Project Manager Considerations When Building a Project Team
Posted by in Building Project Plan on May 26, 2011
As a Project Manager, your team may already have already been assigned before you build a project plan. If this is so, it will allow better estimations of resource budget and the team can participate in designing the project schedule. Alternatively, the team may not be approved and build until the implementation phase begins, which means a preliminary plan has been developed. Remember that if the team can help with planning, then they are more likely to be committed to accomplishing the plan and the project goal or objective. In addition, it is less likely that omission of important details from the plan will occur if the team is involved in developing the plan. Where possible, before trying to develop a project plan, assemble a Project Team of people that have something to contribute to the overall project.
These project team members may have expertise in similar projects or be someone with a stake in the outcome of the project. More experienced people will help insure the project stays on schedule, however working on a project with a mentor or others more experienced can be a great learning experience for those new to this type of work, process, service, or product. Team members may be volunteers or given the assignment to participate on the project. Typically, volunteers make more of an effort and require less supervision than those assigned without asking if they would like to participate. As the Project Manager, you should talk with each perspective member to make sure they understand what their project responsibilities and accountability might be, what challenges they may look forward to, and what value they offer to the team. Additionally, you should note how much freedom each member would have in carrying out their tasks and making decisions related to their assignments.
If the project team members have worked together before, then the project may start well. Team members who have worked on team projects before will already be familiar with team problem solving and participatory decision-making and will see working on the team as a motivating factor in their and others’ contribution to the project. However, if some of the team members have not worked together or been part of a team before, you as the project manager need to consider if there is need for any team training or other team-building activities to help the members work better as a team. If the team has not worked together before, in their first team meeting, you and your team members will need to establish conduct guidelines for personal and group behavior. You may want to establish what types of information sharing may or may not go outside the project team as well. Working as a team and with your feedback, the project members should find they produce better project results in a more effective manner. Read the rest of this entry »
Plan Out Your Landscaping Project
Posted by in Landscaping Project on May 25, 2011
When planning a landscaping project, it is crucial to always have a certain objective in mind and to know where you want to go. You do not want to end up with patches of different idea throughout your landscape. Ask yourself how the space will be viewed and what type of lifestyle and or picture you want to create.
You should firstly consider what function the garden would serve: will it mostly entertain guests in the summer with barbeques and pool parties? Do you have children that will use it as a playground every day? Or do you need a relaxing atmosphere that will inspire your work from time to time? This will help determine if you use elements such as swimming pools, outdoor furniture, water features, as well as the level of maintenance you have time for. You should also take a look at your space to determine its needs. For example, the amount of shade, winds, noise and utilities will make a big impact. You have to determine which views you would like to keep and which, mostly undesirable, ones you would like to hide with features or framing. You will also have to solve erosion and slope problems before you start designing.
Your tastes and goals are the most important aspects to think of when designing your space, because you are the one that will experience it every day. Decide whether you would enjoy a natural, classic or modern look and then decide on the forms you would like to incorporate (geometrical or organic). There are many different styles to choose from, such as colonial, country, city, oriental, tropical, seaside or even mixed. This will help you determine which structures or features to buy to suit your picture, like decks, patios, rock walls, trellises, raised beds, arbours or gazebos. You will also know if you would like to incorporate walkways, stairs, water features or pools. The material of these elements, for example, rock, concrete, brick, gravel, stone or wood will also greatly impact the feel or style of your garden.
After you have created the structure, you can start deciding on elements like plants to colour the space in. Decide whether or not you want a lawn or if you want to incorporate all your favourite plants next to series of walkways. If you have slope or immense erosion problems, you will have to use plants that will counteract these effects and save your landscape. Learn more about different plants before you buy them to be sure they will not suffer in the environment. Decide if you want short-lived annual plants, perennials, shrubs, grass, evergreens, flowering or seaside plants. This depends on taste, as well as environment. Read the rest of this entry »