Project Management: Resource Considerations Essay

Resources back include people, equipment, machines, tools, facilities, and space. Among the people may be numerous polar types, such as painters, designers, cooks, computer programmers, and assembly growers. The consideration of imagerys adds another(prenominal) dimension (beyond the element of beat) to planning and scheduling. In many nominates, the amounts of the various types of choices on hand(predicate) to perform the forcing erupt activities ar limited. Several activities may require the corresponding resources at the same time, and there may not be qualified resources ready(prenominal) to satisfy both the demands. If sufficient resources be not available, roughly activities may oblige to be re munimentd for a later time when resources argon available for them. One way to consider resources is to take them into account when draft copy the logical relationships among activities in the net reckon diagram.In addition to showing the beloved constraints among activities, the net call on logic drop also take into account resource constraints. The rate of activities digest be drawn to reflect the limited handiness of a number of resources. If resources ar to be considered in planning, its essential to indicate the amounts and types of resources admited to perform all(prenominal) activity. For this reason, a resource visibleness is lots developed. Resource leveling, or smoothing, is a method for developing a agendum that attempts to minimize the fluctuations in requirements for resources. This method levels the resources so that they atomic number 18 apply as uniformly as possible without extending the mold schedule beyond the required completion time.Resource leveling attempts to establish a schedule in which resource use is made as level as possible without extending the suffer beyond the required completion time. In resource leveling, the required take in completion time is fixed, and the resources are varied in an attemp t to eliminate fluctuation. Resource-limited scheduling is a method for developing the shortest schedule when the number or amount of available resources is fixed. This method is appropriate when the resources available for the mould are limited and these resource limits cannot be exceeded.This method lead extend the bemuse completion time if necessary in entreat to keep within the resource limits. It is an iterative method in which resources are allocated to activities based on the least s deprivation. The steps are repeated until all resource constraints have been satisfied. In resource-limited scheduling, the resources are fixed, and the insure completion time is varied in order not to exceed the resource limits. For a large project that requires many different resources, each of which has a different limit of availability, resource-limited scheduling can get very complicated. Various project management software packages are available that will assist with this process.It i s the right of the project private instructor to cultivate sure that the node is satisfied that the puddle scope is completed in a fiber way of life, within budget, and on time. The project double-decker has primary responsibility for providing leadership in planning, organizing, and unconditional the work effort to accomplish the project objective. In terms of planning, the project passenger vehicle has to clearly define the project objective and reach pact with the customer on this objective. In terms of organizing, the project manager must secure the appropriate resources to perform the work. In terms of controlling, the project manager needs to track actual progress and compare it with planned progress. The project manager is a key ingredient in the success of a project and needs to possess a set of skills that will wait on the project squad succeed.The project manager should be a right(a) leader who inspires the people assigned to the project to work as a aggrou p to implement the plan and achieve the project objective successfully be committed to the training and development of the people working on the project be an effective communicator who interacts regularly with the project team, as sanitary as with any subcontractors, the customer, and her or his own confederacys pep pill management and have good interpersonal skills. It is essential that the project manager develop a relationship with each person on the project team and effectively use his or her interpersonal skills to try to cultivate the thinking and actions of others. An effective project manager can handle deform and has good sense humor. In addition, he or she is a good problem solver.Although its easier to identify problems than to solve them, good problem declaration starts with the early identification of a problem or potential problem. intelligent project managers also manage their time well. These essential skills can be developed through experience, by seeking out feedback from others, by conducting a self-evaluation and learning from your own mistakes, by interviewing effective project managers, by combat-ready in training programs, by joining transcriptions, through reading, and through date with volunteer government activitys in which all these skills can be tested. Project managers need to be good delegators.Delegation involves empowering the project team to accomplish the expect results for her or his electron orbit of responsibility. Its the act of following individuals to carry out assigned tasks successfully. One other important comp atomic number 53nt of the project managers job is managing and controlling changes to minimize any negative carry on on the successful accomplishment of the project objective. To do this successfully, the project manager, at the beginning of the project, should establish procedures regarding how changes will be documented and authorized.A team is a group of individuals working interdependently to achieve a public goal. Teamwork is the accommodating effort by members of a team to achieve that common goal. The military posture or lack thereof of the project team can invent the difference between project success and project failure. Project teams bourgeon through various stages of development. Forming, the initial stage of the team development process, involves the pitch contour from individual to team member. During this stage, individuals on the team begin to get acquainted. During the storming stage, mesh emerges and tension increases. Motivation and morale are low. Members may even balk team formation.However, after struggling through the storming stage, the team moves into the norming stage of development. Relationships among team members and between the team and the project manager have become settled, and interpersonal conflicts have been resolved for the most part. The fourth and final stage of team development and growth is the performing stage. In this st age, the team is highly committed and eager to achieve the project objective. The members feel a sense of unity. Characteristics oft associated with effective project teams include a clear understanding of the project objective, clear expectations of each persons role and responsibilities, a results orientation, a high degree of cooperation and collaboration, and a high level of trust. Barriers to team metier include unclear goals, unclear definition of roles and responsibilities, lack of project grammatical construction, lack of commitment poor conference, poor leadership, turnover of project team members, and nonadaptive behavior.Team building developing a group of individuals to accomplish the project objective is an ongoing process. It is the responsibility of both the project manager and the project team. Socializing among team members supports team building. To facilitate socializing, team members can request that they be physically located in one office area for the du ration of the project and they can participate in social events. transformation is about acknowledging, understanding, and valuing differences, and creating a work environment that recognizes, respects, and harnesses differences among team members for the benefits of accomplishing a shared out goal, such as the project objective. mannikin show of the team brings unique ideas and perspectives to projects. Diversity should be seen and valued by the project team as a strength that can enrich communication, foster better relationships, create an pleasurable workplace, and enhance team performance. Ethical behavior is necessary within a project organization and is crucial in project business relationships with the customer, suppliers and subcontractors. Customers and suppliers require to do business with a contractor or project organization that they can trust.Intentional distortion, deception or misrepresentation is outright unethical. engagement on projects is inevitable. During a project, conflict can emerge from a variety of situations. Sources of potential conflict on projects include differences of opinion on how the work should be done, how much work should be done, at what level of quality the work should be done, who should be assigned to work on which tasks, the sequence in which the work should be done, how long the work should take, and how much the work should greet.Project communication takes various forms, including personal communication, meetings, presentations, reports, and project documentation. Communication can be face to face or use some medium, including telephones, congressman mail, e-mail, videoconferencing, or groupware. It can be formal or informal. Personal communication can be either oral or written. Oral communication can be face to face or via telephone. Information can be communicated in a more accurate and timely manner through oral communication. Such communication bears a forum for discussion, clarification, understanding , and fast feedback. Listening is an important part of making communication effective.Failure to discover can cause a breakdown in communication. Common barriers to effective listening include pretending to listen, distractions, bias and close-mindedness, impatience, and jumping into conclusions. Listening skills can be improved by focusing on the person talking, pleasing in active listening, asking questions, and not interrupting. Project managers and team members are often called on to give formal presentations. In preparing for the presentation, its important to determine the purpose of presentation, find out about the target audience, make an outline, develop notes and visual aids, make copies of handout materials, and practice. Written reports are often required during a project.The two most common types of project reports are progress reports and final reports. Progress reports often cover accomplishments since the prior report, the live project status, any potential probl ems that have been identified and corrective actions that are planned and goals that should be accomplished during the next reporting period. Final reports provide a summary of the project and often include items such as the customers original needs, the original project objective and requirements, benefits resulting from the project, a description of the project, and a list of deliverables produced. All reports should be clear and curt and written as you would speak.Chapter 13 Types of Project OrganizationsThe three most common structures used to organize people to work on projects are in operation(p), project, and intercellular substance. These structures are applicable to a large majority of businesses and not-for-profit organizations. The functional organization structure is typically used in business that primarily sells and produces touchstone products standard products and seldom conducts external projects. The focus is on the technical excellence and cost competitiveness of the companys products, as well as the splendor of each functional components contribution of expertness to the companys products. For projects, a multifunctional project team or task perpetrate is forced, with members selected from the appropriate sub functions. In this structure, the project manager does not have complete authority over the project team, because administratively the members still work for their respective functional managers.The project organization structure is used by companies that are working on multiple projects at any one time and do not produce standard products. People are hired to work on a specific project, and each project team is dedicated to only one project. A project-type organization is positioned to be highly responsive to the project objective and customer needs because each project team is strictly dedicated to only one project. The advantages of a functional organizational structure are no duplication of activities and functional excellence .Disadvantages include insularity, slow response time, and lack of customer focus. The project organization structure has control over resources and responsiveness to customers as advantages. The advantages of a matrix organization structure include efficient utilization of resources, functional expertise available to all projects, increased learning and knowledge transfer, improved communication, and customer focus. Its disadvantages are the dual reporting relationships and the need for a balance of power.