12 key principles of project management

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12 key principles of project management: Project managers must pay attention to the three criteria for project success. Simply put, the first one is timely completion； Second, the budget is kept within the established range ； Third, the quality has been praised by users. The project manager must ensure that every member of the project management team works in accordance with the above three criteria. Everything should be planned before it is carried out. In terms of project management, many experts and practitioners agree that the most important task for a project manager is planning. Only a detailed and systematic plan involving the project management team members is the only foundation for project success. When the real world develops an environment that is not suitable for planned survival, the project manager should develop a new plan to reflect these changes in the environment. Planning, planning, and more planning is the way of life for a project manager. The project manager must convey a sense of urgency to the team members through their own actions. Since the project has limited time, resources, and funding, it must be completed eventually; however, most team members have their own hobbies, and the project manager should keep them focused on the project’s goals and deadlines at all times. For example, conduct regular inspections, hold regular meetings, and place some reminder signs at the project site. Successful projects should employ a measurable and proven project lifecycle. An information system development model that adheres to professional standards can ensure that best practices and successful experiences are integrated into the project management plan. Such models can not only ensure quality but also minimize repetitive work. Therefore, when faced with time and budget pressures that require project cuts, the project manager should determine an optimal project lifecycle. All project objectives and project activities must be communicated in a vivid manner. The project manager and the project management team should describe the ultimate goals of the project in a clear and concrete way from the outset, so that everyone involved in the project can remember them. All details of the project cost should be clear, explicit, and unambiguous, ensuring that everyone is in agreement regarding them. Achieve goals gradually through a step-by-step approach. Attempting to accomplish all project goals at once will only lead to redundant work, wasting both time and money. As the saying goes, you can’t become fat by eating just one bite. Project management goals can only be achieved step by step, and an evaluation is conducted after each goal is accomplished to ensure that the entire project remains under control. The project must obtain clear approval and be implemented with the signature of the investor. It is very important to have clear approval in order to achieve the project’s objectives. The signed approval from the investor should be regarded as a starting point for the project. The logic is simple: anyone with the authority to reject or modify project objectives should review and approve these project management objectives at the start of the project. To achieve success in project management, it is necessary to conduct a thorough analysis of the project objectives. Research shows that if the project objectives are designed in accordance with the well-known and documented business requirements, the project is likely to be successful. Therefore, project management managers should adhere to the principle that, before an organization initiates a project, it is necessary to find a solid basis for that project within the business requirements. The project manager should have corresponding responsibilities and authority. It is only fair that the project manager be held accountable for the outcomes of the project. But correspondingly, project managers should also be granted sufficient authority to assume the corresponding responsibilities. At certain times, rights become particularly important, such as in obtaining or coordinating resources, seeking the cooperation of relevant small and medium-sized enterprises, and making decisions that are valuable for the successful management of projects. Project management investors and users should take an active role and not merely rely on others to do the work for them. Most project investors and users are able to properly request and exercise the authority to approve (all or part of) the project objectives. But with this power comes corresponding responsibility—to actively get involved in all stages of the project. For example, in the early stages of a project, it is necessary to help determine its objectives; during the project management process, the phased goals that have been achieved need to be evaluated to ensure that the project progresses smoothly. The project investor should assist the project manager in visiting relevant small and medium-sized enterprises as well as members of the target customer base, and help the project manager obtain the necessary documents and information. The implementation of project management should adopt market-based mechanisms. In most cases, the project manager should regard themselves as a seller in order to motivate themselves to complete the tasks assigned by investors and users. Once the project management plan is approved, the project manager should regularly remind the team members of the business requirements that the project must meet, as well as how to work to fulfill those requirements. The project manager should be the best candidate among the team members responsible for project management. The best candidate is one who has received the necessary skill training, possesses experience, and has high qualifications. For a project, securing the best candidate can often make up for shortcomings in terms of time, funding, or other aspects. The project manager should create a favorable working environment for these best project management professionals, such as helping them stay free from external distractions and providing them with the necessary tools and conditions to utilize their talents.