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competing for the same resource pool. So, it’s a good idea to document your
agreements with the functional manager regarding the amount of time the resource
will be available for your project, as well as the deliverables they’re accountable for, in
order to prevent future misunderstandings. You should also obtain prior agreement
regarding your input to the employee’s annual performance appraisal, salary increase,
and bonus opportunity.
Project team members may be assigned to the project either full-time or part-time.
Most projects have a combination of dedicated and part-time resources. If you have
part-time resources, you need to understand their obligations outside the project and
make certain they are not over-allocated.
Project team members are responsible for a number of activities on the project. One of
their most important duties is contributing deliverables according to the schedule. A
partial list of other duties may include the following:
Time and duration estimates for the tasks they are working on
Cost estimates for deliverables or other project work purchased from outside the
organization
Status updates on the progress of their tasks
Dependencies related to their tasks
The Project Management Office
Many organizations have a project management office (PMO) in place that manages
projects and programs. The PMO provides guidance to project managers and helps
present a consistent, reliable approach to managing projects across the organization.
PMOs are responsible for maintaining standards, processes, procedures, and templates
related to the management of projects. They are responsible for identifying the various
projects across the organization and including them within a program, where
appropriate, to capitalize on the collective benefits of all the projects within the
program.
Some of the functions a PMO may provide are as follows:
Project management standards and processes
Tools, templates, and artifacts to help manage projects consistently
Setting deliverables
Governance process for managing projects and setting priorities
Key performance indicators and metrics
Standards of performance including consequences of nonperformance
Coordination of resources among projects
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