Business cases are the most commonly used tool for project justification. They are also the least understood. In that project managers are often the ones expected to write a business case, understanding the mindset and approach underlying a successful business case is critical.
Bad Business?
The business case is one of the most common tools used to justify project investments. So why do we get them so wrong? What are the cautions we need to look for in making sure our business cases are effective? A practical guide to the common pitfalls of business case development.
The Challenge of Effective Estimation: A Process for Quantifying the Impossible
If it were possible to define the single greatest challenge that faces a project manager on any project, the answer for most would likely be the difficulty of defining estimates that are actually in the ballpark of what a project will really cost. This article provides some concrete suggestions on improving project estimation.
Project Managers vs. Bean Counters
Accountants and project managers do not have the best of relationships. In part because they value different things, and have different appreciations of the role — and the expected accuracy — of project budgets. The challenge is to develop a more reasonable approach to developing project budgets.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: Communicating Estimates To Your Customers
Project managers often have to commit to an estimate inordinately early. Despite the fact that we don’t know what we will do, precisely how we will do it or what all of the risks are, we’re expected to know exactly what it will cost. How can we manage communicating estimates in a way that is reasonable instead?
Say What You Want And Get What You Need
Project management is hard enough without our projects getting burdened with unreasonable estimates. Not only do estimates get imposed, but we as project managers don’t exactly help matters in how we communicate our estimates. So why does this happen so much, and what we can do about it?