PMcrunch

There are a variety of project management templates available on the market today.  A common reason that why project management professionals avoid using templates that are out there is that they think they need to customize their own, because their own situation is very unique.  However, if you really give it a try, as I am doing on a current small project, you may find that using standard templates based on a sound project management methodology can provide a real productivity jump as well as reinforce and institutionalize project management knowledge and processes.

I am in the initial stages of a small project.  This project is initially slated to run for about 3 months with about 4 people at near full time.  My natural concern would be that this is too small to warrant the formality of using standard project management templates.  In addition, no template of any sort is actually required or been dictated by anyone within the organization.  However, I elected to use templates for the following reason:

1. Although small, the project is complex in that it involves numerous stakeholders and intersects with other much larger projects.
2. There is an obvious lack of formality and focus around the project at this time, and it is clear to me that a focal point is needed.
3. I do not want to spend my time creating my own templates from a project management framework, but rather want to spend my time really thinking through the important project issues with the team, and document them in a simple and consistent way.
4. Speed and shortened time cycles on the planning are required, as 3 months can go by quickly!
5. I want to make sure everything is considered and covered.

What I am finding is that, at least for the set of templates I am using, there is a lot of flexibility in taking an existing framework and "right sizing" it for this small project, as it is very easy to get started.  The following chart is what has enabled me to get up to speed quickly on the templates I have needed for the project:

What is clear to me is that project management templates can be a great aid to any size of project.  I already knew that applying sound and disciplined project management to any size project was helpful, but what I have found is that it can also be quite easy when you start "out of the box".  The particular templates I have used include a thorough project management methodology that is mapped to the PMBOK and PRINCE2 alike, and it is called MPMM – Method123 Project Management Methodology, and templates alone (without the methodology) can be found at Method123.
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John Reiling, PMP
Project Management Training Online