Thread: Need Project Management Advice

I've outsourced many small projects over the last few years, and most of them fall short of what I expect. Other times I would get what was requested, but further extending the code was virtually impossible due to underlying weaknesses in the code that a non-programmer could not detect easily.

So in short my results with project management have been mediocre. And sometime later this year I'm going to have to manage a big project: an order, inventory, shipping, warehouse, & customer management system that is flexible enough to integrate with all the major online marketplaces.

What advice or suggested readings do you guys have for me to prepare for this project? The system will probably be built on Access/SQL FYI.

Hi,

Are you saying you need to manage big project but your are not good at project management?

In that case, I guess you have two options:
1 - learn how to be a good project manager. Buy some books, browse internet for good resources
2 - go to elance.com or odesk.com and pay someone that is good at project management

Hope this help.

Forgot to add the one that seems to be the most robust and fast and one of the most affordable.

projectmanager.com

we use active collab, a clone of basecamp but we run it on our own server.

the real thing is, its not the software.

Its in the thinking.

learning how to delegate, setting a road map, milestones, and then holding people accountable to the milestones, understanding what your building, and managing it through the whole process is a lot to learn.

my suggestion is go to some project management forums, find a retired PM, (they never quite like to give up and go home.) and ask them for advice.

if done right, PM can really systematize your business, and launch you up several levels, if done wrong it can be one of the most frustrating, demoralizing things. because it can make you feel like an idiot, and a failure.

Done right, it can build HUGE companies!

its a skill, so it can be learned. I hired a couple PM's years ago, and they taught me some great simple tricks for setting up a project, as well as the Day to day.

books are great, but an experienced guy can give you the quick tips fast. then the rest is just practice

Hope that helps

Thanks for the advice!

I can't seem to find a project management forum that gets any traffic; do you know a good one?

here is some
6 Free Project Management Forums

now, the question is, how many do you need?
go to these and start looking around. I bet some will point you the way you need to go.

Originally Posted by Iqen

I've outsourced many small projects over the last few years, and most of them fall short of what I expect. Other times I would get what was requested, but further extending the code was virtually impossible due to underlying weaknesses in the code that a non-programmer could not detect easily.

So in short my results with project management have been mediocre. And sometime later this year I'm going to have to manage a big project: an order, inventory, shipping, warehouse, & customer management system that is flexible enough to integrate with all the major online marketplaces.

What advice or suggested readings do you guys have for me to prepare for this project? The system will probably be built on Access/SQL FYI.

You can try this online project management system. It offers a fast and easy solution to managing team projects. Here you will be provided with all the data that you will need for your team members. Utilizing this online application lessens administrative work so that you can focus more on things that truly matter.