Project management is the skill of planning, organizing, securing and managing resources to manage the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives. If not done correctly, using the correct resources, the right people and the right philosophy, there is a danger that the project will fail to meet the needs of the client in way of quality and delivery time and the company delivering in terms of cost.

Below are a range of hints and tips intended to smooth the process of project management so hopefully all parties with the project.

1. In order to deliver a great project, the Project Manager must focus on 3 important points, delivering the job on TIME, within the BUDGET and sticking to the QUALITY that was agreed at the planning stage.

2. "You can’t manage what you can’t measure" whether this be hours spent on a project or budget allocated for external resources, it is important for successful project management that you have tools and processes in place that can measure every element that will affect the eventual cost of a project.

3. It is the Project Managers job to make sure that everyone involved in the project has a clear understanding of what the final deliverable will be. Everyone involved in the project must be pulling in the same direction and any aspects that appear vague must be cleared in order to steer clear of any mistakes further down the projects line.

4. While it is important that the project team has a clear vision of the end game, it is important that this vision matches up to the hopes of the client. It is vital for the Project manager to ensure there are clear sign off point within project so the client can approve the progress as it develops. Failure to include the client in such a way can lead to nasty shocks when it comes time to present. Some projects have a habit of evolving from planning to delivery, so make sure all interested parties are privy to the evolution process.

5. It is important for great project management that the project included a clear planning stage to ensure that everyone involved is singing from the same hymn sheet. Invariably during the completion period of the project, event and circumstance will plan to change the initial project plan. In such events it is the role of the Project Manager to react and respond to these forces in order to keep the project moving forward.

6. The Project Manager must also keep every member of the team on their toes to ensure that the project is on time. In some events this could result in the Project Manager being seen by the rest of the team in a less than favourable light. This is an aspect of the role, but one that the Project Manager must deal with and brush off, as once the project is completed on time, on budget and to the wishes of the client, everyone will no doubt be friends again.

7. Set out clear goals for each element of the project. It is no use jumping in with both feet, if you can identify the vital points of contact throughout the project, then it is more likely everything will go in the right direction. If it is large assignment it will be worth buying in some Project Management Software that will alert all people involved with the milestones that are approaching and the time that they have to complete them.