Essay On Cummins Project Management: An Introduction

1. Project Managers
Scope. Resources. Schedule. These make up the “Balanced Triangle” at the heart of Cummins Project Management. “What Makes a Really Good Project Manager?” The worst ones lose themselves in detail, insist on sticking rigidly to a plan whilst refuting change, and keep hard work at arm’s length, due to their “top of the pile” mentality. The best ones have the ability to assess fairly, embrace change if needed and are able to motivate without intimidating. Vitally, they are willing to do the dirty work when required to overcome obstacles.
2. Scope Management
Being able to define and measure “project deliverables” (not imaginary things, but tangible things, based on hard data), is principal to Scope Management. The Scope Document should be the foundation for the remaining project plan.
3. Work Breakdown Structure
Fragmenting the project into manageable, bite-sized tasks is done systematically with the WBS, a way of finding tasks that may be overlooked. With a goal in mind you can create the steps required to reach it.
4. Definition and Purpose of Schedule Management
Keeping track of everyday tasks, requirements, progress and anticipating variables down the line, is paramount for schedule management. Ensuring the Critical Path remains in constant focus whilst adapting to change where required is also imperative. The Critical Path should be the key part of the schedule for any team.
6. Schedule Formats
There are several formats that can be devised using various combinations of the basic two: the Network Diagram and the Gantt Chart. The best one to use depends on the type or amount of information to display, and the team’s ability to understand the format.
7. Resource Management
8. Risk Management
Highlight, prioritize and mitigate risks where appropriate by establishing and enforcing correct countermeasures. Acknowledgement of what could go wrong is an essential process not to be bypassed. Risk management elements are to define and prioritize risks, outline countermeasures, then record and implement these countermeasures.
9. Other Elements Important To Project Management
- Communication is the most vital role of a Project Manager, who should have a Communication Plan in place.
- Information protection: some projects may involve information and data of a sensitive/classified nature.
- Team Development. Getting the chemistry that binds and oils the parts of a successful team is crucial from the outset.
- Maintain Team Effectiveness by ensuring motivation levels are kept afloat with clear instructions and defined goals. A successful team should have trust, commitment, be approachable to one another, and observant to project outcomes.
- Metrics to check and report against scope, schedule and resources.
- Project Closeout: transition outstanding work to relevant teams, by recording what work is outstanding, who is responsible for incomplete items, evaluating lessons learned, recording and archiving project data, taking stock of achievements. Was the scope delivered? Were steps completed?