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Atricle Dump - Is my Business Too Small for Project Management?
Maybe you've heard some retailers say that at one time--way back when--they used a pencil and paper as a method of tracking inventory? Times have changed, yes, but just how far have retailers gone to make the advancements they need to keep up?Systems administrator Ken Sweeney has been around retail for over ten years and witnessed the antiquated methods of tracking inventory. He is responsible for the technology of one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world, AEG Merchandising.
Once you have the numbers you want, take all of this information and plug it into a Word document with a table or bulleted list, or Excel with rows and columns.
Here are some tips:
• Use cells in a table or cells in a spreadsheet to plot by day, week or task
• Use excel Sum button for totaling columns and rows with 1 click
• Highlight or Shade in color critical tasks that must be completed on time
Keeping it
You may be thinking that your business is just too small for BIG Project Management techniques, but that is simply not the case. Don’t let all of the fancy terms like Network diagram, Gantt chart, and Work Breakdown Structure scare you. And don’t worry if you don’t know how to use Microsoft Project or Primavera or any other PM software application out there…you don’t need it.Project Management is about organizing your data for a specific project and updating it as the project progresses. You can use a
Project Management is about organizing your data for a specific project and updating it as the project progresses. You can use a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet if you like, as long as you have something documented for your project, you are contributing to the success of that project.
Let’s review the definition of a project…a project has a beginning and an end date with defined resources. So if you have a project that must start tomorrow and end by next Friday with a set budget of $1000 and 2 contractors working on it…You have a project! And you can manage it effectively by starting with a pen and paper. Not convinced yet? Okay, let’s review how we can accomplish this...
First you have to determine how many working days you have to complete the project, minus Holidays, Weekends (unless you are a workaholic like me), and scheduled Vacations. So get your calendars out and start counting. Next, jot that number down for future use.
Now to breakdown the tasks. You can easily create a Work Breakdown Structure because it is nothing more than a highly glorified detailed outline. Level 0 is the main project goal, Level 1 is the first task, then you can add sub-tasks underneath it and move onto adding your next level(s). For example, here would be a sample WBS for making French toast. *my personal favorite*
Level 0 Make French toast
Level 1 Gather ingredients (or materials)
(it is okay to list ingredients underneath level) ie spatula, pan, eggs, bread, cinnamon, etc…
Level 2 Preparations
Preheat pan
Add butter to pan
Beat egg into bowl with cinnamon
Level 3 Cook
Dip bread in egg mixture on both sides
Add bread to pan
Flip when one side is brown
Remove when other side is brown
Level 4 Clean Up
Wash pan and spatula
Rinse dishes and put in dishwasher
Put away ingredients
Clean table
I opted to not include the task of Eating, although it was tempting. ;-)
So now you have your tasks broken down in levels with sub-tasks, now you simply assign them. Next to each task put a person’s name, one of your resources. Then have them estimate how many hours, days or even minutes it will take to complete each task. Always involve your staff in this process.
Now you are ready to do some basic calculations. Add up the hours (or whatever unit of measure you used) for each resource and multiple that by their pay rate and Voila! You have a great beginning cost analysis for your project.
The next step would be to add in the cost of materials, expenses and such and add that to the beginning cost analysis figures and subtract from your total budget. Are you under or over budget? If under, Good for YOU! If over, you have to go back to your outline and see where you can cut down on the time for some of the tasks, or perhaps skimp a little on cheaper materials. Of better yet, what tasks can be done simultaneously! Your absolute last resort is to cut pay rates. You need your resources happy and productive. :-D
Once you have the numbers you want, take all of this information and plug it into a Word document with a table or bulleted list, or Excel with rows and columns.
Here are some tips:
• Use cells in a table or cells in a spreadsheet to plot by day, week or task
• Use excel Sum button for totaling columns and rows with 1 click
• Highlight or Shade in color critical tasks that must be completed on time
Keeping it
Do you really really want to change your life?Do you really really want to have more free time?Do you really really want to have more money?If you don't forget reading this article.I want to share with you how the fire in your belly that you have right now can be transformed into the reality of change.Stop reading for 2 minutes right now - close your eyes and think about what it is you really want. Visualise it and feel it.It feels good doesn't it?Now you can r
First you have to determine how many working days you have to complete the project, minus Holidays, Weekends (unless you are a workaholic like me), and scheduled Vacations. So get your calendars out and start counting. Next, jot that number down for future use.
Now to breakdown the tasks. You can easily create a Work Breakdown Structure because it is nothing more than a highly glorified detailed outline. Level 0 is the main project goal, Level 1 is the first task, then you can add sub-tasks underneath it and move onto adding your next level(s). For example, here would be a sample WBS for making French toast. *my personal favorite*
Level 0 Make French toast
Level 1 Gather ingredients (or materials)
(it is okay to list ingredients underneath level) ie spatula, pan, eggs, bread, cinnamon, etc…
Level 2 Preparations
Preheat pan
Add butter to pan
Beat egg into bowl with cinnamon
Level 3 Cook
Dip bread in egg mixture on both sides
Add bread to pan
Flip when one side is brown
Remove when other side is brown
Level 4 Clean Up
Wash pan and spatula
Rinse dishes and put in dishwasher
Put away ingredients
Clean table
I opted to not include the task of Eating, although it was tempting. ;-)
So now you have your tasks broken down in levels with sub-tasks, now you simply assign them. Next to each task put a person’s name, one of your resources. Then have them estimate how many hours, days or even minutes it will take to complete each task. Always involve your staff in this process.
Now you are ready to do some basic calculations. Add up the hours (or whatever unit of measure you used) for each resource and multiple that by their pay rate and Voila! You have a great beginning cost analysis for your project.
The next step would be to add in the cost of materials, expenses and such and add that to the beginning cost analysis figures and subtract from your total budget. Are you under or over budget? If under, Good for YOU! If over, you have to go back to your outline and see where you can cut down on the time for some of the tasks, or perhaps skimp a little on cheaper materials. Of better yet, what tasks can be done simultaneously! Your absolute last resort is to cut pay rates. You need your resources happy and productive. :-D
Once you have the numbers you want, take all of this information and plug it into a Word document with a table or bulleted list, or Excel with rows and columns.
Here are some tips:
• Use cells in a table or cells in a spreadsheet to plot by day, week or task
• Use excel Sum button for totaling columns and rows with 1 click
• Highlight or Shade in color critical tasks that must be completed on time
Keeping it
Network label printers are used in medium to large-scale companies as central printing devices that process printing orders received from any computing device present in the LAN or WAN network. This helps in reducing costs as a single printer takes care of all the printing needs of the organization. Network label printers may be an inkjet, thermal, or laser printer depending on the quality and number of prints required by the company.Some network label printers use direct thermal technology to print on
Level 0 Make French toast
Level 1 Gather ingredients (or materials)
(it is okay to list ingredients underneath level) ie spatula, pan, eggs, bread, cinnamon, etc…
Level 2 Preparations
Preheat pan
Add butter to pan
Beat egg into bowl with cinnamon
Level 3 Cook
Dip bread in egg mixture on both sides
Add bread to pan
Flip when one side is brown
Remove when other side is brown
Level 4 Clean Up
Wash pan and spatula
Rinse dishes and put in dishwasher
Put away ingredients
Clean table
I opted to not include the task of Eating, although it was tempting. ;-)
So now you have your tasks broken down in levels with sub-tasks, now you simply assign them. Next to each task put a person’s name, one of your resources. Then have them estimate how many hours, days or even minutes it will take to complete each task. Always involve your staff in this process.
Now you are ready to do some basic calculations. Add up the hours (or whatever unit of measure you used) for each resource and multiple that by their pay rate and Voila! You have a great beginning cost analysis for your project.
The next step would be to add in the cost of materials, expenses and such and add that to the beginning cost analysis figures and subtract from your total budget. Are you under or over budget? If under, Good for YOU! If over, you have to go back to your outline and see where you can cut down on the time for some of the tasks, or perhaps skimp a little on cheaper materials. Of better yet, what tasks can be done simultaneously! Your absolute last resort is to cut pay rates. You need your resources happy and productive. :-D
Once you have the numbers you want, take all of this information and plug it into a Word document with a table or bulleted list, or Excel with rows and columns.
Here are some tips:
• Use cells in a table or cells in a spreadsheet to plot by day, week or task
• Use excel Sum button for totaling columns and rows with 1 click
• Highlight or Shade in color critical tasks that must be completed on time
Keeping it
Business phone systems can be purchased from telephone service providers, other manufacturers through their sales networks or through Internet. Most businesses usually need to have several telephones to run their operations and it is neither practical nor necessary to have each telephone connected to the external (service provider's) network. Communication systems containing internally operated switching systems are available that do not require connecting each telephone set to the public telephone network.ted to not include the task of Eating, although it was tempting. ;-)
So now you have your tasks broken down in levels with sub-tasks, now you simply assign them. Next to each task put a person’s name, one of your resources. Then have them estimate how many hours, days or even minutes it will take to complete each task. Always involve your staff in this process.
Now you are ready to do some basic calculations. Add up the hours (or whatever unit of measure you used) for each resource and multiple that by their pay rate and Voila! You have a great beginning cost analysis for your project.
The next step would be to add in the cost of materials, expenses and such and add that to the beginning cost analysis figures and subtract from your total budget. Are you under or over budget? If under, Good for YOU! If over, you have to go back to your outline and see where you can cut down on the time for some of the tasks, or perhaps skimp a little on cheaper materials. Of better yet, what tasks can be done simultaneously! Your absolute last resort is to cut pay rates. You need your resources happy and productive. :-D
Once you have the numbers you want, take all of this information and plug it into a Word document with a table or bulleted list, or Excel with rows and columns.
Here are some tips:
• Use cells in a table or cells in a spreadsheet to plot by day, week or task
• Use excel Sum button for totaling columns and rows with 1 click
• Highlight or Shade in color critical tasks that must be completed on time
Keeping it
Is your business online? If not, probably you’ll make it online. Internet business is a powerful communication and business tool for small and large business. Today most of the businesses own a website, and you should own a one to make a great positive impact in your business. Internet has changed the life style of the people. Technology has leveraeged business functions. This article will tell you about the advantaes of online internet business.Online business system will help small businesses to reac
Once you have the numbers you want, take all of this information and plug it into a Word document with a table or bulleted list, or Excel with rows and columns.
Here are some tips:
• Use cells in a table or cells in a spreadsheet to plot by day, week or task
• Use excel Sum button for totaling columns and rows with 1 click
• Highlight or Shade in color critical tasks that must be completed on time
Keeping it Simple is the key for Small Businesses such as myself, but believe me you are using the basic concepts of Project Management and you CAN be successful with it.
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