Project management

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Overview

Each and every project is different, with its own set of characteristics, aims and objectives. The key to success is good project management which will make sure that goals are achieved within the timeframe and other constraints, that risks are managed and that a flexible approach can be taken should the need arise. There are many different project management methodologies, such as PRINCE2 and Critical Chain Project Management.

Why project planning is important

In order to achieve the objectives of any project it is essential to look at the details of the work required, which includes identifying specific tasks and estimating time to complete them, estimating associated costs, identifying who will perform the tasks and highlighting areas of risk together with devising appropriate contingency plans. In some cases, an outline of this information is required in the bid for funding.

It is usually part of the responsibility of the project manager to create the project plan and to update it on a regular and frequent basis. This is an important point - project plans are not made in tablets of stone! They are dynamic and must reflect the current situation. In most projects there are a number of unexpected challenges or events which may affect the timescales, costs and outcomes of the project. With good planning these unexpected events can be dealt with effectively and will not cause insoluble difficulties to the project team.

Project management activities

At the outset of a digital content creation project, it is important to take time to plan what you expect to do before any work begins. Make sure that you are clear about this, have the necessary expertise and equipment available and have defined the outcome of the work. You will want to have done audience analysis, a feasibility study, a risk assessment which will include any IPR and licensing issues, developed the workflow for the content creation process, agreed monitoring and evaluation methods and identified likely business models for sustaining the resource once the project has fininshed.

Content creation workflow activities

Content creation workflow will include a number of activities such as the following set out in the JISC Digital Media paper on project management for a digitisation project:

Selecting for digitisation
Clearing copyright
Indexing and metadata
Conservation of originals
Transit of items to be digitised
Digitisation
Digital processing or re-mastering
Quality assurance procedures for all digital files and metadata
Digital storage and back-up
Creating a delivery mechanism
Preservation of collections once the project ends

Working to a continuous cycle of plan/do/monitor/adjust will make sure that you are able to change the way work is done if necessary, or that you can respond to unexpected changes of circumstance without compromising the project.

Sources of advice and guidance

JISC Digital Media provide an extensive guide to managing a digitisation project.

JISC Infonet offers a project management methodology

The UKOLN Good Practice Guide includes a chapter on project management.

Further information

PRINCE2

Best practice advice from the UK Government

Harvested links to other resources

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[[Role::newcomer]] [[Role::strategy manager]] [[Role::policy maker]] [[Role::project manager]] 
[[Goal::deciding]] [[Goal::advice]] [[Goal::developing]] [[Goal::business plan]] 
[[Level::basic]] [[Level::medium]]

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