I would use to evaluate a PM package. Consequently, I have developed the following checklist for evaluating a PM package it its pristine form. I hope it will be of benefit to you.

      GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

      The Project Management system should...

      1. Support any type of project - large or small; not just those limited to a specific part of the business (e.g, IT pplications). As such, it should be flexible in application and accommodate any and all methods of work effort (new development, maintenance, and modification/improvements).

      2. Distinguish between Direct, Indirect, and Unavailable activities.

      3. Promote the "Mini-Project Manager" concept.

      4. Provide an integrated approach to support all activities of project management, not just some; this includes Planning, Estimating, Scheduling, Reporting, and Control.

      5. Promote and enforce in-house project management standards; e.g., use of standard methodologies, labor rates, time reporting, detection of estimate/schedule overruns/underruns, etc.

      6. Provide a universally applicable calendar and allow for the specification of a standard reporting cycle.

      PLANNING SUPPORT:

      The Project Management system should...

      1. Support various Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) - not just a single methodology. This includes controllable levels of WBS (number of levels of detail). Also, provides a library facility for reusable methodologies that can be automatically loaded upon request. Ideally, the WBS can be tied to specific information resources (such as systems, programs, files, etc.) thereby enabling the ability to record and monitor time for a specific information resource.

      2. Support internal project dependencies (work step-to-work step) and external dependencies (project-to-project).

      3. Allow for multiple projects, multiple human resources (both internal employees and external contractors), and multiple assignments for a single human resource. (A "many-to-many" relationship between projects and human resources).

      4. Provide a Skills Inventory to track skills and proficiencies.

      5. Be able to manage project priorities and backlogs of user service requests (business objectives). A "priority modeling" tool is highly desirable to study the impact of change.

      ESTIMATING SUPPORT:

      The Project Management system should...

      1. Provide for both Detail estimates (for a specific phase of a project) and Order-of-Magnitude (for the entire project).

      2. Allow multiple versions of estimates (after all, estimates will inevitably need to be revised).

      3. Provide a means to maintain estimating guidelines and generate tentative estimates accordingly.

      SCHEDULING SUPPORT:

      The Project Management system should...

      1. Provide for automated calculations using "Effectiveness Rate."

      2. Allow multiple versions of schedules (project schedules, like estimates, will change over time).

      3. Provide facilities to manage resource allocations. This includes plotting both estimated and actual project assignments, as well as monitoring "effectiveness rates."

      4. Be able to calculate critical paths of projects.

      REPORTING SUPPORT:

      The Project Management system should...

      1. Provide facilities to record and verify time on project assignments.

      2. Provide for the recording of "Estimate to Do" (the amount of time remainin
        Seven Guaranteed Ways To Get Your Employees to Care About Your Customers and Company
        1) The Ability to Associate - The term empowered is intangible, so simply telling employees that they are empowered to make their own decisions on how to best deal with your customers is not enough. Intangible meanings provide your employees with no means of associating that term. Let's put great customer service that everyone can relate to and get away from this word empowered! Let us use real life situations to help them better understand. When you teach your employees to think like doctors, whom I have used for many years with great success, the concept comes to life. After all, everyone has had experiences with doctors, and has seen first hand what it means to have someone completely focused on solving personal issues. That is what great customer service is all about! You may use whatever analogy or hypothetical situation you would like, but explain the concept in a way that makes it a relatable situation to the employees.2
        eal. As a result of the bulletin, I have been asked as to what criteria I would use to evaluate a PM package. Consequently, I have developed the following checklist for evaluating a PM package it its pristine form. I hope it will be of benefit to you.

        GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Support any type of project - large or small; not just those limited to a specific part of the business (e.g, IT pplications). As such, it should be flexible in application and accommodate any and all methods of work effort (new development, maintenance, and modification/improvements).

        2. Distinguish between Direct, Indirect, and Unavailable activities.

        3. Promote the "Mini-Project Manager" concept.

        4. Provide an integrated approach to support all activities of project management, not just some; this includes Planning, Estimating, Scheduling, Reporting, and Control.

        5. Promote and enforce in-house project management standards; e.g., use of standard methodologies, labor rates, time reporting, detection of estimate/schedule overruns/underruns, etc.

        6. Provide a universally applicable calendar and allow for the specification of a standard reporting cycle.

        PLANNING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Support various Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) - not just a single methodology. This includes controllable levels of WBS (number of levels of detail). Also, provides a library facility for reusable methodologies that can be automatically loaded upon request. Ideally, the WBS can be tied to specific information resources (such as systems, programs, files, etc.) thereby enabling the ability to record and monitor time for a specific information resource.

        2. Support internal project dependencies (work step-to-work step) and external dependencies (project-to-project).

        3. Allow for multiple projects, multiple human resources (both internal employees and external contractors), and multiple assignments for a single human resource. (A "many-to-many" relationship between projects and human resources).

        4. Provide a Skills Inventory to track skills and proficiencies.

        5. Be able to manage project priorities and backlogs of user service requests (business objectives). A "priority modeling" tool is highly desirable to study the impact of change.

        ESTIMATING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide for both Detail estimates (for a specific phase of a project) and Order-of-Magnitude (for the entire project).

        2. Allow multiple versions of estimates (after all, estimates will inevitably need to be revised).

        3. Provide a means to maintain estimating guidelines and generate tentative estimates accordingly.

        SCHEDULING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide for automated calculations using "Effectiveness Rate."

        2. Allow multiple versions of schedules (project schedules, like estimates, will change over time).

        3. Provide facilities to manage resource allocations. This includes plotting both estimated and actual project assignments, as well as monitoring "effectiveness rates."

        4. Be able to calculate critical paths of projects.

        REPORTING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide facilities to record and verify time on project assignments.

        2. Provide for the recording of "Estimate to Do" (the amount of time remaini
          Micro Entrepreneurs
          Micro entrepreneurs are the owners of small businesses that have fewer than five employees and have startup costs of less than $35,000 and annual revenue of less than $100,000. There are nearly 21.5 million micro entrepreneurs in the U.S. Examples of micro entrepreneurs are owners of bakeries, beauty parlors, child care facilities, repair shops, arts and crafts shops, painting businesses, contracting businesses, family-owned shops, auto body shops, small-scale restaurants, and small-inventory trading businesses.Micro entrepreneurs face many hurdles in getting startup financing, and they sometimes lack the skills necessary to manage the financial aspect of their business. As a result, many micro entrepreneurs cannot grow and develop their business beyond a micro enterprise. Various micro enterprise development programs have helped micro entrepreneurs achieve great success and growth. These micro enterprise development programs have imm
          ing, Scheduling, Reporting, and Control.

        3. Promote and enforce in-house project management standards; e.g., use of standard methodologies, labor rates, time reporting, detection of estimate/schedule overruns/underruns, etc.

        4. Provide a universally applicable calendar and allow for the specification of a standard reporting cycle.

        PLANNING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Support various Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) - not just a single methodology. This includes controllable levels of WBS (number of levels of detail). Also, provides a library facility for reusable methodologies that can be automatically loaded upon request. Ideally, the WBS can be tied to specific information resources (such as systems, programs, files, etc.) thereby enabling the ability to record and monitor time for a specific information resource.

        2. Support internal project dependencies (work step-to-work step) and external dependencies (project-to-project).

        3. Allow for multiple projects, multiple human resources (both internal employees and external contractors), and multiple assignments for a single human resource. (A "many-to-many" relationship between projects and human resources).

        4. Provide a Skills Inventory to track skills and proficiencies.

        5. Be able to manage project priorities and backlogs of user service requests (business objectives). A "priority modeling" tool is highly desirable to study the impact of change.

        ESTIMATING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide for both Detail estimates (for a specific phase of a project) and Order-of-Magnitude (for the entire project).

        2. Allow multiple versions of estimates (after all, estimates will inevitably need to be revised).

        3. Provide a means to maintain estimating guidelines and generate tentative estimates accordingly.

        SCHEDULING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide for automated calculations using "Effectiveness Rate."

        2. Allow multiple versions of schedules (project schedules, like estimates, will change over time).

        3. Provide facilities to manage resource allocations. This includes plotting both estimated and actual project assignments, as well as monitoring "effectiveness rates."

        4. Be able to calculate critical paths of projects.

        REPORTING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide facilities to record and verify time on project assignments.

        2. Provide for the recording of "Estimate to Do" (the amount of time remaini
          Intelligent Business Makes Sense
          We’re so used to thinking that business is all about margins and bottom line ink that we sometimes accept dictums without thinking about their content and implications. Take customer service for instance. Each transaction is an implicit contract between two suppliers each offering a very specific item (and I’m using the term item generically here to include both services/products and currency). The customer comes offering currency and asking to exchange it for a service or a product. Under the very sound criteria of the old medieval village marketplace barter system the customer is prepared to haggle and expects to get the best value possible for what he is offering. In this case it’s money so the quality of the customer’s offering is determined by the size of the price he is being asked to pay. At this point the customer will want, like his medieval counterpart, to make sure he is not sold a sub-standard servic
          p>

        3. Support internal project dependencies (work step-to-work step) and external dependencies (project-to-project).

        4. Allow for multiple projects, multiple human resources (both internal employees and external contractors), and multiple assignments for a single human resource. (A "many-to-many" relationship between projects and human resources).

        5. Provide a Skills Inventory to track skills and proficiencies.

        6. Be able to manage project priorities and backlogs of user service requests (business objectives). A "priority modeling" tool is highly desirable to study the impact of change.

        ESTIMATING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide for both Detail estimates (for a specific phase of a project) and Order-of-Magnitude (for the entire project).

        2. Allow multiple versions of estimates (after all, estimates will inevitably need to be revised).

        3. Provide a means to maintain estimating guidelines and generate tentative estimates accordingly.

        SCHEDULING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide for automated calculations using "Effectiveness Rate."

        2. Allow multiple versions of schedules (project schedules, like estimates, will change over time).

        3. Provide facilities to manage resource allocations. This includes plotting both estimated and actual project assignments, as well as monitoring "effectiveness rates."

        4. Be able to calculate critical paths of projects.

        REPORTING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide facilities to record and verify time on project assignments.

        2. Provide for the recording of "Estimate to Do" (the amount of time remaini
          What They See Trumps What We Say
          How many times have you ordered an expensive meal, received fair service and food, and still been dissatisfied or tempted to skimp on a gratuity? What went wrong? Was it a little sarcasm from your waiter or indifferent arrogance from your maitre d’? These occasions are affected not only by the fairness of the transaction (money for food), but by your degree of confidence and trust in the person with whom you must interact. The significance of verbal and nonverbal communication pitfalls once again reveal themselves. Communication skills affect how we are perceived and—wait—how often we are sued?People in business get sued not only due to unethical business practices, but because of how they make customers, clients and patients feel. People don’t care about your education or income; people want respect, sincerity and other signs you care. What they see supercedes your academic degree.Malcolm Gladwell, in his best-seller, B
          es will inevitably need to be revised).

        3. Provide a means to maintain estimating guidelines and generate tentative estimates accordingly.

        SCHEDULING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide for automated calculations using "Effectiveness Rate."

        2. Allow multiple versions of schedules (project schedules, like estimates, will change over time).

        3. Provide facilities to manage resource allocations. This includes plotting both estimated and actual project assignments, as well as monitoring "effectiveness rates."

        4. Be able to calculate critical paths of projects.

        REPORTING SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Provide facilities to record and verify time on project assignments.

        2. Provide for the recording of "Estimate to Do" (the amount of time remaining on a given assignment). Note: This is different than "Percent Complete." For background information, see: http://www.phmainstreet.com/mba/pride/pm40.htm#etd

        3. Maintain historical time data to be used in history reports and to update estimating guidelines.

        4. Allow the recording of "out-of-pocket" project expenditures.

        5. Provide a scratchpad facility to record project notes as well as formal reports (e.g. Project Proposals, Cost/Benefit Analysis, Project Audits, etc.).

        6. Provide a standard facility to generate a variety of project reports (a "report writer" facility is ideal).

        CONTROL SUPPORT:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Post reported time to projects and to human resources reporting it. Also, post time to information resources to monitor activity. For example, the Order Processing system had 2,342 hours reported when it was created in 1985; 335 hours in 2000; and 246 hours in 2004.

        2. Provide various summary reports to analyze projects and human resources, both by project and by department.

        3. Provide the ability to bill end-users for project costs (Chargeback). This includes chargeback to multiple users at varying rates.

        COMPUTER-RELATED CONSIDERATIONS:

        The Project Management system should...

        1. Be easy to install and test on the computer.

        2. Be implemented as a cross-platform solution (operates the same on different computers) thus providing machine portability and independence from hardware manufacturers. It should also be easily accessed by all people participating in project management activities (conceivably the whole company) as an integrated approach.

        3. Be easy to learn and use. It should be based on industry design standards (e.g., GUI design standards, on-line Help, use of operating system clipboard, etc.).

        4. Performs reliably and productively in accordance with specifications.

        5. Provide for multi-languages and multi-cultures, such as adapting to local customs for expressing dates, time (am-pm vs. military time), monetary values (Dollars, Pounds, Yen, etc.), and accommodating foreign languages (including the Asian Double Byte Character Set - DBCS).

        6. Provide standard utilities for: Monitoring and Administering the system. Security - to both administer the system, and login to input data. Import/Export data in various formats (Ideally an open interface should be provided). File Management - to purge obsolete data, and backup files.

        7. Be provided by a vendor with a reliable reputation for training, service and warranty.

        I have described a pretty encompassing system with robust features. As such, a Cost/Benefit Analysis should be prepared to compare price versus the system's value to the company.

        This evaluation checklist should be used as a template and modified accordingly to suit in-house requirements. Good luck.

        For additional information on "PRIDE" Project Management, see: http://www.phmainstreet.com/mba/pride/pm.htm

    • HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
    <a href="http://www.iadvice.info/article/22696/iadvice-Project-Management-System-Evaluation-Checklist.html">Project Management System Evaluation Checklist</a>

    BB link (for phorums):
    [url=http://www.iadvice.info/article/22696/iadvice-Project-Management-System-Evaluation-Checklist.html]Project Management System Evaluation Checklist[/url]

    Related Articles:

    Postage Meter Supplies

    The postage meter is a crucial piece of office equipment that makes mail management a simple task. Depending on the diversity and the volume of mail handled, several ranges of postage meters are available in the market. In accordance with the Federal regulations, the meter unit of the equipment can only be leased, while other parts can be purchased or leased for a time period.

    Incorporate Online and Protect Your Assets

    Incorporating online is probably one of the easiest ways to incorporate your business. Incorporating online generally only requires standard information such as the names and addresses of the initial officers, and sometimes their titles. Using a third party will ensure that you take care of all the steps required for the initial filing with the Secretary of State.

    Call Center Tracking Software

    Call center tracking software enables call center managers to have a complete record of every call and other transactions made by call center agents and customers. The software has easy to use features and allows even newly hired agents to keep track of their interactions with customers.

    Bookmark it: del.icio.us digg.com reddit.com netvouz.com google.com yahoo.com technorati.com furl.net bloglines.com socialdust.com ma.gnolia.com newsvine.com slashdot.org simpy.com shadows.com blinklist.com