Project Management Tips

Centralize, Organize, Webatize

Using web-based project management software

Peggy awoke with the thought that today was going to be a good day. She had worked for Humphrey Spice for five years, and had risen up the ranks to Senior Project Manager. Her job was to make sure the company's projects were a success, and she was ultimately responsible at all levels. As she walked to work from the subway, she thought about the fact that today was the first day in the company's new office space on Fifth Avenue. She had thought a lot about the new office, wondering if her cubicle would be transformed into a large corner office with a nice view of midtown.

As Peggy stepped out of the elevator she was greeted by Mary, head of Human Resources. Mary greeted Peggy and motioned towards the new reception area. Peggy had not seen the new office and was amazed by its size. Mary explained that the company now occupied twenty thousand square feet and that management wanted large empty spaces around each work area in order to enhance the open feeling of the office. Peggy started to think about the sheer enormity of the office, and how her old ways of managing people might have to change. In the past, Peggy would run from area to area informing each person about different project requirements. She spent a lot of time on her feet. Her job was to keep everyone in the loop, and face to face contact always seemed to be the best way. She now realized with this new large office running from person to person could be difficult.

Peggy followed Mary up a flight of stairs and into an area with a number of conference rooms. Mary swept her hand in a round motion as if she was introducing someone important, and pointed to a small office in front of them, "Peggy, that's you office, enjoy." Mary smiled and shook Peggy's hand, walking off in a hurry.

Ah, Peggy thought to herself, finally an office. She walked through the office door and noticed the new desk and chairs. She sat down with a little jump and leaned back to take in her new digs. Although the office was small, with only half of a slim window looking out onto the back side of another building, she was more than delighted, and quickly told herself that this was the beginning of a new era for her. She was moving up.

A moment later the phone rang and it was her boss George on the line. "Peggy, I know everyone is a bit distracted by the move, but we need to talk. The Army project is still due in two weeks and I need you to get on it immediately. We can't screw it up. I want you to come on down to my office on the 16th floor and bring your latest printouts of the project Gantt charts." Peggy heard George hang up with the click. She suddenly thought to herself that she had no idea where his office was on the 16th floor.

She got up and walked over to her notebook, pulling out the Army project schedule. She was ready for just such a situation, where George would call her at a moment's notice, and she had carefully planned on what she would have readily available. She got up and walked down the hall towards the direction of the elevators. After much searching, and wondering if she was lost, Peggy found the elevators and rode up to the 16th floor.

Peggy arrived in George's office while he was on the phone. He motioned for her to sit down, and after hanging up, asked, "So how do you like the new office space? Quite nice isn't it?" Peggy agreed wholeheartedly, although she admitted with a smile, "The space is wonderful, George, but I have no idea where I'm going." George nodded in agreement, cleared his throat and replied, "Peggy, that's what I want to talk to you about, where we're going."


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