Resources, resources, resources

I am often asked where can I can find certain items of interest or have you got an any articles on a particular topic.

I have a downloads page which contains lots of free information. Why not go here or to http://www.projectagency.co.uk/downloads.htm to find out more? There are articles, copies of PowerPoint presentations and access to our free on line e-course.

Happy hunting

Project estimates, why are they so wrong? London Olympics 2012

There is a lot of press space being given to the 2012 Olympics here in London – saying that the estimates for the games “has quadrupled”.

Now I am NOT going to enter into the debate as to whether the costs have increased or even by how much. However, what I will say is that we are generally really poor at estimating.

Research shows we suffer from OPB….optimistic planning bias. What does this mean? We think we can deliver a project of 40 weeks for example in 20 weeks. (For those that want to get hold of the paper see ‘Exploring the “Planning Fallacy”; Why People Underestimate Their Task Completion Times; Buehler, Griffin and Ross. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology 1994 Vol 67 No 3, 366-381)

So what can you do about it? Here are a few brief ideas. Do let us know of ones you may have

1) if you are a senior manager avoid giving out end dates for projects (or even business as usual activities) until someone has worked through how long an activity will take. We have seen too many times deadlines given which are not only unachievable but completely de-motivating. Once worked out, you may well recognise that more resources (money?) will be needed

2) spend time thinking through and discussing estimates. Sound crazy? Look at the Delphi Technique used in industry today. More realistic estimates are produced by discussing in groups the estimates for the whole project, stages or even individual tasks. To find out more, type Delphi Technique into your web browser.

3) ask yourself how confident you are of hitting the end date or the budget, or both. During some recent project management training events we asked participants how confident they were of achieving both the end date and the budget. There were some who gave appalling figures – quite a few said 10% confident, some around the 20%-25% mark with the majority in the 50%-60% bracket. Of the 35 people we asked, I would say there were only around 5 who said they were over 80% confident. If you are not confident of hitting the end date or budget (aim for 80% level of confidence) then what are you going to do about it?

4) find out who else has done this type of project before and get estimates from them (after asking them how realistic they were)

5) end of project reports – scour them for some feedback on estimates, how accurate were they?

6) Think about estimating as a skill. Don't forget that in the building trade they employ estimators!

There is no doubt the Olympic estimates issue will rumble on. Make sure that your projects do not suffer the same fate

Project communications....why are they so poor and what can be done about this?

Project Agency has surveyed around 2,500 people. One of the results of this survey has been the large percentage of people who suggest that project communications are really poor. 71% of the 2,550 people (1,775) suggested that project communications are really poor.

NOT a good result!

Many people on courses (outside the sample survey) suggested that the results mirror general communications in the business. This suggests that people are simply accepting that this is the status quo. This is a hardly the best solution to the problem.

So, what can you do to ensure that communications in projects helps deliver the actual outcomes? Here a re a few suggestions:

1) if you are involved in a major organisational change then appoint someone who will manage this important element of the project

2) identify all the activities you need to carry out and put them on your planning charts – milestone, Gantt

3) think communications – sounds silly but if you are involved in a project you will need to take people along with you. This can only be done by thinking about how this can be done. The activity comes from the thinking…

4) use a simple template. Project Agency has developed a communications chart which may be of help. You can find this here or at www.projectagency.co.uk/CChart.pdf

5) at your project meetings review communications

6) ensure there is a link with your stakeholder management plans

You of course will have your own ideas so why not join in the debate?

Business Balls

Excuse the title of this posting but I did want to give you a valuable web site to go to – www.businessballs.com It is a really great web site which gives you great insights into management topics.

I saw loads of information and the site is growing daily.

You will even see reference to our Project Management Tips booklet and Templates in the Project Management section. You can get hold of them at www.businessballs.com alternatively, upu can get the free e-course with Tips Booklet and tempaltes at http://www.projectagency.co.uk/downloads.htm

Its cold out there.

I have discovered just how cold it is outside. Now you may say this is strange, maybe he does not go out at all or even, what is this guy taking about? Well, after many many years of sporting facial hair, I decided a change was necessary.

I spent 20 minutes chopping and cutting and shaving and felt a new man! I was and I am and I have the photos to prove it. It really is cold out there...

Now I do not want to go into the intracacies of shaving but it is a drag and it reminds me of the main reason all those years ago why I grew a beard. Blood. I used to cut myself so often and decided I simply had to grow a beard. I have had it for many many years and when it was shaved off, my wife never even noticed. My daughter did and then all hell broke loose with my daughter sending my picture to her sister 200 miles away via her mobile. It was a jolly half an hour I can tell you.

Look at my picture at the top and compare it with the one in this blog....

As I say, it is certainly cold out there at the moment....

Now that is not the end of the matter of course. I need to:

• change my driving licence


• get up at least 30 minutes earler to shave (look at all that sleep I gained)
  
• convince people who I am

So, if you do see me in the street and want to stop me for a chat, no problem. Simply do so. I had one person who had been on one of my project management courses and we exchanged emails a couple of times and he couldn't beleive the change. Nor can I.

It is certainly cold out there.