Writing Project Plans

🤔 Useful Questions For Stakeholder Interviews. With good questions to ask when interviewing stakeholders — to understand their needs, key goals, gather requirements and keep them on your side ↓ --- 🔶 1. Design For Listening, Not A Conversation One of the most impactful strategies that worked for me over the years is to design the entire conversation around listening to stakeholders, not speaking about them or even with them. And typically it all starts with only one single question: “Please guide me through the product and explain its key features.” There is no small talk, no introductory questions, no dancing around the topic, no deep-dive into my workflow. I merely explain that in the next 45 mins I'm trying to find severe problems that are worth solving, understand the context about these problems and project goals — and ask for a permission to record the screen for studying it later. This opens the conversation immediately — and then I pay attention to features highlighted, features skipped, and ask plenty of follow-up questions to understand the motivations and the goals that a stakeholder has. --- 🔹 2. My Stakeholder Interview Template Dear Ms. Krajewski, As a UX lead on the project, my team and I are currently in the process of discovery. As we start our work, we’d like to better understand your pain points, expectations and success criteria. 1. What’s the purpose of this project for you? [Interest, engagement] 2. Where does this project fit in your daily work? [Their perspective] 3. What’s the most important thing to get right? [Priorities] 4. How would you describe the target audience? [Their view] 5. If you could understand one thing about users, what would it be? 6. What important insights did you learn about users recently? 7. What does success look like for you and your team? [Metrics] 8. What challenges are top priorities for your team? [Pain points] 9. What’s the success criteria for the project? [Ideal outcome] 10. What constraints or frequent issues should we know about? [Risks] 11. What is your ideal level of engagement for the project? [Max] 12. Anything else you think nobody said to me yet? [Hidden troubles] 13. Is there anybody else who you think I should speak to? [Leads] --- ♦️ 3. The Real Insights Aren’t In These Answers I absolutely love Anton Sten's point that the real insights usually won’t live in answers to all these questions. They live in the follow-up questions and answers — and often in a way of how a stakeholder responds, what they leave out, and what they overstate or repeat a number of times. As designers, too often we see our clients and stakeholders as adversaries. Yet we rarely know how our stakeholders work, so we shouldn’t expect them to understand what we need either. The crucial part is to be genuinely curious, positive and engaged to elicit useful insights. “The other person will only stay engaged as long as you do, and they can sense when you check out.” Useful resources ↓

Earlier this year, I facilitated a workshop for a new ID team. They were sharp. Motivated. Already juggling multiple projects. But when I asked how they were tracking their work… They pulled up a bullet list in a Word doc. 😬 No tasks. No dates. No owners. Just vibes. And I get it—project management often feels like the last thing we want to deal with. But if you’re the one doing the work, you should be the one leading the project. That means creating structure, setting expectations, and making it easy for your SMEs and stakeholders to collaborate with you. So, in this week’s video, I walk you through how I build a Gantt chart-style timeline for a real ID / eLearning project—from kickoff to launch. Inside, you’ll see how I... ✅ Break down the project into phases and detailed tasks ✅ Assign roles and responsibilities ✅ Estimate timelines and build in review cycles ✅ Use dependencies to manage shifting priorities ✅ Keep projects on track (without losing your mind) 🔗 Watch the full step-by-step video + grab the free template here: https://lnkd.in/g8xnQ72A 💬 How do you manage your ID or eLearning projects? I’d love to hear what works for you. Enjoy the rest of your week! 👋 Tim #eLearning #InstructionalDesign #LearningAndDevelopment

The Sustainability Innovation Framework 🌎 Addressing the complexities of sustainability transformation requires a structured and innovation-driven approach. The Sustainability Innovation Framework provides a practical roadmap to align stakeholder collaboration with robust systems, ensuring measurable and impactful outcomes. Engage: Establish a clear vision by involving a diverse ecosystem of stakeholders. This includes leveraging the distinct expertise of suppliers, partners, and industry peers to identify unique opportunities for transformation. Explore: Activate the vision through innovative thinking and data-driven insights. Design thinking methodologies, stakeholder summits, and scenario analyses help unlock creative solutions and deepen engagement across the organization. Design: Transition from exploration to actionable strategies. This phase focuses on building financially viable roadmaps, quantifying risks and opportunities, and prioritizing initiatives with clear metrics to drive decision-making. Implement: Ensure long-term success through accountability frameworks, aligned resources, and structured reporting. Embedding governance systems and feedback loops facilitates continuous improvement and measurable progress. Innovation lies at the core of tackling the systemic challenges of climate change and sustainability. By integrating strategic design with technological and financial rigor, organizations can enhance their resilience while contributing to meaningful environmental and social outcomes. Source: ENGIE Impact #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #innovation

Estimating time and effort for data projects doesn't have to be a shot in the dark. Here’s how you can nail it: 1. 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗜𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻: Start by breaking your project into smaller tasks. The more detailed your breakdown, the easier it is to estimate accurately.     2. 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮: Look back at similar projects. How long did those take? Use past experiences as a benchmark to forecast future timelines.     3. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: Involve your team when planning. They bring different perspectives and expertise that can highlight tasks you might miss and provide realistic time estimates.     4. 𝗕𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: Always add a buffer. Unexpected issues will arise as they always do! Factor in extra time for these unforeseen challenges. A buffer of 10-20% is a good assumption to be on the save side without bloating the project artificialy.     5. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁: Estimates are not set in stone. Regularly review progress and adjust your timelines as needed. Don't forget to cummunicate any changes to your stakeholders.     6. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: Leverage project management tools to track progress and stay on top of deadlines. You could use tools like Jira, Trello, or Asana. 𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 Imagine you’re tasked with developing a dashboard for sales performance. Start by breaking down tasks into requirements engineering, data extraction, cleaning, analysis, visualization, and stakeholder feedback. Leverage historical data from similar projects, involve your team in discussions, and use estimation techniques to refine your timeline. Don’t forget to add contingencies for data anomalies or last-minute changes. By following these steps you’ll be setting realistic timelines and hitting your targets with confidence. What techniques do you use to estimate time and effort for your data projects? ---------------- ♻️ Share if you find this post useful ➕ Follow for more daily insights on how to grow your career in the data field #dataanalytics #datascience #projectmanagement #timemanagement #careergrowth

Project managers, your timeline is a lie And that's okay. Let's be real, the moment you put a project plan together, it's already outdated. Dependencies shift. Priorities evolve. People get pulled into other work. You can have the cleanest Gantt chart ever, but real life will tear it apart. That doesn't make you a bad PM. It means you're managing reality. Here's how you stay in control when your timeline shifts: 👉 Make your plan a living document Don't build it and forget it. Revisit your plan regularly. Adjust, communicate, and make it part of your project's heartbeat. 👉 Anchor to milestones rather than dates Don't obsess over specific calendar days. Track progress based on key deliverables & handoffs. Milestones can be more flexible AND are definitely more meaningful. 👉 Don't apologize for changing the plan Plans changing doesn't mean failure on your part. It means you're managing change, which is your job. Own it. Communicate it. Keep everyone moving forward together. Project managers don't win by predicting the future. They win by staying adaptable when future unknowns present themselves. PS: what's your go-to move when your plan shifts? 🤙

Mitigating Liquidity Risk: Key Tactics for Banking Treasury Management In the dynamic landscape of banking, liquidity risk stands as one of the paramount challenges for treasury management. It is not merely about having sufficient cash on hand but rather about ensuring the availability of liquidity when and where it's needed most. As such, mastering liquidity risk management is essential for the prudent functioning of any banking institution. Understanding the nuances of liquidity risk is the first step towards effective mitigation. It encompasses the risk of being unable to meet financial obligations as they come due without incurring unacceptable losses. This can arise from funding mismatches, unexpected deposit withdrawals, or disruptions in the interbank lending market. However, merely grasping the concept is not enough; proactive measures must be taken to mitigate this risk. Here are some key tactics that banking treasuries can employ: 1. Stress Testing Scenarios: Conducting rigorous stress tests to simulate adverse market conditions can provide valuable insights into potential liquidity shortfalls. By analyzing various scenarios, treasuries can identify vulnerabilities and develop contingency plans accordingly. 2. Diversification of Funding Sources: Relying too heavily on any single funding source can expose a bank to significant liquidity risk. Diversifying funding sources, including wholesale funding, retail deposits, and access to central bank facilities, can enhance resilience against funding disruptions. 3. Maintaining High-Quality Liquid Assets (HQLA): Holding a portfolio of high-quality liquid assets, such as government securities and cash reserves, serves as a buffer during periods of liquidity stress. Ensuring sufficient HQLA levels relative to funding needs is a prudent risk management practice. 4. Establishing Contingency Funding Plans (CFP): Developing robust contingency funding plans that outline strategies for accessing liquidity in emergencies is essential. These plans should outline clear escalation procedures and specify the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders. 5. Monitoring and Early Warning Systems: Implementing robust monitoring mechanisms and early warning systems enables treasuries to detect liquidity risks in real-time. By closely monitoring liquidity metrics and market developments, banks can take timely corrective actions to mitigate potential threats. In conclusion, effective liquidity risk management is indispensable for the long-term viability of banking institutions. By understanding the nature of liquidity risk and implementing proactive risk mitigation strategies, treasuries can safeguard against potential liquidity shocks and ensure the uninterrupted provision of financial services. #Banking #TreasuryManagement #RiskMitigation #LiquidityRisk #FinanceManagement

Project Overview: Home Construction in Australia – Project Planning & Scheduling As the Project Planner for a residential home construction project in Australia, I utilized Primavera P6 to develop a detailed, resource-loaded schedule that includes key milestones, critical path management, and comprehensive project tracking. The project consists of various stages, including grading, foundation work, structure erection, interior and exterior finishes, and landscaping. My Responsibilities: Developed a Detailed Construction Schedule: I created a baseline project schedule with clear milestones, task dependencies, and well-defined durations. Resource Planning: I integrated resources into the schedule, ensuring that labor, materials, and equipment were allocated efficiently across all project phases. Critical Path Management: Focused on identifying and managing the critical path to ensure on-time project completion. Progress Tracking & Reporting: Delivered periodic updates, including S-curves and histograms to monitor progress and forecast potential delays, ensuring the project remained on track. Collaboration with Stakeholders: Worked closely with the project manager and construction team to ensure the schedule aligned with client expectations and budget constraints. Key Features of the Schedule: Resource Load Integration: Detailed resource allocation for each task, including labor, machinery, and materials. Progress Tracking: Consistent updates using S-curves and histograms to visualize project progress against planned timelines. Detailed Reporting: Delivered comprehensive project reports that outlined milestones, task durations, and dependencies to the client, ensuring transparency. Deliverables: Editable Primavera P6 project schedule. S-Curve and Histogram reports for progress tracking. Summary reports outlining key milestones and durations. A detailed schedule narrative explaining assumptions, constraints, and sequencing logic. By using Primavera P6, I helped ensure that the project was completed within the defined timelines, resources were efficiently managed, and potential risks were identified early.

You can’t call it partnership if stakeholders only hear from you once before launch. True engagement isn’t a courtesy email. It’s about making stakeholders 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 from day one to follow-through. 4 shifts that make the difference: 1. Map before you move Not all stakeholders need the same level of attention. Use mapping tools to identify who has influence, what they care about, and how they prefer to engage. 2. Align objectives early Don’t wait until the end to prove impact. Bring stakeholders into planning to set KPIs, success metrics, and business outcomes together. 3. Keep communication alive Use clear, jargon-free updates. Share progress, invite feedback, and celebrate wins. Trust grows when stakeholders feel part of the journey. 4. Champion transfer, not just learning Make managers and sponsors active player, e.g. mentors, accountability partners, and reinforcement leaders. Because learning in the classroom means nothing if it doesn’t show up on the job. When engagement is tailored this way, L&D stops being a service provider… and starts being a strategic driver of business results. A question for you: What’s worked best in your experience: mapping, alignment, communication, or transfer support? _____________ High functioning ≠ high capacity. I consult with L&D teams to turn busyness into business impact.

Silence is deadlier than bugs in IT. So here's my 5-part framework to keep clients happy. In IT, people think the biggest sin is missing a deadline. It’s not. It’s disappearing. No update. No email. No, "this might take longer than planned." Silence turns small delays into big problems. • It breeds assumptions • Assumptions turn into frustration • Frustration kills trust I’ve seen projects slip by two months, and the client still walked away happy. Not because the work was perfect. But because every week, they knew exactly what was going on. And people in IT know problems happen. • Servers crash • Timelines shift • Code breaks But communication is the difference between a frustrated client and a loyal one. And silence kills faster than any missed deadline ever will. Now, if you want my communication framework, here's what I recommend to people: 1// Set Communication Expectations Upfront • Define channels: 2–3 preferred methods (email for formal updates, Slack for quick questions, weekly calls for big discussions) • Set response times: “Emails within 24 hours, urgent issues within 4 hours” • Create update schedules: Weekly reports, bi-weekly demos, or milestone check-ins, but make it consistent 2// Be Proactive In Communication • Update before you’re asked, even “everything’s on track” matters • Flag problems early: “This might take an extra day because of X” • Explain the “why” behind updates and changes 3// Translate Technical into Human • Avoid jargon overload • Use analogies: “Like traffic on a highway - too many requests are slowing it down” • Focus on impact: “Making the app load 50% faster for your users” 4// Build Trust Through Transparency • Own the problems: “Here’s what went wrong and here’s our fix” • Provide realistic timelines, under-promise, over-deliver • Show your work: Screenshots, videos, or live demos 5// Listen as Much as You Talk • Ask clarifying questions • Acknowledge concerns • Adapt your style to the client And beyond this, here's what else I recommend you can do: a) This Week: • Define communication channels and response times • Create a simple weekly update template (3 bullet points) • Choose a project management tool with client visibility b) This Month: • Share client communication guidelines with your team • Practice explaining services without jargon • Set up automated project updates c) This Quarter: • Survey clients on communication preferences • Train your team on best practices • Build protocols into onboarding Ultimately, the best IT founders don’t just build great products. They build great relationships. And relationships are built on great communication. Start treating communication as seriously as you treat your code. Your clients will notice the difference. --- ✍ Tell me below: When was the last time proactive communication saved you from a client blow-up?

🚀 Day 9 of 100 Days of Product Management: Mastering Stakeholder Management ✍ Daily Insight: Stakeholder management involves more than just regular updates; it's about strategic engagement that ensures every stakeholder is aligned and supportive from conception through to the product's lifecycle. Key Elements of Stakeholder Management: 🌐 Who are Stakeholders? This group includes anyone from internal teams like developers and marketers to external parties such as customers and investors. 🌐 Importance: Proper management ensures alignment on the product vision, facilitates resource allocation, and mitigates risks by addressing potential challenges early on. Strategic Steps in Stakeholder Management: 🌐 Identify and Prioritize: Understand who your stakeholders are and rank them based on their influence and interest in the product. 🌐 Understand Needs: Conduct surveys, interviews, and meetings to grasp their expectations, goals, and concerns. 🌐 Develop a Communication Plan: Tailor your communication strategy to fit different stakeholder groups, ensuring you use the most effective channels and frequency. 🌐 Engage Proactively: Involve stakeholders early in the development process, promoting collaboration and participation. 🌐 Manage Expectations: Set clear, realistic goals and be transparent about progress and any challenges that arise. 🌐 Build Relationships: Establish trust through regular interaction and acknowledge the contributions and feedback of stakeholders. 🌐 Monitor and Adjust: Continually assess stakeholder engagement and satisfaction, being ready to adapt your strategy as needed. Best Practices: 🌐 Be Proactive and Transparent: Anticipate needs and be open about all aspects of the product process. 🌐 Show Empathy and Consistency: Respect and understand stakeholder perspectives and ensure regular communication. 🌐 Overshare! Image Source and Further read - https://lnkd.in/gmZFvTHX by The Product Manager by Kim Kastner ⭐ Tool Highlight: nextapp.co NEXT - AI-powered product discovery platform that turns customer interactions into product insights. Great tool guys - Dragana Grbic 🦓 | Moodi Mahmoudi | Marco de Mooij | Ronny Roeller | Ihanja R. 🙎 PM Spotlight: Meet Jai Mamtani, a product leader with 16+ years of experience in building and managing products and teams across Banking, FinTech, InsurTech, SaaS, PropTech & OTA. #Day9of100 #ProductManagement #100DaysofProductManagement #StakeholderManagement