 Project management is of course a highly developed science and most project managers are able to create relatively detailed project plans for project monitoring purposes. Tools such as Microsoft® Project® extend regular task planning to resource management and server based collaboration functionality, such as integration with Microsoft® Outlook®.
Three issues plague project managers however and ValueNetworks.com offers support in mitigating the risks involved. The first issue is the explicit monitoring and quality control of intangible deliverables, such as support actions and key information. The second issue is determining the extent that collaboration actually happens, and the third is ensuring that the project management methodology is stringently applied.
Project plans typically include a significant numbers of tasks that need to be completed and these tasks are predominantly of tangible nature, for example "Create use case." A skilled project manager will include an embedded communication plan, in items such as "Conduct milestone meeting," or "Distribute weekly report." What is seldom if ever considered is focusing tasks explicitly on INTANGIBLE tasks and deliverables, such as "Review accuracy of report," or "Validate quality of widget." A value network map of the project includes both tangible and intangible deliverables where specific transactions are identified and can be included in the project plan. The ValueNetworks.com Excel®-based template can be used for not only gathering the information for the project value network, but also for feeding other project management tools such as Microsoft Project.
This approach also moves collaboration from a nice idea to a managed activity. Meeting planning can be enhanced for more accurate tracking of who is participating in meetings or other communication channels to ensure appropriate knowledge transfers. Participation by role identity is also made more transparent and accountable as a first step toward collaboration effectiveness.
Finally the ValueNetworks.com application can help make sure that compliance is maintained in respect to the chosen project management methodology, by importing value network information from project management tools and comparing it against value network benchmarks in respect to task management and participation.
Data required for using the ValueNetworks.com application effectively is based on importing and exporting data from the project management tool, the creation of a reliable project management value network (e.g., from PMI or Prince 2 Models), the collaboration tool of choice (e.g, Microsoft® Outlook® or SharePoint®), and the relevant directory of participants. Additional sources of data can be found in project management modules of ERP solutions and other document repositories.
If you have additional questions or wish more information please contact info@valuenetworks.com.
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