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Project Management (page 2)Methodology: The Planning process is a very important element of NSI’s methodology. Scope definition results in the classic work breakdown structure (WBS) — the graphical representation depicting the major and minor deliverables of the project. Task templates are valuable tools for organizing the actual work involved in producing a deliverable. And, project managers pay particular attention to identifying tasks that can be executed (i.e., they have a beginning and an end) and that are of short enough duration that render them executable in a reasonable amount of time. The completed WBS leads to another graphical tool, the network diagram, in which project activities are sequenced. With knowledge of the structure of the project, the sequence of tasks, and the assumptions and constraints of the project, activities’ durations may be estimated, and the schedule developed. As new information about the project is developed during planning, adjustments are made to the WBS, the network and the schedule. PMI describes this iterative process as one of progress elaboration. Cost considerations are addressed next as resources — and their expense — are assigned to the project, which results in the project budget. Baselining yields a project plan that can support earned value measurement and reporting. NSI’s project manager tailors this process to the project, with attention to scale. A larger project requires and can support more planning than a smaller project. The project manager also approaches the other planning processes — quality, HR, communications, risk, and procurement — with a sense of scale. Thus, the Planning process yields a firm foundation for the Executing, Controlling and Closing process. Tools: NSI provides project managers with appropriate software tools. Some tools are commercial products. Others (e.g., report forms and spreadsheet applications) have been developed by NSI to facilitate managing the specific mix of projects and business routinely encountered by the Company. A project manager schedules periodic meetings to assess progress to the plan and to make the inevitable adjustments. Summary: NSI has developed a project methodology based on the firm foundation of Project Management Institute doctrine. NSI’s methodology is scalable to suit the size (i.e., scope), technology, and financial constraints of the project. This methodology is designed to provide the client with the assurance that a project will be completed successfully. |