Project management best practices

Project management best practices
See also
Governance of project management Monitoring and control Organizational project management Traditional project management Levels of maturity Applications of project management Success of the project Importance of project management Successful project management

Project management best practices are the processes, procedures, and techniques applied to ensure successful completion of a project. This includes effectively defining the project scope, analyzing resources and budget, identifying risks, developing a project plan, tracking progress, and managing changes. It also involves having a strong communication plan and maintaining a clear chain of command. Best practices also include applying professional and ethical standards, ensuring quality control and adhering to deadlines. Lastly, best practices involve evaluating the project outcomes to learn from successes and failures.

Examples of best practices

1. Define Project Scope: Clearly defining the project scope is critical for success. The project scope includes the requirements, objectives, deliverables, timeline, and budget. This allows for a comprehensive review of the project and ensures all stakeholders are on the same page.
2. Analyze Resources and Budget: Project managers must analyze the resources and budget needed for successful completion of the project. This includes ensuring that the project is feasible and resources are available to complete the project.
3. Identify Risks: Identifying potential risks and developing a risk management plan is an important part of project management best practices. Risk management includes developing strategies to mitigate risks, as well as having a contingency plan in place in case of unforeseen events.
4. Develop a Project Plan: Developing a comprehensive project plan with detailed tasks, timelines, and responsibilities is essential for success. This plan should include a clear timeline, budget, and communication plan.
5. Track Progress: Tracking progress and managing changes throughout the project is important to ensure the project stays on track. This includes setting regular milestones and tracking the progress of each task.
6. Maintain Communication: Successful project management requires maintaining clear communication between all stakeholders. This includes having regular meetings and check-ins, as well as providing regular updates on the project's progress.
7. Adhere to Professional and Ethical Standards: Following professional and ethical standards is essential for a successful project. This includes following industry best practices and adhering to legal and regulatory requirements.
8. Ensure Quality Control: Quality control is essential for delivering a successful project. This includes testing the deliverables and regularly evaluating the project outcomes.
9. Adhere to Deadlines: Project managers must ensure that deadlines are met and the project is delivered on time. This includes setting realistic timelines and providing regular updates to stakeholders.
10. Evaluate Outcomes: Evaluating the outcomes of the project is important for learning from successes and failures. This includes conducting a post-project review to identify areas of improvement and ensure that best practices are followed in the future.

When to use project management best practices

Project management best practices should be used whenever a project needs to be completed. This includes projects of any size or complexity, from small-scale initiatives to complex, multi-year initiatives. Examples of when to use project management best practices include:

• To ensure objectives are met on time and within budget.
• To identify and manage risks that could affect the success of the project.
• To facilitate the integration of multiple resources and stakeholders in a project.
• To ensure that all stakeholders are informed and have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
• To create a clear understanding of the project timeline, budget, and deliverables.
• To monitor project progress and evaluate performance against key performance indicators.
• To ensure that any changes to the project are managed effectively and communicated properly.
• To provide feedback to the team and stakeholders on the overall progress of the project.

Advantages of project management best practices

Project management best practices offer a number of advantages that enable teams to effectively manage projects and ensure successful completion. These include:

• Improved efficiency – By applying best practices, teams are able to streamline the project management process, which saves time and money.
• Improved productivity – By setting up processes and procedures that everyone understands and agrees to, teams are able to move projects forward quickly and efficiently.
• Reduced risk – By assessing potential risks ahead of time and creating contingencies for them, teams are able to anticipate and mitigate risks that could lead to project failure.
• Improved quality – By ensuring quality control standards are met, teams are able to deliver a high-quality product or service that meets customer expectations.
• Improved morale – By fostering a culture of collaboration and communication, teams are able to create an environment of trust and openness that boosts morale and team performance.
• Improved customer satisfaction – By delivering a product or service that meets customer expectations, teams are able to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Limitations of project management best practices

Project management best practices are essential for successful completion of a project, however, there are several limitations to consider. These include:

• Lack of flexibility – Project management best practices can be rigid in nature and require adherence to a specific set of procedures. This can limit the ability to be creative and adapt to changes in the project scope or timeline.
• Time consuming – Developing and documenting best practices can be a lengthy process. This can add to the overall project timeline and add to the complexity of the project.
• Not applicable to all projects – Different types of projects require different approaches and best practices. These can vary based on the industry, scope of the project, and other factors.
• Not universally accepted – Best practices can vary from one organization to another, or even from one individual to another. This can lead to confusion and resistance to their adoption.
• Cost – Implementing best practices can be costly, as it requires investing in training, processes, and tools.

Suggested literature

• Ilieş, L., Crişan, E., & Mureşan, I. N. (2010). Best practices in project management. Review of International Comparative Management, 11(1), 43-51.