Maintaining Control During Project Execution 167bers and help to ensure that you get the type of information you
need—in the form in which you need it—to maintain control.
Consider designing a WBS-based spreadsheet with spaces
for providing input such as labor hours spent, current status,
forecasted values, issues or problems, re-estimates of duration
and cost, and so forth. You could also provide copies of the
project schedule that team members can mark up as appropri-
ate to provide information on current status. There are various
possibilities for enabling your team members to give you infor-
mation; whatever you choose, make sure you take the time and
effort to make their lives (and yours) easier.
MBWA. Management by Walking Around (MBWA) may seem
cliché, but for effective project leadership it’s absolutely vital.
Maintaining control is often more than just recording information.
It’s assessing the motivational level of your team members, eval-
uating or confirming the accuracy or validity of the information
you receive, and uncovering problems or issues that may not
surface in a team setting. Sometimes, these things can be evalu-
ated only by spending time with team members, one on one.
Take the time and find ways to spend time with the individu-
als on your team. Join them in the break room or cafeteria or at
lunch from time to time. Call them or seek them out, just to see
how things are going. You may be surprised at what you learn.
Software and Systems Support. The information management
component of gathering information varies widely from
The Value of Informal Communication Methods
Savvy project managers have discovered that information gath-
ered through informal channels of communication can often be
more valuable than information gathered through more formal methods,
such as team meetings.There are at least two reasons for this. First, some
team members may be reluctant to reveal information in front of the
entire team that may be of a sensitive nature. Second, a project manager
who spends time with individual team members demonstrates concern
and is likely to promote a healthier, more open relationship with each
team member.You should strive to provide team members with opportu-
nities to communicate with you and transfer information informally.