What tools and techniques do you use to plan your project?

De todas las herramientas que conozco, el Design Thinking es una de las que más me ayuda a definir el alcance y los objetivos. Las primera etapas del proceso: Empatía y definición, son claves para poder delimitar el problema a resolver (quien, necesita qué, para qué?). Y a partir de ahí poder definir objetivos concretos que ayuden a resolver ese problema.

I think many new PM's get confused with defining the scope, usually the Order and scope is already closed in the Bid and procurement stages. So rather than defining the scope, it is better to hold an internal review with the sales and pre-sales asking them to explain what they have sold to the client and what were the expectations set. And then have them explain the scope of the solution they have sold. At the end of this meeting the, PM will have clarity on the client expectations, what is the customer need or what business problems it is solving, And most important what is the overall priority of the project for the customer. All this will help understanding the scope better.

?? Planning a project involves several tools and techniques to ensure its success: *) Software that is mostly used, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, etc *) Work Breakdown Structure, used to breadown a project into smaller, more manageable components *) Critical Path Method, identify the critical path, which is the sequence of tasks that determines the minimum amount of time required to complete the project *) Resource Allocation, ensure that the necessary resources are available and utilized efficiently to complete the project on time, within budget, and according to quality standards *) Tracking and Reporting, processes of monitoring the status and advancement of project tasks and activities, and communicating to stakeholders

Quebrar o problema em pequenas partes (famoso dividir para conquistar) é essencial para que tenhamos clareza dos passos necessários para chegar onde queremos: - Liste todas as etapas para chegar até o objetivo do seu projeto - Defina o que precisará ser feito em cada etapa desse projeto - Trace pequenos entregáveis a cada etapa do projeto - Use alguma ferramenta para trackear o seu progresso

?? Building a solid foundation: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) ?? 1?? Decompose your project scope into smaller, manageable tasks using a hierarchical structure. ??? 2?? Use mind maps, flowcharts, or project management software to create your WBS visually. ?? 3?? Ensure clarity and consistency by following the 100% rule, where tasks add up correctly at each level. ? 4?? Assign responsibilities and resources to each work package for efficient task management. ???? 5?? Estimate durations and costs for each task to create realistic project timelines and budgets. ???

La EDT o WBS debe cumplir con ciertas características; en especial debe ayudar con la gestión del proyecto y poder visualizar o dar un mejor seguimiento al proyecto. Muchas veces el proyecto está definido por paquetes de trabajo asociados a un catálogo de conceptos pero esto no significa que sea fácil de medir en muchos casos; es decir se puede dividir por Concreto, Acero y Cimbra pero aveces se requiere tener identificado por elementos físicos como columnas, trabes y losas. En general se debe identificar cómo se realizará el seguimiento más acorde a las necesidades del equipo.

A EAP (Estrutura Analítica de Projeto) é uma grande ferramenta para incio da gest?o de planejamento e controle de um projeto, pois através desta composi??o, o gerenciamento terá uma vis?o estruturada, facilitando a distribui??o de tarefas, assim como o acompanhamento das atividades.

Para desarrollar una Estructura de Desglose del Trabajo (WBS), es fundamental identificar los entregables, los cuales deben estar alineados con el alcance del proyecto. El nivel de detalle con el que se desglose el trabajo dependerá de los objetivos que se desean alcanzar.

???? Estimating Time and Costs: Key to Project Planning Success! ?? 1?? Gather data, assumptions, and risks to make informed estimates. ???? 2?? Leverage expert judgment, historical data, or industry benchmarks for accurate estimations. ???? 3?? Use techniques like analogous, parametric, three-point, or bottom-up estimation to capture the intricacies of your project. ???? 4?? Account for uncertainties and risks by including contingency reserves in your estimates. ???? 5?? Continuously review and refine your estimates as new information becomes available. ???? By estimating time and costs effectively, you can avoid project delays and budget overruns. Share your tips and tricks for accurate estimations in the comments below! ??

The way to deal with time and cost varies for each individual project. In infrastructure projects, time is usually a major determining factor. There may be contractual dates or sets of dates or times for section completion, then other elements such as resources and construction methods become the variables. In other cases, resources are fixed and then time is the variable. There is usually a complex mix of constraints in a same project. Some activities will have an inelastic resource (a large piece of equipment for instance), others a time constraint due to a contractual key date, and others a physical constraint that will prevent concurrent resources from being placed beyond a certain limit. Dealing with this is a mix of science and art.

1. Based on the project needs estimates vary. 2. Not all fit the bill, need to analyze and adapt 3. Time & Material and Fixed bid are a few used techniques but need to be evaluated. 4. When thinking through WBS, a few estimation techniques that could be evaluated are - FPA, TPA, planning & poker, etc. 5. Unless the project scope is freezed and a good risk plan, none of the techniques help in achieving better estimates/costs.

When estimating materials for a project for Firm/Fixed proposal, you need three things for a solid bottom up approach to alleviate risk: 1) a vetted Bill of Material (going into each SOW), 2) a quantity being provided or manufactured as deliverables, 3) a required deadline to submit the final competitive bid. For labor, it's not much different, with the exception of the "handling" of said materials. Also, don't forget your G&A and markup percentage for profit margin once you have fixed material and labor costs.

Critical Path Method (CPM): Identifies the sequence of crucial tasks that determine the project’s minimum completion time. PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique): Uses optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely time estimates to calculate expected project duration. You may use formulas.

???? Developing a Project Plan: The Roadmap to Success! ????? 1?? Gather all the key project information: scope, objectives, WBS, time and cost estimates, resource plan, risks, quality, communication, and change management. ??? 2?? Organize and structure the information in a comprehensive project plan document. ???? 3?? Utilize tools like Gantt charts, network diagrams, or project management software to create visual representations of your plan. ???? 4?? Ensure the plan is flexible, adaptable, and aligned with stakeholder expectations. Keep it updated throughout the project lifecycle. ???? 5?? Communicate the project plan effectively to stakeholders and obtain their buy-in and support. ????

Para consolidar todo o plano de projeto temos que definir e entender bem as "entregas". Nesse momento, temos que analisar se essas entregas est?o alinhadas com o escopo e se cada atividade ou tarefa é realmente essencial e se fazem parte do caminho crítico do projeto. O caminho crítico é a sequência de atividades que representa o caminho mais longo de um projeto, que determina a menor dura??o possível do projeto. Também temos que estimar os recursos necessários, pessoas, tempo, equipamentos, materiais...Temos que avaliar a quantidade e tipos de recursos que ser?o necessários.

Many organizations ask managers to use Microsoft Project. Thats a great tool if you have someone full time dedicated to a PM role. However, if you have any expectations for the PM to deliver work, then there is not enough time to maintain such a complex plan.

Any project should start in Setting up a project execution plan and a project charter, to ensure success: Describe the planned deployment, installation, and implementation approach. -to define the project scope of works & define the project charter for overall costs and planning -to issue the tender documents and allow a bid period -to clearly define the scope of works with bid clarifications for contract award -to award the contract after a review and appraisal process -to set the project plan and cost track for execution - to complete the design, engineering, procurement and delivery of materials & to commence the site works and complete the construction phase with handover to the customer

Estimating time and costs for each task involves predicting the duration and resources required based on available resources, assumptions, and risks. Techniques like expert judgment, analogous estimation, parametric estimation, three-point estimation, and bottom-up estimation aid in providing realistic budgets and schedules, considering the uncertainty and complexity of the project. These methods ensure accurate planning, resource management, and risk mitigation throughout the project lifecycle.

???? Monitoring & Controlling Progress: Keeping Your Project on Track! ?????? 1?? Regularly measure and compare actual performance against planned performance. Are you on track? Are there any deviations? ???? 2?? Utilize tools like status reports, dashboards, and earned value analysis to monitor project metrics and key performance indicators. ???? 3?? Conduct variance analysis to understand the reasons behind any deviations and take appropriate corrective actions. ???? 4?? Keep stakeholders informed through effective communication channels about project progress, issues, and risks. ???? 5?? Continuously review and update your project plan as needed, incorporating any changes or adjustments. ????

A mi me han resultado clave: las alarmas. Más allá de que las fechas, los límites y los plazos estén muy claros, a veces el día a día nos comen. Ponerme alarmas en el teléfono, por ejemplo, ha sido clave para poder dar seguimiento sin olvidar ninguna parte del proceso.

The Deming cycle consists of 4 phases: Plan, do, check and act (correct). Monitoring and control belong to the last two phases. But maybe the most important thing for those involved in a project is to understand that all of them have responsibility in the 4 phases of the cycle and that the different actors must work together and integrated all the time. Communication, collaboration and the commitment to work as a team are essential to achieve the project objectives (normally in terms of safety, environment, scope, time, cost and quality).

Stay on track, stay on target! Monitoring and controlling progress is crucial to project success. Regularly track key metrics, identify variances, and take corrective action to ensure your project stays on course. Remember, it's not about being perfect, it's about being proactive!

Monitoring and controlling project progress involves measuring actual performance against the planned benchmarks and implementing corrective actions when needed. Tools like status reports, dashboards, variance analysis, earned value analysis, or specialized software applications facilitate this process. They aid in tracking, communicating, and addressing the status, issues, and risks associated with the project, ensuring alignment with planned schedules, budgets, and quality standards. These monitoring tools are essential for keeping projects on track and proactively managing deviations from established project parameters.

Closing is the time to ?? Celebrate successes. ?? Document positively. ?? Facilitate knowledge transfer. ?? Gather feedback for improvement. ?? Ensure proper contract closure.

???Review & Close: Wrapping Up Your Project Like a Pro! ???? 1?? Evaluate the project results and outcomes against the initial objectives. Did you achieve what you set out to accomplish? ???? 2?? Document lessons learned and best practices to capture valuable insights and improvements for future projects. ???? 3?? Conduct a post-mortem analysis or feedback surveys to gather feedback from stakeholders and team members. What worked well? What could be improved? ???? 4?? Celebrate the success and achievements of the project with your team. Recognize their efforts and contributions. ???? 5?? Close contracts, accounts, and other administrative tasks associated with the project. Ensure all loose ends are tied up. ????

Cette étape de la planification de projet est essentielle pour cristalliser les apprentissages et les connaissances acquis en cours de projet. Il est donc important de ne pas l'escamoter.

The review process has to be performed all along project execution. Lessons learned should be identified as early as possible in order to apply the experience and allow continuous improvement.

Upon completion of the project, I conduct a comprehensive review to assess its outcomes, achievements, and lessons learned. This involves evaluating deliverables against the initial objectives, analyzing project performance, and gathering feedback from stakeholders. By identifying successful practices and areas for improvement, I ensure continuous learning and refinement of project management processes. Finally, I formally close the project by documenting lessons learned, archiving project documents, and celebrating achievements with the project team.

-Risk Assessment: Identifying potential risks and developing contingency plans to mitigate them helps minimise project disruptions. -Critical Path Method (CPM): This technique determines the longest sequence of activities, highlighting tasks critical to project completion.

Para planificar los proyectos, llevando la teoría a la práctica, particularmente: ? Al hacer el project charter incluir: todas las partes interesadas, los posibles riesgos y sus impactos, el análisis costo - beneficio y la estructura de trabajo, todo enmarcado dentro del objetivo. ? Al momento de planificar y desarrollar, me aseguro de enlistar todas las tareas con sus respectivas partes interesadas y las plasmo en un roadmap con sus respectivos tiempos. Esto me da la posibilidad tener en un mismo mapa toda la información mínima necesaria de un vistazo ? Para hacer seguimiento, me aseguro de llevar toda la información actualizada y comunicarla a las partes interesadas, a través de un canal oficial. ? Celebrar los peque?os logros

Utilize tools like Gantt charts, critical path analysis, and risk matrices for project planning in engineering management. Techniques include stakeholder analysis, resource allocation, and scheduling software. In energy projects, like constructing a nuclear power plant, employ advanced simulation tools for safety analysis, 3D modeling for site layout optimization, and project management software for efficient coordination, ensuring timely and cost-effective execution.

Don't forget also about managing change and its impact on a project. A clear understanding of original scope will help later on to identify and track change, and to understand the impact of those changes on the original plan. You may need to update the project plans to accommodate change and to identify if more time is needed in any particular part of the project. It's all about communication!

Communication and Collaboration Platforms: Effective communication is essential in construction projects. I use platforms like Microsoft Teams to facilitate real-time communication and collaboration among project team members, stakeholders, and clients. This ensures everyone stays informed and aligned with project goals. By integrating the above mentioned tools and techniques, It can deliver projects that are well-planned, efficiently executed, and meet all specified goals and requirements. This holistic approach ensures that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.