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Chapter 9:Project Communications Management

Copyright Course Technology 2001

Importance of Good CommunicationsThe greatest threat to many projects is a failure to communicateOur culture does not portray IT professionals as being good communicatorsResearch shows that IT professionals must be able to communicate effectively to succeed in their positionsStrong verbal skills are a key factor in career advancement for IT professionals


Project Communications Management ProcessesCommunications planning: determining the information and communications needs of the stakeholdersInformation distribution: making needed information available in a timely mannerPerformance reporting: collecting and disseminating performance informationAdministrative closure: generating, gathering, and disseminating information to formalize phase or project completion


Communications PlanningEvery project should include some type of communications management plan, a document that guides project communicationsCreating a stakeholder analysis for project communications also aids in communications planning


Communications Management Plan ContentsA description of a collection and filing structure for gathering and storing various types of informationA distribution structure describing what information goes to whom, when, and howA format for communicating key project informationA project schedule for producing the informationAccess methods for obtaining the informationA method for updating the communications management plans as the project progresses and developsA stakeholder communications analysis


Table 9-1. Sample Stakeholder Analysis for Project Communications


Stakeholders

Document Name

Document Format

Contact Person

Due

Customer Management

Monthly Status Report

Hard copy

Gail Feldman, Tony Silva

First of month

Customer Business Staff


Hard copy

Julie Grant,

Jeff Martin

First of month

Customer Technical Staff


E-mail

Evan Dodge,

Nancy Michaels

First of month

Internal Management


Hard copy

Bob Thomson

First of month

Internal Business and Technical Staff


Intranet

Angie Liu

First of month

Training Subcontractor

Training Plan

Hard Copy

Jonathan Kraus

11/1/1999

Software Subcontractor

Software Implementation Plan

E-mail

Barbara Gates

6/1/2000

Information DistributionGetting the right information to the right people at the right time and in a useful format is just as important as developing the information in the first placeImportant considerations includeusing technology to enhance information distributionformal and informal methods for distributing information


What Went Wrong?A well publicized example of misuse of e-mail comes from the 1998 Justice Department's high profile, antitrust suit against Microsoft. E-mail emerged as a star witness in the case. Many executives sent messages that should never have been put in writing. The court used e-mail as evidence, even though the senders of the notes said the information was being interpreted out of context. Harmon, Amy, "E-mail comes back to haunt companies," November 29, 1998


Table 9-2. Media Choice Table


Figure 9-1. The Impact of the Number of People on Communications Channels


Performance ReportingPerformance reporting keeps stakeholders informed about how resources are being used to achieve project objectivesStatus reports describe where the project stands at a specific point in timeProgress reports describe what the project team has accomplished during a certain period of timeProject forecasting predicts future project status and progress based on past information and trendsStatus review meetings often include performance reporting


Administrative ClosureA project or phase of a project requires closureAdministrative closure producesproject archivesformal acceptancelessons learned


Suggestions for Improving Project CommunicationsManage conflicts effectivelyDevelop better communication skillsRun effective meetingsUse templates for project communications


Conflict Handling Modes, in Preference OrderConfrontation or problem-solving: directly face a conflictCompromise: use a give-and-take approachSmoothing: de-emphasize areas of differences and emphasize areas of agreementForcing: the win-lose approachWithdrawal: retreat or withdraw from an actual or potential disagreement


Conflict Can Be GoodConflict often produces important results, such as new ideas, better alternatives, and motivation to work harder and more collaborativelyGroupthink can develop if there are no conflicting viewpointsResearch by Karen Jehn suggests that task-related conflict often improves team performance, but emotional conflict often depresses team performance


Developing Better Communication SkillsCompanies and formal degree programs for IT professionals often neglect the importance of developing speaking, writing, and listening skillsAs organizations become more global, they realize they must invest in ways to improve communication with people from different countries and culturesIt takes leadership to improve communication


Running Effective MeetingsDetermine if a meeting can be avoidedDefine the purpose and intended outcome of the meetingDetermine who should attend the meetingProvide an agenda to participants before the meetingPrepare handouts, visual aids, and make logistical arrangements ahead of timeRun the meeting professionallyBuild relationships


Using Templates for Project CommunicationsMany technical people are afraid to ask for helpProviding examples and templates for project communications saves time and moneyOrganizations can develop their own templates, use some provided by outside organizations, or use samples from textbooks


Figure 9-2. Sample Template for a Project DescriptionProject 98 file


Table 9-3. Sample Template for a Monthly Progress Report


Table 9-4. Sample Template for a Letter of Agreement for a Class Project


Table 9-5. Outline for a Final Project Report


Table 9-6. Final Project Documentation Items


Figure 9-3. Gantt Chart Template for a Class Project


Table 9-7. Guidance for Students Lessons Learned Report


Table 9-8. Sample Template for a Project Web Site


Developing a Communications InfrastructureA communications infrastructure is a set of tools, techniques, and principles that provide a foundation for the effective transfer of informationTools include e-mail, project management software, groupware, fax machines, telephones, teleconferencing systems, document management systems, and word processorsTechniques include reporting guidelines and templates, meeting ground rules and procedures, decision-making processes, problem-solving approaches, and conflict resolution and negotiation techniquesPrinciples include using open dialog and an agreed upon work ethic


Using Software to Assist in Project CommunicationsThere are many software tools to aid in project communicationsThe What Went Right? example describes several new web-based and wireless communications toolsMicrosoft Project 2000 includes several features to enhance communications


Figure 9-4. Microsoft Project Information Saved as HTML File


Figure 9.5 Microsoft Project Central


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Documents

project progresses

project communicationscreating

right information

information distributionformal

needed information available

sample stakeholder analysis

right time

right people