Posts Tagged ‘wbs’

Three Terrific Tricks Work Wonders for WBS

14 May 2009

wbs-post-itThe Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) defines the total scope of the project. The deliverables in the WBS will lead to the realization of the project objectives. If you do it right, you’ll be alright; do it wrong and your career won’t be so long.

1. Get stacks of 3” x 3” Post-its® of varying colours, preferably one colour per team (or department).

2. Ask each team to write, in “verb-noun format”, one task per Post-it on what they need to do to help achieve the project objectives (e.g., interview users).

3. Ask the project team to arrange the Post-its by work packages or by phases. Add additional tasks as needed. Finish off by adding milestones using the “noun-verb past-tense format” (e.g., interviews completed).

By using these tricks, you’ll expedite team development—strong involvement and commitment—and also highlight the interdependencies.

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Posted in Project Management | 5 Comments »

Learn the fastest way to create a work breakdown structure (WBS)

7 April 2009

WBS Chart ProWhisk through work breakdown structures by using WBS Chart Pro™

In the past, I used to create work breakdown structures (WBS) by brainstorming with my project team using a white board, sticky notes or by projecting my notes (old organizational hierarchy feature of Microsoft Office PowerPoint, a bullet list in Microsoft Office Word or the Gantt Chart view in Microsoft Office Project).

With WBS Chart Pro, you can visually create a WBS, as it should be, and then export the results into Microsoft Office Project. The bidirectional feature is really neat (changes in WBS Chart Pro get reflected in Microsoft Office Project in real-time and vice-versa). During your weekly progress meeting, you can use WBS Chart Pro to show a graphical summary of your project.

Go to Critical Tools to get more information and to download a trial version.

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Posted in Project Management | 2 Comments »

Are you a dinosaur project manager?

14 March 2009

Certified Dinosaur Project Manager (CDPM)There are 25 statements below. Give yourself the following points for each statement:

0 – Do not agree
1 – Agree or somewhat agree
2 – Do not understand or unsure

Be very honest and rate each statement truthfully. Do not skip a statement. As a project manager, you:

  1. Write a project charter using a word processor
  2. Manually transform scope into requirements
  3. Manage project risks using a spreadsheet
  4. Primarily use dashboards to share weekly status
  5. Use sticky notes (Post-it®) to create a WBS
  6. Share project documentation on network drives
  7. Your team cannot access issue logs anywhere
  8. Perform brainstorming sessions using a whiteboard
  9. Use e-mail then phone to quickly get answers
  10. Do not use three-point estimating all the time
  11. Have not used a wiki for knowledge management
  12. Do not have a LinkedIn or Twitter account
  13. Have not used Skype on a conference call
  14. Have not recorded a conference call
  15. Believe in triple-constraints (scope, time and cost)
  16. Have not heard of the PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition
  17. Think that PRINCE2 is a new music album
  18. Know that CBAP® (“c-bop”) is the latest PRINCE2® dance move
  19. Do not know the latest versions of PMI standards
  20. Have not heard of CAPM®
  21. Have not heard of PMP®
  22. Have not heard of PgMP®
  23. Have not heard of PMI-RMP℠
  24. Have not heard of PMI-SP®
  25. Cannot be away from the office for more than one week

If you scored 20+, you are a Certified Dinosaur Project Manager (CDPM)! If you scored 15-19 points, it will not be long before you earn the CDPM designation. If you scored 10-14 points, you need to upgrade your skills. If you scored lower than 10 points, good for you!

  1. Write a project charter using a word processor—use Mindjet’s MindManager and export the mind map into Microsoft Word
  2. Manually transform scope into requirements—use Mindjet’s MindManager, Compuware’s Optimal Trace or IBM Telelogic DOORS and then export the contents into Microsoft Word
  3. Manage project risks using a spreadsheet—use Palisade @Risk or some other software
  4. Primarily use dashboards to share weekly status— In Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, there is a feature called “My Site” and the discussion board can be used as a Wall (similar to Facebook). A special thank you to my Filipino friend, former colleague and SharePoint expert Dux. You can use MBWA too (Management by Wandering Around).
  5. Use sticky notes (Post-it®) to create a WBS—use WBS Chart Pro from Critical Tools. Mindjet’s MindManager will work also but I prefer the bidirectional feature of WBS Chart Pro.
  6. Share project documentation on network drives—we use SharePoint but you can use Google Docs too
  7. Your team cannot access issue logs anywhere—we use NetResults Tracker, a web-based collaboration tool
  8. Perform brainstorming sessions using a whiteboard—use Mindjet’s MindManager
  9. Use e-mail then phone to quickly get answers—we use Microsoft Office Communicator but you can also use Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, etc.
  10. Do not use three-point estimating all the time—this is a built-in feature of Microsoft Office Project. Use it to make your estimates more accurate.
  11. Have not used a wiki for knowledge management—Why not?
  12. Do not have a LinkedIn or Twitter account—Why not?
  13. Have not used Skype on a conference call—Why not?
  14. Have not recorded a conference call—I use OnConference (records slides and voice). Other alternatives include WebEx and GoToMeeting with Camtasia.
  15. Believe in triple-constraints (scope, time and cost)—that is like, so, yesterday! Read the new PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition.
  16. Have not heard of the PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition—Where have you been in the past year or so?
  17. Think that PRINCE2 is a new music album—no it is not!
  18. Know that CBAP® (“c-bop”) is the latest PRINCE2® dance move—no it is not! Now, I know why your project requirements are so screwed up.
  19. Do not know the latest versions of PMI standards—Go to pmi.org and update your knowledge!
  20. Have not heard of CAPM®—Go to pmi.org and update your knowledge!
  21. Have not heard of PMP®—Go to pmi.org and update your knowledge!
  22. Have not heard of PgMP®—Go to pmi.org and update your knowledge!
  23. Have not heard of PMI-RMP℠—Go to pmi.org and update your knowledge!
  24. Have not heard of PMI-SP®—Go to pmi.org and update your knowledge!
  25. Cannot be away from the office for more than one week—You mean you do not have remote access?

Please click here to share your results.

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Posted in Business Analysis, Project Management | 3 Comments »