1 – Is the assistant project manager qualified? 2 – Is anyone accountable for the project’s performance? 3 – Will this be a “big” project team? 4 – Was the project manager provided with a charter, which fully describes his responsibilities? 5 – Did /does management micro-manage the project manager? 6 – Is / was […]

DIRECTION ANALYSIS: 1 – Was the big 4 stated? 2 – Were previous lessons learned reviewed in relation to this project? 3 – Were the project’s expectations stated from the beginning? 4 – Is senior management willing to accept changes that PM brings? 5 – Did management reach a consensus as to how to proceed?

QUALITY:   1 – Has the contractor received proper instruction regarding how to do the work? 2 – Do working conditions allow for safe and productive work? 3 – Are internal controls effective? 4 – Is staff support sufficient? 5 – Is housekeeping evident? 6 – Does our firm have a good history with this

THE MAIN REASONS FOR OUTSOURCING   To reduce and/or control operating and maintenance costs. Lower inventory costs To make fixed costs variable (e.g., facility maintenance, distribution costs) Avoid reoccurring staffing costs To perform basic/mundane/less skilled/ dangerous/ grueling/ time-consuming/ repetitive/ routine tasks that can be done with cheaper labor/entry level people To create more competition Help

MORALE/COMMUNICATION: 1 – Does the project team perceive that management deals with them fairly? 2 – Does the team exhibit pride, elan or espirit in meetings and to outsiders? 3 – Does/will the team receive a reward if key performance targets are met? 4 – Do team members trust each other’s integrity/ competence? 5 –

EXPERIENCE/TRAINING:   1 – Is the project team trained in project management? 2 – Has the project team been trained in problem solving? 3 – Does the project team know how to use project management tools?  (e.g. Work Breakdown Structure, Gantt chart, Critical Path/network planning, variance analysis). 4 – Is the project team cross trained

DECISIVENESS/LEADERSHIP/INITIATIVE:   1 – Indecisive? 2 – Self-starts? 3 – Accepts differing opinions? 4 – Understands and knows what to do with the information given him/her by the team? 5 – Asks questions? Displays intellectual curiosity about tasks and actions? 6 – Does SM/PM receive reliable information? 7 – Knows when to depart from the

MONITORING/CONTROL/FOLLOW-UP:   1 – Establishes project’s deliverables/knows amount accomplished/identifies shortfalls/ obstacles and required corrective action steps? 2 – Quickly solves problems before they become big ones? 3 – Justifies missed performance goals in writing to senior management? 4 – Procrastinates? 5 – Rejects poor quality work? 6 – Monitors work performed by project team and

PLANNING:   1 – Employs early warning systems to detect project problems? 2 – Assigns necessary work? 3 – Establishes guidelines? 4 – Communicates plans as they are developed (in various stages/phases)? 5 – Adjusts plans/ production rates as necessary? 6 – Manages priorities? 7 – Has a multi-disciplinary team? 8- Blocks off time during

COMMUNICATIONS/MORALE:   1 – Knows the project’s purpose? 2 – “Manages by walking around (MBWA)” and randomly circulates and interacts with various team members about relevant tasks? 3 – Uses good communications skills? (Orally, written, and non verbally). 4 – Regularly keeps team, peers, supporting organizations, management, and customers informed? 5 – Discusses technical problems