9 Minimalist “Chores” Streamline Project Management

ironing is not really the kind of chore I mean

I am a big fan of Michael Greer (michaelgreer.biz). I first became a fan while I was an instructional designer with his ID Project Management, which I used successfully along with other tools to continually trim my ratio of design hours to student lesson time, whether it was a classroom/lab manual, live video training, or an e-learning program.

Now I do a host of other kinds of projects, including emarketing, knowledgebases, wikis, software release announcements, crunch time preparation, Webinars, video scripts, and newsletters.

Greer’s Project Management Minimalist is a godsend to those who are intimidated and even offended at the breadth and depth of professional PMI certification.

For example, check out his one-pager on page 10 of the free preview “Quick Start Checklist: The Absolute Least You Can Do“.

It shows 9 minimal “chores”:

1. Mini-Charter (Get a statement about the “tangible finished product” approved.)
2. Team (Gather contributors, users, and stakeholders.)
3. Go Wide (Team brainstorms a complete wish list.)
4. Slash & Burn (Team divides wish list equally among “Must”, “Could”, and “Can Wait.”)
5. To-Do (Team assigns “Must” tasks to specific contributors.)
6. Schedule (Team estimates time and sets deadlines.)
7. Start (Team will start the “Must” tasks, “Keep moving,” and “Handle scope changes”.)
8. Inspect & Correct (Check punctuality, quality, completeness, then discuss obstacles, assistance required, changes required and gain consensus.)
9. Post Mortem (Review “lessons learned” for future projects.)

I LUUURVE “Slash & Burn”! Unfortunately, it seems to be missing from his more detailed one-page 10steps.pdf.

So many projects suffer from:

• analysis paralysis
• technology that doesn’t do what you think it will and must be rethought
• directional changes that veer contributors off course
• great ideas that come up in the middle but break the budget

But now for thoughts from you — have you done projects at work? Large-scale? Small-scale? In between? DIY projects at home?

What have been your biggest challenges in managing your projects?