Charity Islam Snowdon Al-Hidayah atoz
Tue 28 Aug 2007
If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves - Thomas Edison
Mon 6 Aug 2007
Project manager is responsible for making a project happen on time, within budget, with required scope, and quality. I see project management is 5 steps, Initiation, Planning, Executing, Controlling and Closure. The middle 3 steps are required for every phase of the project this could be Planning development, Executing development, Controlling development in any type of project from IT to construction.
If you follow the ’science’ of Project Management i.e. what you’re told you should do then it would really be very tedious and delivery on time to budget questionable. However, mastering the art of project management i.e. what you actually need to do can make life much simpler and ensure that you are really managing a project rather than paper pushing.
The following are simple tasks that are required for manage a project using the art of Project management.
- Initiation - Initiation Document
- Planning - Project Plan, Risk Management, Issue List, Change Request Management
- Executing – Let the experts get on with the job in hand i.e. let the developers do the development
- Controlling - Stakeholder Reviews, Progress UpdatesClosure - Close-out Meeting, Service Level Agreements, Training Plans
Hopefully, this will be covered in more detail in the future.
Wed 1 Aug 2007
Apart from project scope or schedule, all projects irrelevant of type or size need funds to complete the work. Every project has costs associated with them, which could be anything from labor to raw materials and someone, somewhere has to pay for that. What happens if you don’t have the correct amount of funds to complete the project scope? Your project is doomed
How do we know what a project will cost? We really don’t, until the project is complete. I sound more like a billing company than a project manager, we will tell you the cost after you have used the service but the truth is we can’t know the final project cost until the project is complete because we can’t accurately predict the future. An old Muslim proverb describes this perfectly
Tie your camel (first), and then put your trust in Allah
What we can do is create an estimate. An estimate is more than pulling a random number out of the air, adding 20% for good measure (contingency), and then saying, “that’s the budget.” A real estimate changes, as the requirements become clearer. Project estimates start out broad, and as the project deliverables come into focus we’re able to more accurately define the estimates.
Each estimate should provide an acceptable range of variance, the conditions of the estimates, and any assumptions made by the estimator.
There are three major estimate types that project managers should rely on
- The ballpark estimate is also known as the rough order of magnitude (ROM). Range/confidence factor –20% to +75%
- The budget estimate (or top-down estimate) is a bit more accurate. Range –20% to +20%
- The definitive estimate (or bottom-up estimate) is the most accurate of the estimate types, but takes the most time to create. Range –10% to +10%
Sat 21 Jul 2007
I love my quotes and they provide a lot of inspiration to the way I think and act. Below is a quote I came across and thought to share it with my readers. Please do not spend to much time pondering over the quote, but make a note of it.
He who can see both sides of an argument is missing something.
Idries Shah (writer)
Tue 17 Jul 2007
Some reasons why Projects go wrong include:
- scope/objectives are unclear;
- lack of buy-in from key players - or no clear understanding of what the Project is trying to achieve;
- Inappropriate optimism when drawing up plans. Beware, it is human nature to be over-optimistic;
- Under-resourcing the Project;
- Too much reliance on one individual
These are only a few reasons, the list could go on and on and on…
Just remember; ensure everything agreed is documented. Any changes in requirements/scope comes via a change request and do not get over-optimistic especially if you are the Project Manager as if it all goes wrong, you will be the one feeling the strain.
Wed 11 Jul 2007
Thu 5 Jul 2007
This is a review of a dear friends site which I have been reading almost daily since it was launched in June 2007. Not because of its a friends site, not because it has beautiful photos or other art. But because the writer is a young Muslim Professional writing from his perspectives on Islam and Islamic Life. He is not a preacher nor a scholar however, he has found the balance between what makes a good post and how to deliver his message accurately.
I hope he does succeed in whatever topic he covers on Islam. I also hope he still writes in his blog for a long, long time. I would give this site a higher score, but I don’t want him to stop trying to better himself.
Islam plays a central role in my Life and the hidayablog is a good source for information on what is important and a great reminder for how Islam can influence ones life. I espcially like the blog on United We Stand and The Importance of being Earnes.
Keep up the good work. Allah willing you will soon have a large following for your blog.
Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.
Booker T. Washington
Tue 26 Jun 2007
Generic Approach
- Experience is essential in other environments such as for a technical project manager to have an appreciation and capabilities of the technology.
- Getting the break.
Consider if you really want to become a Project Manaeger.
- Technical people do not have to move to Project Management to progress their career. There are other career paths that people can take. Research and ensure that this is the right move for you…
Key Skills for a Project Manager:
90% of Project Management is Communication. This can be reports, status and getting the information from technical teams and essentially reporting to the project board. Also, being a Motivator is essential to get the best out of your team. And finally, be Thick Skin’d as you will have to deal with people from all backgrounds and all environments. You will get the praise for success, but also the blame for failure (and yes customer failures too)
I love deadlines, I especially like the SWOOSHING sound they make as they fly past
Fri 22 Jun 2007
Over the last month or so, I have gone through a lot of change introducing a new process of supply and demand. The workload has just been unbearable at times. To date I personally have completed 25 proposals of which I have received 11 work orders already and I expect to get the rest in the next few weeks.
Having raised the issue a few times, it felt as though no action was been taken. However, yesterday I had a meeting with my career manager to discuss the issue. It was highlighted at the meeting that I was not managing projects I just had too much to do and it felt that I was problem managing and churning out project proposals. In total I had 9 development deliverables, 2 business development approvals, 4 new proposals, the list goes on… in my portfolio
As they say
We make a living by what we get and if you don’t ask, you don’t get
What a result, I knew my programme manager was looking at the matter as he could see a colleague and I were way too stretched. Having spoken to my career manager, within 45 minutes I received conformation from the programme manager that I shall be getting another fulltime Project Manager and fulltime Project Support from the project support office.
Work life balance is essential. If your too busy talk to someone with authority, if you’re not busy do say.
Work is a two-way relationship, employers need employees, and employees need to build a positive working relationship with employers. If you do not have enough to do, ask for more and vise-versa.
When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.
Alexander Graham Bell
Tue 19 Jun 2007
I have now been a Project Manager for 14 months and a PRINCE 2 Practitioner for 11 months. Over this period I have been asked numerous times what is Project Management? What is PRINCE 2 and what are its core principles? And last but not lest what do I actually do?
Hopefully, over the next few months I shall try and cover the core principles of PRINCE 2. In the mean time here are my answers to some of the questions.
What is Project Management?
In a diplomatically correct view
Project Management is the function of planning, controlling and evaluating a specific piece of change so that it is completed on time, within budget and to the agreed outcome.
In simpleton terms
The progression of projects from start to finish ensuring it moves forward in a timely manor, ensuring it is completed on time, to budget and to the required standard.
What is PRINCE 2?
Prince2 or PRojects IN Controlled Environments is a project management methodology. It covers the management, control and organisation of a project.
Tie your camel (first), and then put your trust in Allah
– An old Muslim proverb