Project Management Done Right! The 5 Key Steps To Getting Your Project Done On Time And Within Budg
- Date: 2007-07-26 - Word Count: 353
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You've just received the telephone call to say that you've got that major project that you were hoping for. Next the hard work starts -- running it! And running it within timescales and budgets!! Are you prepared for it? These are my five tips for setting up those KEY ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS and ensuring that you get that project done on time and within budget.
#1 Budget -- Get your budget together and map out how much you have to spend on each element of your project e.g. overheads, activities, staffing costs etc. Create columns to show Actual Budget, Estimated Budget, Balance and update it regularly.
#2 Time sheets -- Set up time sheets for project staff and a system for distributing and receiving them. Then set up a system for monitoring time spent by staff members and overall time spent to date. Map this against what you submitted in the project proposal.
#3 Expenses -- Plan a system for monitoring staff expenses incurred during the project i.e. travel, hotel accommodation, etc. Then set up a system for recording these expenses and show how they fit into the overall budget. Monitor this against actual budget spend.
#4 Contact Management -- Running a big project requires you to come into contact with many different people. Ensure that your contact management database is up-to-date and easily accessible so that you can get the information you need when you want it.
#5 Monthly/Weekly Project Overview -- The four tips above are the key administrative systems you need in place to run an effective project. Next, you need to pull all that information together so that you can monitor your project overall and ensure that you are meeting project deadlines and doing exactly what you said you would in your proposal!
Having these key systems in place will ensure that you are spending the best use of your time on running and managing your projects. You will not be wasting your time searching around trying to locate essential contact details, or finding out where you are with regards to timetables and activities - you will have all the information you need right at your fingertips!
#1 Budget -- Get your budget together and map out how much you have to spend on each element of your project e.g. overheads, activities, staffing costs etc. Create columns to show Actual Budget, Estimated Budget, Balance and update it regularly.
#2 Time sheets -- Set up time sheets for project staff and a system for distributing and receiving them. Then set up a system for monitoring time spent by staff members and overall time spent to date. Map this against what you submitted in the project proposal.
#3 Expenses -- Plan a system for monitoring staff expenses incurred during the project i.e. travel, hotel accommodation, etc. Then set up a system for recording these expenses and show how they fit into the overall budget. Monitor this against actual budget spend.
#4 Contact Management -- Running a big project requires you to come into contact with many different people. Ensure that your contact management database is up-to-date and easily accessible so that you can get the information you need when you want it.
#5 Monthly/Weekly Project Overview -- The four tips above are the key administrative systems you need in place to run an effective project. Next, you need to pull all that information together so that you can monitor your project overall and ensure that you are meeting project deadlines and doing exactly what you said you would in your proposal!
Having these key systems in place will ensure that you are spending the best use of your time on running and managing your projects. You will not be wasting your time searching around trying to locate essential contact details, or finding out where you are with regards to timetables and activities - you will have all the information you need right at your fingertips!
Related Tags: article, time, management, best, successful, budget, project, plan, system, process, effective, practice
About the author: Tracey Lawton is a certified Master Virtual Assistant with many years of experience, helping professional speakers, coaches, and authors operate an efficient, organized, and profitable business. Visit www.traceylawton.com/tips.htm to subscribe to her newsletter, Virtual Solutions, full of tips for operating a more productive business and receive Tracey's 'The 7 Key Steps to an Organised and Efficient Office' special report absolutely free. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
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