Not all tasks in the project are equal in the managerial attention that should be given to them. It is very important to visit from time to time special tasks, which differ from others in their priority, cost or progress in the project: Control Tasks by Priority A project consists of many interdependent tasks that have different priorities. These priorities…
The weak points in every system and organization are the points at which various units meet. In order to create a system or organization that works together as an efficient whole, these points must be integrated in a way that allows smooth transition between these units. In any given project, these seam points are the transition points where project work…
Milestones are indicator points that receive special attention and form the basis of central control and communication activities. Quite often, a milestone is a point indicating the completion of a specific work package or stage in the project. At other times, a milestone indicates the completion of necessary tasks external to the project. As such, a milestone does not document…
This type of control tracks the project budget, comparing the original budget to the amount of money actually spent up to that point, in order to guarantee that a sufficient amount is reserved for the project to be completed. If it becomes obvious that the project cannot be completed on budget, this control is also responsible for identifying the origin…
Schedule control deals with analyzing the progress being made on project tasks based on the planned start and completion dates, in order to identify any deviation from the plan as early as possible. Deviation might be the result of a delay in starting the work on a given task or a delay in its completion and might actually be positive…
The work plan is one of the most important tools in the project manager’s toolbox. As such, it is crucial to ensure that it is properly prepared and written and free of any hidden problems that might prevent it from being implemented. The project manager must verify that the work plan is complete and that the timetables calculated within are…
