Entries by Bonnie Biafore

Managing Project Contingency Funds

Contingency funds come in handy for mitigating project risk and handling unexpected issues. How much contingency funding do you need? And how do you manage it?  Here are some tips: Consider the cost of risk responses. After creating your risk management plan, estimate how much money you need to address the project’s high-probability risks. If […]

Managing Unacceptable Project Variances

Projects never run exactly according to plan, so project variances are inevitable. To keep your projects on track, you need to take action when variances are about to become – or already are — unacceptable. Here are some tips for managing variances. Respond quickly. Small variances in your schedule or costs can grow large before […]

What qualifies as a project?

During a recent LinkedIn Live session, an attendee asked “What actually qualifies as a project when summarizing project management experience? Could it be creating a lesson plan or procuring items for a charity auction?”  According to the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK®), a project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique project, service, or result. Let’s […]

Effective Project Management During the Pandemic

In one of my recent LinkedIn Live broadcasts, someone asked how project management could evolve, given new and changing rules imposed by the pandemic. Here are a few key ways in which project management could adjust to be effective during the pandemic. Focus on using tools for remote work effectively. More than ever, project management […]

Budgeting in an Agile Environment

In one of my recent LinkedIn Live broadcasts, an attendee asked about budgeting in an agile environment. Here are the steps for building and maintaining a sound budget for an agile project.  Step 1. Determine your Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The MVP is the smallest possible product that will satisfy the most important business needs. […]

Pre-requisite Skills for Project Managers

In a LinkedIn Live session with Bob McGannon, someone asked, “What pre-requisite skills are needed to qualify for consideration as a project manager?” While there are many valid answers, here are skills Bob and I look for in project management candidates. Great communication. Project managers constantly communicate, verbally and in writing. Effective communication skills are […]

Dealing with Opponents to your Project

Sometimes you must deal with someone who opposes your project. Here are tips to handle this uncomfortable and quite common situation: Don’t ignore it. This issue isn’t going away. It’s crucial to fully understand the opposition to your project and address it. Otherwise, the opposition will intensify and become more difficult to manage. If you […]

Dealing with Pre-Determined Deadlines

Receiving a project assignment with a pre-determined deadline happens a lot in the business world. Bob McGannon has these tips for addressing this uncomfortable situation as a project manager. Understand the source of the deadline. Government regulations, once-a-year marketing events, and other circumstances can necessitate deadlines. The best place to start is to understand the […]

Choosing Project Team Leaders

The right team leaders can help make your project a success. Here are sound strategies for assigning team leaders to your project.  Add strength to your project leadership. Look for people who compliment and expand your skills. Be realistic about your own skills and how others can augment them. Tell your team leaders how their […]

Managing Variances

Managing the variance from your project baseline is sound PM practice. Here are tips to determine acceptable triple constraint variances (scope, time, and cost) for your project: Examine your company’s behavior. Your business is likely to have common approaches for managing scope, time, and costs. Your project should conform to those norms for tolerating scope […]