1. VAN SHEETS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EDUCATIONAL FIRST STEPS
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
VAN SHEETS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EDUCATIONAL FIRST STEPS

3. Why are projects hard? Not routine It’s extra work.
The Planning Fallacy
“Strategic misrepresentation”
Interdependent roles and complex timelines
Unfamiliar tasks
Procrastination

4. Unknown Knowns
Known unknowns

5. What can we do about the challenges?
Break down the project.
Know how you learn.
Use “reference class forecasting.”
Involve experts!
Use project management methods.

6. Project steps Conceive the project. Design it. Kick off. Do it.
Complete it.

7. Break it down.
(from the Project Management Institute)

8. The critical path
(from the Project Management Institute)

9. The critical path

10. Planning the project

11. Project vulnerabilities
Manage known unknowns.
Manage the unknown knowns. (And the less you know about an activity, the more contingency is appropriate.)
Trade-offs between cost and completion date.
You can reduce risks at no cost, by reallocating existing resources to fast track the activities on the critical path.

12. A Gantt Chart may help.

13. Let’s work on your projects.