Effectively Using Project Management Tools to Lead MultiLocation Projects

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Effectively Using Project Management Tools to
Lead Multi-Location Projects

• Allen Jackson, PMP
• ajackson_at_sonic.net

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• The McKinsey Quarterly Chart Focus
  NewsletterJanuary 2007 Member Edition
  Interacting for competitive advantage
• Although companies have long tried to raise their
  productivity by automating production,
  competitors can easily imitate such innovations.
  But it may be harder to emulate efforts to boost
  the productivity of workers who mainly interact
  with customers, suppliers, and other employees
  particularly now that so many of them undertake
  complex (or "tacit") interactions, such as
  managing supply chains, rather than routine
  ("transactional") ones, like recording shipments
  to warehouses.
• Tacit interactions demand that employees make
  judgments based on experience and be comfortable
  with ambiguity. Those who undertake these
  interactions, such as salespeople and managers,
  command higher salaries and have a
  disproportionate impact on the organization.
  Companies that make these employees more
  effective and efficient stand to reap huge gains.

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PMI Goal

• Worldwide, organizations will embrace, value,
  and utilize project management and attribute
  their success to it.
• PMI Strategic Plan (www.pmi.org)

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• Professions Tools

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• Are safety glasses enough?

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• You mean the tool isnt for big projects?

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• Did we forget something?

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Tools Techniques

• Communications Tools
• Scheduling
• Templates
• Workbook
• Building a Team

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Communications Tools

• Conference Bridge
• Shared Folders
• Quality Speaker Phones in Conference Rooms
• Conference Rooms with Projectors
• Web Meeting Service (Net Meeting, WebEx, ATT Web
  Meeting Service, Microsoft Live Meeting)
• Work Group Extranet - eRoom (Documentum) /
  SharePoint (Microsoft)
• Conference Recording
• Video Conferencing

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Scheduling

• Work Breakdown Methodology
• Project Schedule Templates
• Stop Lights
• Microsoft Project Server
• Remote access via Citrix

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• Do you always build your own tools?

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Templates

• Project Charter
• Work Breakdown Structure
• Project Plan
• Communications Plan
• Project Status
• Formal Issue Escalation form (Jeopardy)
• Risk Register
• Change Management Form
• Workbook

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Workbook

• Project Team
• Project Minutes
• Action Items
• Risk Register
• Meeting Attendance
• Project Organization Chart
• Project Budget
• Capital Purchase Plan

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Workbook
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Workbook
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Project Progress
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Project Progress
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Project Progress
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Defect Status
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Building a Team

• Is Your Passport Valid?
• Travel to Remote Team Members
• Have Remote Team Members Travel to Main Site
• Share Experiences
• Fun Activities

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Summary
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• Are you using the right tools for Your Project?

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• Are you using the tools properly?

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Further Questions

• E-mail Allen Jackson
• ajackson_at_sonic.net