Project Management Fundamentals: The Cutting Japan Business Show

Project Management Fundamentals: (Audio here:https://bit.ly/3X0yJBt) (Video here:https://bit.ly/3SGOTx6) The Cutting Japan Business Show

Projects have been around for a long time of course and in the modern era we have accumulated a vast amount of best practice on how to manage them.? It isn’t usually that we don’t know what to do, it is that we don’t actually do it.? We get into trouble when we just leap in and dig straight into the logistical entrails,? without giving enough thought to a macro 360 degree view of what is involved.? We see this tendency all the time.? Any group of people given a project task go straight into the gruesome detail.? In project planning, a pinch of planning goes an extremely long way. Having a common and clear set of rules helps to ensure we are all approaching the project in the same vein.

Here are ten rules for ensuring that what needs to get done is completed on time and to expectations.

1. Mind our business. Keep our eye on the ball, especially defining what is inside and outside the project scope.? This often changes mid-steam so we need to be nimble and adjust accordingly.
2. Know the customer’s requirements. Double check you have properly understood the detail, document it and keep checking against that documented record, especially if there are changes needed.
3. Plan well. The plan will cover the scope, schedule, cost, approach etc.? Involve task owners to gain buy-in and apply a strong reality check to what you have created.? Strangely, the planning value comes from the creation process and not just the project outcome.? It forces some hard thinking, tough prioritisations, player commitments, clear controls, smooth coordination and cooperation.? Basically, the things at which most companies are usually rubbish.
4. Build a great team with strong ownership. Motivation of the team is critical, so we need total clarity around the WHY, trust, communication, sufficient resources and mutually agreed deadlines.
5. Track progress. Frequent reviews, wide visibility, broad communication and clear goals are needed.? There are hard and soft aspects to most projects, so ensure we don’t overlook the soft skills needed to succeed.
6. Use baseline controls. These are the fundamental building blocks against which we steer the project forward and against which we alter course when needed.
7. Write it, share it, save it. Here is the Holy Grail of project management – write it down - if it isn’t written down it doesn’t exist. Document procedures, plans, evolving designs.? Baseline controls are compared against the preserved records.? Repeatable projects especially need this record, to which are added the fresh set of insights and learnings of the current project.
8. Test it. Jumping into new territories with both feet can be high risk.? Better to develop test cases early to help with understanding and verification of what is required to succeed.? Resources and time are the most often underestimated elements, so an early testing helps to flush out the gaps.
9. Ensure customer satisfaction. Make the customer’s real needs the prism through which everything is viewed.? Undetected changes in customer requirements or not focusing on the customer’s business needs can in fact blow up in our face.
10. Be pro-active. Be proactive in applying these principles and in identifying and solving problems as they arise. Review and search for problems, knowing there are people dedicated to hiding issues.? Vigilance is a virtue we all need to practice when working on projects, especially anticipating trouble before it arises or becomes too explosive.
11. ?Stop the same old, same old and take a fresh look at your methodology for approaching projects.? It seems so simple, but it can simply go wrong so easily. You might be surprised at how loose and inefficient your current methodology is.?

We can always do better and these ten rules will help us on that journey.

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About The Author

Dr. Greg Story, President Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training

Contact me at [email protected]

Bestselling author of “Japan Sales Mastery” (the Japanese translation is "The Eigyo" (The営業), “Japan Business Mastery” and "Japan Presentations Mastery".? He has also written "How To Stop Wasting Money On Training" and the translation "Toreningu De Okane Wo Muda Ni Suru No Wa Yamemashoo" (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのは止めましょう) and his brand new book is “Japan Leadership Mastery”.

Dr. Greg Story is an international keynote speaker, an executive coach, and a thought leader in the four critical areas for business people: leadership, communication, sales and presentations.?He leads the Dale Carnegie Franchise in Tokyo which traces its roots straight back to the very establishment of Dale Carnegie in Japan in 1963 by Mr. Frank Mochizuki.

He publishes daily blogs on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter

Has 6 weekly podcasts:

1.?????Mondays -??The Leadership Japan Series,

2.????Tuesdays – The Presentations Japan Series

Every second Tuesday - ビジネス達人の教え

3.????Wednesdays - The Sales Japan Series

4.????Thursdays – The Leadership Japan Series

Also every second Thursday - ビジネスプロポッドキャスト

5.????Fridays - The Japan Business Mastery Show

6.????Saturdays – Japan’s Top Business Interviews

Has 3 weekly TV shows on YouTube:

1.?????Mondays - The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show

Also every Second Thursday - ビジネスプロTV

2.????Fridays – Japan Business Mastery

3.????Saturdays – Japan Top Business Interviews

In the course of his career Dr. Greg Story has moved from the academic world, to consulting, investments, trade representation, international diplomacy, retail banking and people development.

Growing up in Brisbane, Australia he never imagined he would have a Ph.D. in Japanese decision-making, become a 39 year veteran of Japan and run his own company in Tokyo.

Since 1971, he has been a disciple of traditional Shitoryu Karate (糸東流) and is currently a 6th Dan.

Bunbu Ryodo (文武両道-both pen & sword) is his mantra and he applies martial art philosophies and strategies to business.

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