Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/74024
"Just Enough" Project Management As an example, a project that takes less than a week to complete, requires one or two resources and has a budget of $2,500 may be successfully managed by an Excel spreadsheet for tracking tasks, issues and deliverables. All you might need to do is "manage by exception," tracking the overall project status and any issues only. You might not need to provide formal reports as you would on a larger project. However, a large program (defined as a group of related projects) that takes a year or more to complete, requires hundreds of resources (both human and otherwise) and has a million-dollar budget may require multiple schedules, a detailed work breakdown structure, risk plans, a resource plan and more. In "The One-Page Project Manager," Clark Campbell advocates a very simple Excel spreadsheet format that Phase Initiation Miniproject Project Definition Project Lite Project Definition allows the project manager to show all the key elements of the project on one page. This format makes it very easy to see, at a glance, all of the project's objectives, major tasks, target dates, costs and areas of responsibility. This is extremely effective for managing small projects or providing an executive-level dashboard for a large program. It requires a minimal amount of reporting, yet keeps project teams focused on what is truly important. Remember, start small with the minimum number of elements you think are necessary for a project. You can always adjust the level, if needed, at a later date. Less is better. The table below shows basic guidelines and a framework to help determine the right level of project management based on the size and complexity of the project. Small Project Charter Large Project Charter Program Charter or Multiple Charters for Each Project Planning Task List One-Page Project Manager Project Scope; Gantt or Excel Task List; Risk Plan; Budget Matrix Project Scope; Gantt Project Schedule; Risk Plan; Resource Plan; Budget Plan Project Scope Document(s); Gantt Chart(s); Risk Plan; Resource Plan; Budget Plan; Communication Plan; Quality Plan Program Log; Execution Issue Tracker One-Page Project Manager Project Log; Status Report; Issue Tracker; Project Deliverables Matrix Project Log; Status Report; Issue Tracker; Gantt Project Schedule; Budget Matrix; Resource Matrix; Project Deliverables Matrix Program Executive Dashboard; Program Status Report; Issue Tracker; Gantt Project Schedule; Budget Matrix; Resource Matrix; Project Deliverables Matrix; Quality Assurance Matrix Closure Project Close Acceptance; Lessons Learned Project Close Acceptance; Lessons Learned Project Close Acceptance; Lessons Learned Project Close Acceptance; Lessons Learned Project Close Acceptance; Lessons Learned ILTA White Paper 17