Top 10 project management questions
Here are my top 10 questions project managers should ask before commencing a project:
- Who is the project sponsor? – Is the role of the project sponsor clearly defined in terms of expectations, accountability and measurement;
- Who are the project stakeholders? – Is there a clear stakeholder map;
- What is the project objective? – Is this clearly stated, easily understood and generally agreed by all stakeholders;
- What are the project deliverables? – Have these been stated in the project charter with allocated timing and responsibilities;
- What is the timeline for completion? – This should be broken down into phases (where appropriate);
- What is the scope and cost of the project? – This should also cover scope exclusions and cost management processes;
- What are the project risks? – Have these been formulated in a risk register clearly showing type of risk, reasons why this is a risk with potential implications, and mitigating actions;
- How will progress be measured, monitored and reported? – Has an appropriate governance model been established to enhance oversight;
- How will project successes and milestones be communicated? – What is the communication plan and how does this link to the stakeholder map; and
- How will the change be embedded into the system? – Is their a clear mechanism to ensure that the value from the project is sustainable.