Project Management 101

Jim Wallace
The Rensselaerville Institute Senior Fellow
Emory & Henry College Practitioner in Residence

Who Are We
51 years of Human Gain
Results Framework & Human Sparkplugs
Philanthropy, Nonprofits, Education,
Communities, Government
The Think Tank With Muddy Boots

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Who Am I
35+ Years of Community Development
Experience
Regional Development District (7 years)

Mount Rogers Planning District Commission

Private Sector (7 years)

5.5 years Architecture & Engineering

State Government (22 years)

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

Division of Community Development
Project Management Office

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TRI Philosophies
Outcome Mindset
Process = means, not the end

People Are Key - Sparkplugs

Investor Mentality
Return on investment
Compensation based on results

Forest vs. Trees

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What is Project Management?

Completing projects efficiently
On time
Within budget

Easy?
Circumstances beyond your control
Expect the unexpected
Minimize the unexpected

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Why Is It Important to Complete Projects

Efficiently?
Client needs project by certain date
Golden Rule of Finance
New College Institute - Martinsville
Birthplace of Country Music - Bristol

Human Gain
Profit

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.
Professional services
Selling expertise
Units of time
Staff-hour budgets

Contractor
Fixed costs
Labor costs
Units of time

Increased efficiency = fewer staff-hours

expended
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Six Phases of a Project

Enthusiasm
Disillusionment
PANIC
Search for the Guilty
Punishment of the Innocent
Praise & Honors for the Non-participants

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Keys to Effective Project Management

Never assume your audience

Understand the project - Outcome
Communication
Written Contract
Clear understanding of responsibilities &
expectations
Dispute avoidance

Project Manager
Project Management Plan
Project Management Team
Proactive versus Reactive
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Sparkplug Characteristics

Energy
Bias to Act
Results Oriented
Personal Responsibility
Belief in Common Good
Inclined to Teams

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Project Manager
Sparkplug
Additional Characteristics

Takes Ownership of Project

Sense of Urgency
Not Intimidated
Multitasker
Time Management
Decisive
Stress Resilient
Adaptable
Focused
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Project Management Plan

Planning the Work
Responsibility charting
What is it?

Brainstorming necessary tasks

Arranging chronologically
Assign the R for each task

What does having the R mean?

R = responsibility
Can delegate authority but not responsibility

Who should participate?

Anyone who has a key role in project

implementation

Why is participation necessary?

To get buy-in/ownership from every team

member
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Project Management Plan

Working the Plan
This is what a management plan does

Written document shared with all PM Team

members

How do you work the plan?

Meet regularly and religiously

Review all uncompleted tasks
Each person reports on their Rs
Missed deadlines
Explain why
Revise the MP with new dates
Never delete a previous deadline
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Project Management Plan

Working the Plan
Whose job is it to work the plan?

Everyone on the Management Team

Whose job is it to update and recirculate

the management plan?

Project Manager

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Project Management Team

People who make it happen

Project Manager
Owner
Design Consultant
Project Representative
Contractor
Stakeholders
Regulatory Personnel*
POLS 202 Project
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Project Management 101

Concepts applicable to student
engagement projects
People

Right people with right skill sets

Teamwork & Collaboration
Communication
Accountability
Worthwhile work

Investor mentality
Results
Outcomes
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