Strategic Project Management Made Simple
Master strategic project management with Terry Schmidt’s structured approach.
Summary of 7 Key Points
Key Points
- Asking the Right Strategic Questions
- Aligning Projects with Organizational Goals
- Using the Logical Framework Approach
- Building a Solid Project Foundation
- Creating Clear Project Objectives
- Measuring Success and Making Adjustments
- Communicating Effectively with Stakeholders
key point 1 of 7
Asking the Right Strategic Questions
Asking the right strategic questions is about creating a clear dialogue about the project’s purpose and its ultimate goals. It includes understanding the project’s mission, its strategic intent, and the underlying reasons for undertaking the project. This involves asking thought-provoking questions that help to clarify the project’s vision, align the team’s efforts, and maintain focus on the desired outcomes. In other words, these strategic questions help to map out the project’s path, guiding decision-making and helping to ascertain critical success factors…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 7
Aligning Projects with Organizational Goals
Aligning projects with organizational goals is a critical perspective highlighted in the text. It emphasizes the importance of ensuring that every project undertaken by an organization is in sync with its core objectives. This alignment is not just a superficial connection, but a deep-rooted intertwining of the project’s purpose with the organization’s mission and vision. Whether the organization’s goal is to increase profitability, improve market share, or enhance customer satisfaction, every project should contribute in some way to achieving these goals…Read&Listen More
key point 3 of 7
Using the Logical Framework Approach
The Logical Framework Approach (LFA) in strategic project management presents a systematic planning process for identifying key objectives and mapping out how to achieve them. It emphasizes the need for clear, logical links between project goals and activities. The approach employs four levels of objectives: goals, purposes, outputs, and activities. The highest level, the goal, is the broadest aim of the project. The purpose level elaborates on specific objectives necessary to achieve the goal, while the output level details the tangible results necessary to fulfill the purpose. Activities are the tasks that must be performed to produce the outputs…Read&Listen More
key point 4 of 7
Building a Solid Project Foundation
Building a solid project foundation is about establishing the fundamental elements that will guide the entire project. It starts with defining the project’s objectives and the strategy to achieve these objectives. This involves identifying the key stakeholders, their needs and expectations, the resources required, and the potential risks and challenges that might arise. It’s crucial to ensure these elements are clearly defined and agreed upon by all stakeholders to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts later on…Read&Listen More
key point 5 of 7
Creating Clear Project Objectives
In the context of strategic project management, crafting clear project objectives is paramount. The book emphasizes the importance of clarity in defining the end results, which are the objectives of the project. Even before embarking on any task or project, having a clear understanding of what needs to be accomplished is critical. This clarity provides a roadmap for the project, helping establish what needs to be done, why it should be done, who should do it, when it should be completed and how it will be achieved. Without clear project objectives, the project could easily derail or become unmanageable…Read&Listen More
key point 6 of 7
Measuring Success and Making Adjustments
In the key perspective of measuring success and making adjustments, the process of assessing the progress and results of a project against its original objectives and plans is emphasized. It acknowledges that no project unfolds exactly as planned, necessitating regular check-ins to track performance, identify deviations, and implement necessary corrective actions. This iterative process involves clarifying the goal, identifying and quantifying the key drivers of success, evaluating the current situation, and adjusting actions accordingly…Read&Listen More
key point 7 of 7
Communicating Effectively with Stakeholders
Communicating effectively with stakeholders is a critical aspect of successful project management. It involves sharing relevant information and maintaining transparency with all parties involved in the project. This includes employees, clients, suppliers, investors, and anyone else who may be affected by the outcome of the project. The objective is to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of the project’s goals, plans, progress, and any potential issues that may arise…Read&Listen More