Keeping Your Project on Track Using the DEADLINES Model

 
Presented by Marigold Consulting

Lisa M. Newman is the Founder and CEO/President of Marigold
Consulting in Atlanta, GA. Marigold Consulting offers snooze-
proof training to individuals in all settings who want to bloom out
of proportion personally and professionally. Marigold partners
with session attendees to foster a comfortable and productive
learning environment in which extraordinary ideas are
birthed, practical solutions to everyday challenges are
discovered, and raucous laughter is encouraged. To learn more
about Marigold’s services or to schedule a session for your
group, please visit http://www.marigoldconsulting.com.

Knowing is not understanding. There is a great difference between
knowing and understanding: you can know a lot about something
and not really understand it.
Charles Kettering

Step One

Determine Divide

Step Two

Estimate Establish

Step Three

Assign Assess
COPYRIGHT © 2012 by Marigold Consulting.

Step Four

Deal Develop

Step Five

Learn Leverage

Step Six

Identify Inform

Step Seven

Neaten Notify

Step Eight

Evaluate Examine

Step Nine

Seek Strategize

Keeping Your Project On
Course Using the
D.E.A.D.L.I.N.E.S. Model

 Determine the exact deadline for the project’s
completion.
o When is the project due?
o Is this a firm or flexible deadline?
o Are there several deadlines for aspects of the
project or is there just one for the overall project?
o Who is the end user?
o Where does your team fall within the chain?


Course Using the

 Divide the project into a series of smaller and
more manageable tasks.
o How do you eat an elephant?
o Prioritize tasks.
o Encourages sense of accomplishment.
o Determine due dates for completion of each task.
o Report on progress of task completion at
regular, predetermined intervals.


Course Using the

 Estimate a projected completion date for the
entire project.
o Set an artificial soft deadline in advance of the
stated deadline as a target date for completion.
o Allow more cushion for the higher the degree of
uncertainty and complexity of the project.
o Divide the project into several phases if
necessary.


Course Using the

 Establish benchmarks of completion for each
phase of the project.
o Example: Project deadline is 10/15. Phase 1 has a
soft deadline of 8/15. Tasks A through C should be
completed by 7/25. Tasks D through F should be
completed by 8/10.
o Use productivity software. Outlook compatibility.
o Helps to gauge progress and conceptualize how
smaller pieces fit within the larger framework.


Course Using the

 Assign roles and tasks to team members using
a task matrix.
o Match tasks with skillsets.
o Capitalize on strengths and minimize weaknesses.
o Designate a point person for each task.
o Helps reinforce accountability.
o Ensure visibility and access.


Course Using the

 Assess progress toward benchmarks regularly.
o Where’s Waldo?
o Make “half-time” adjustments as necessary.
o Celebrate progress and completion with
appropriate rewards.


Course Using the

 Deal with challenges as they arise.
o Heinz Ketchup – Anticipation.
o Communication, early and often, is key.
o Take ownership of the challenge.
o Take ownership of the solution.


Course Using the

 Develop contingency plans as needed.
o What’s the worst that could happen?
o Have a Plan B and Plan C.
o Creative “out of the box” thinking is critical.


Course Using the

 Learn from mistakes.
o Band-Aids or major surgery?
o How did “it” happen and how can we lessen the
likelihood of it happening again?
o Planning or execution?
o Resist assigning blame.


Course Using the

 Leverage your existing resources if necessary.
o All hands on deck!
o Bring in additional staff.
o Burn the midnight oil.


Course Using the

 Identify potential obstacles to timely meeting
the deadline.
o Challenges that you have not been able to
overcome
o Contingencies that have not come to fruition


Course Using the

 Inform the client regarding the status of the
project.
o Regular updates in writing or via teleconference
o If additional time may be needed, inform the client
as early as practicable.
o Be able to clearly articulate why an extension is
needed and what steps have been taken to meet the
deadline.


Course Using the

 Neaten the work product.
o Edit.
o Revise.
o Proofread.
o Correct.
o Doublecheck.
o Presentation is important.
o Did you follow instructions?


Course Using the

 Notify the client of project completion.


Course Using the

 Evaluate the success of the project.
o Discuss from an internal perspective.
o Get feedback from the team’s members.
o What worked and what did not work?


Course Using the

 Examine what could have been done
differently.
o What could we have done better?
o How can we improve our processes going
forward?
o What individual/collective lessons were
learned from this experience?


Course Using the

 Seek feedback from the internal or external
client.
o Was the client satisfied with the quality of the work
performed and the final work product?


Course Using the

 Strategize for future projects.
o Use the feedback from your team members and the
client to model procedures for future projects.


To schedule a session for your group, contact:

Lisa M. Newman
Marigold Consulting
Phone: 678-318-3672
Email: info@marigoldconsulting.com

Or, for additional information on our services, please visit:
http://www.marigoldconsulting.com


Keeping Your Project on Track Using the DEADLINES Model

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (19)

Similar to Keeping Your Project on Track Using the DEADLINES Model

Similar to Keeping Your Project on Track Using the DEADLINES Model (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Keeping Your Project on Track Using the DEADLINES Model