1. 10 Project Management Tips to Grow Your
Business
Project management is an important aspect of any business. However it must be implemented
effectively and efficiently.
Here are some project management tips to grow your business.
Always choose the right kind of project. Select the project which gives the largest value
for your effort. Make sure the project is tuned to your business’s strategy propelling you
in the direction you desire. Tools to enable you to choose the right project includes return
on investment and benefit cost analysis.
Ask yourself whether you are really executing a project. Every project has a specific
result and objective. If the project’s end is not in sight and has an unclear scope then it
may be a significant activity, but not a project.
If there is more than one stakeholder, opinions should cover all project scope, milestones,
budget and deliverables. It is a priority to hold a discussion with all stakeholders.
You should not wait for a disaster to occur. Test the project contingency plans from time
to time. Modify them per circumstance and keep them relevant to the latest project status.
The budget must be realistic. Make allowance for emergencies and disasters. Don’t plan
for more spending than that you can afford.
How will stakeholders, clients and team members be updated with the project? Is support
required to be given to team members to successfully fulfill their project responsibilities?
What is the mode of training? Should the training be online, self-learning or class room
based? Does the trainer need to be trained? These are relevant questions to be addressed.
One must get the required expertise or skills. Be aware that an expert in one area may not
have expertise in other areas, even in allied disciplines. One has to learn and collaborate
with experts. It is well worth every penny to hire experts per your specific needs and
requirements.
The prime focus should be on quality, include clients in testing. Do the testing in the
project as early as you can. You must have time for rework and retesting. Errors must be
gone without letting new ones appear. Align requirements and design with the project to
decrease errors.
"© 2011 Apptivo Inc. All rights reserved.

2. What about after project support? Who will be responsible for it? These questions need to
be addressed. There are other questions as well. Is there allowance for maintenance?
What about user problems? How will enhancements be implemented?
Don’t try to conserve the present, look at the long term vision. If you compromise on
quality now, you might have to pay heavily in terms of repairs and replacements. You
should be clear on where to save.
- Maya Pillai is passionate about helping small businesses and professionals. She is a
blogger for Apptivo's Small Business University.
"© 2011 Apptivo Inc. All rights reserved.