Step 03: Clear goals and achievable, objective deliverables

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Step 03: Clear goals and achievable, objective deliverables

Make sure the project has clear goals and achievable, objective deliverables. It's common for people to hype up the benefits and scope of their projects to secure more funding and improve their profile. But setting unrealistic goals and project schedules is one of the primary reasons so many projects fail. You'll need to be honest with the sponsors and stakeholders about the reality of the project. Everyone wants it better, faster, and cheaper. Work with your sponsors to set realistic project milestones and specific project phases. Make sure your deliverables are set in stone, so they don't constantly change, expand, or shift over time.

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12 STEPS TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS

 Home: Introduction
 Step 01: Identify sponsors and stakeholders
 Step 02: Get a champion in top management
 Step 03: Clear goals and achievable, objective deliverables
 Step 04: Own the planning process
 Step 05: Establish a methodology
 Step 06: Be honest about your abilities
 Step 07: Make sure you have the resources
 Step 08: Assemble the best team you can
 Step 09: Communicate early and often
 Step 10: Establish clear metrics
 Step 11: Keep your deliverables in mind
 Step 12: Know when to ask for help

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bernie Klinder, MVP, consultant
Bernie Klinder is a technology consultant for a number of Fortune 500 companies. He is also the founder and former editor of LabMice.net, a comprehensive resource index for IT professionals who support Microsoft Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 and BackOffice products. For his contributions to the information technology community, Bernie was selected as an MVP (Most Valuable Professional) by Microsoft. Copyright 2004 TechTarget