Introduction to Project Management and Writing
Week 5 - group management, PM tools
OBJECTIVE:
- group management - helping students find their role within the team
- learning how to use PM online tools for project design and planning
OUTLINE:
- Group management – group dynamics (norms reminder), deciding on the roles within the team and responsibilities when working on the project plan (team building activity)
- Getting familiar with PM tools at our disposal to help with the planning (MS Teams)
- Preparing a Teams group for your project where you are going to work throughout the semester = PROJECT ORGANIZER (documentation, task lists, status reports, meeting agendas, schedules, recording decisions, deadlines, …)
OUTCOME:
- preparing an MS Team with channels and apps to create a project organizer
A Gantt diagram (or Gantt chart) is a visual project
management tool that displays the timeline of a project, showing tasks or
activities against time. Each task is represented by a horizontal bar, where
the length of the bar indicates the duration of the task. The chart also
illustrates the start and end dates of tasks, their sequence, and dependencies
between them.
Why is it Useful?
- Visual
Timeline: It provides a clear, visual representation of the entire
project timeline, making it easier to see when tasks start and end.
- Task
Dependencies: Gantt charts show dependencies between tasks, helping
project managers identify which tasks must be completed before others can
begin.
- Progress
Tracking: As the project progresses, you can update the chart to
reflect the actual completion status of tasks, allowing for easy
monitoring of progress.
- Resource
Management: It helps in planning and allocating resources effectively
by showing who is responsible for each task and when they are needed.
- Communication:
The chart serves as a communication tool, helping team members and
stakeholders understand the project plan and schedule, thus ensuring
everyone is aligned.
Below are some examples of GANT charts prepared in various apps (usually templates are available)
