At "herding cats" there a good list of control elements in a posting I read, interesting enough that I offer the short version here:
- Short term feedback - what's happening right in front of me? What do I need to do NOW to maintain stability, to survive for the next 10 feet on the trail
- Long term feedback - I see things coming ...[project managers are paid the big bucks to see around corners!]
- Corrective actions - what corrective actions am I capable of performing?
- Alternative choices - ... choices present themselves. Some are optional, some are mandatory alternatives.
- Estimate what's right in front of you - A quick estimate is needed to decide what to do. Keep going, speed up, slow down, stop? All depends on the situation.
- Estimates of needed for solutions coming up the trail - with short term estimating there are a limited number of choices, .... For longer term choices, there are more options. A Plan B is needed as part of the normal process
- Estimates of needed resources - The resource plan for the project is needed no matter the method used to develop the project.What skills, how many of those skills, the availability of those skills?
- Estimates to complete -
- On projects knowing something about when you plan to finish is part of managing the project.
- Anyone working on a project that doesn't have some type of deadline is working on a de minimis project - it's too small for anyone to care about.
- Same for the budget; Same for the needed technical performance
- A Plan B and even a Plan C - planning in depth is a good idea whenever ....
- Knowing the Value at Risk defines the magnitude and detail of the plan.
- Risk Management is How Adults Manage Projects Tim Lister should never be forgotten
- Knowledge of capacity for work - how big is it?
- On projects, if we don't our capacity for work, we can't make informed estimates if we can get to the end in one piece.
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