The document outlines the 5 fundamental laws of project management according to Albert Einstein's insights: 1. You must take stock - Evaluate resources, measure success, and envision tools needed. 2. You must manage your time - Schedule backwards from the due date, segment goals, and focus on critical tasks. 3. You must map the critical path - Identify key deliverables, pinpoint necessary steps, and track progress. 4. You must identify risks - Meet with the team to discuss risks, prioritize threats, and plan for potential issues. 5. You must communicate effectively - Share actionable insights, allow collaboration, and use transparency tools. Following these laws will help complete projects and provide value.

1. The
5
Fundamental Laws
of Project Management *
* with some insight from Albert Einstein
Presented by
@smartsheet

2. A
lbert Einstein was one of the
greatest physicists of our time.
But he was also a philosopher,
with profound insights on science,
religion and life.
So in a little twist, we’ll handle the
science part of project management…
…and let Einstein talk philosophy.

3. Law #
1
You must take stock

4. Law #
1 You must take stock
‘‘
If the facts don’t
fit the theory,
change the facts.

5. Law #
1 You must take stock
In other words, if you don’t have enough resources, your project will fail.
Here’s how to make sure you do:
Evaluate
Understand the goal and ensure you have enough people to make it happen.
Measure
Have a method or tool for tracking success (and know what success is).
Envision
Put tools in place that will help you work better.

6. 2
Law #
You must manage your time

7. Law #
‘‘
2 You must manage your time
I never think of
the future. It comes
soon enough.

8. Law #
2 You must manage your time
In other words, time flies. Make sure it doesn’t fly by you.
Schedule
Start with the due date and work backwards.
Segment
Break the end goal into smaller manageable parts.
Focus
Only spend time on critical elements.

9. 3
Law #
You must map the
critical path

10. Law #
3 You must map the critical path
‘‘
If you can’t
explain it simply,
you don’t
understand it
well enough.

11. Law #
3 You must map the critical path
In other words, define what’s truly important.
Identify
Establish key deliverables and assign due dates.
Pinpoint
Determine exactly what must be done and make it happen.
Track
Use a tool, like a Gantt chart, to stay on track.

12. Law #
4
You must identify risks

13. Law #
4 You must identify risks
‘‘
The world is a
dangerous place to
live; not because of
the people who are
evil, but because of the
people who don’t do
anything about it.

14. Law #
4 You must identify risks
In other words, if you don’t think about bad things, then bad things will happen.
Talk
Meet with your team and identify risks.
Prioritize
Determine which risks pose the biggest threat.
Plan
Be ready if the risks become real.

15. 5
Law #
You must
communicate effectively

16. Law #
5 You must communicate effectively
‘‘
Information is
not knowledge.

17. Law #
5 You must communicate effectively
In other words, don’t just clutter a person’s inbox. Make every message count.
Enlighten
Stick to actionable data and insights.
Collaborate
Allow ideas and information to be shared.
Clarify
Choose tools that enhance transparency and communication.

18. Follow these 5 laws ...
1
You must take stock
2
You must manage your time
3
You must map the critical path
4
You must identify risks
5
You must communicate effectively

19. ... and you’ll not only complete a project,
but you’ll have added a real contribution
to your company.

20. ‘‘
Or as Einstein would say,
Try not to become a
man of success, but
rather try to become
a man of value.
(You don’t have to be an Einstein to know he meant women, too.)

21. Learn how millions of people are working more
productively than ever before with Smartsheet.
www.smartsheet.com
@smartsheet