The Magic Triangle: a classic – but what on earth has magic got to do with project management?

The Magic Triangle – last time we looked, excel spreadsheets and project plans didn’t feature in Harry Potter!

… erecting a new factory hall within a few days? Development of a new technology component that has low production cost and a big profit margin?

…That sounds like some magic is needed! Here is a little ‘project magic’ to help you:

Let’s have a look at our three magic points:

  • cost
  • time
  • effort, often also referred to as quality

Okay, cost time and effort – if you internalise these three dimensions and bear them in mind you will gain a lot. Indeed, virtually all decisions in a project go back to one of these three angles:

Cost: what budget is there for your project? What does it cost to implement the ideas?

Time: how much time do you have to complete the project? How long do the tasks realistically take?

Effort: what is supposed to be achieved/produced? What’s the required quality?

And right slap-bang in the middle – don’t forget – customer satisfaction! If we keep our customers right in the middle of it all we can’t go wrong.

The project manager is left with the honourable yet tricky job to balance these targets in order to lead the project to success. Naturally, this isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Let’s have a look at some examples: Continue reading →

What are you trying to achieve? Eight reasons why identifying clear goals is so important

Every project needs an aim … A goal! Without a goal, projects wouldn’t be happening, would they?

All too frequently,however, project goals look a bit more like a vague idea. But clearly identified goals are so, so important.
Have a look at our pointers below and find out why goals are so useful: Continue reading →

The Six Simple Rules: 6. Live your role

This article is part 6 of 6 of the series Six Simple Rules

… that moment when you were appointed to manage your first project ever – you probably didn’t have a clue what your new role was all about. Suddenly, being an expert in your field was not sufficient anymore. Suddenly, you need to get on with things no one ever told how to do – maybe you are not even sure, what exactly your new duties include.

For new-born project managers the situation above is more common than one might actually think. But even after years of experience, it is always worth to think and re-think your role in your project.

All too often we ‘technically’ know what our role is, but we are still not really aware of it. On some days, we might just behave like ordinary team members. Doing a good job probably, but not the work of the project manager. Especially if you work with a small team, you very often need to do also a lot of the practical project work. It could be that as little as 20% of your time is assigned to the actual managing of the project. If this is the case, then it is quite easy to forget about those 20% altogether.

Therefore, be aware of your role. Live your role! See it as a chance to develop and become a better manager.

The following hints might help you on your way: Continue reading →

The Six Simple Rules: 5. Problems everywhere?….take them as challenges!

This article is part 5 of 6 of the series Six Simple Rules
This article is part 5 of 6 of the series Six Simple Rules

We all know that projects are full of problems. Our daily business as project managers is a never-ending fight for resources, with ever changing requirements, budget cuts and unwanted delays.

Correct?

Projects are volatile, full of risks and sometimes even decorated with incompatible goals. I am not exaggerating when I say: This is what our business is like, nothing to be done about it.

Really nothing? No ideas? Continue reading →