Project Management Skill Sharpener Learning Frame One Lo

Skill Sharpener Item #5

I develop and negotiate procurement approval of a Needed Resources Budget that describes (a) what every essential and non-routine resource (eg. equipment, vendor, raw material, Prime Mover approval, etc.) that will be required for project success is and (b) when it will be required.

Outstanding! Here are some of the benefits you've probably received because you build a complete project resource budget that details what your team will need and when they'll need it:

You avoid the fatal mistake of PRIME MOVER SURPRISE, as in "This is going to cost WHAT!!".

You help your Prime understand why each substantial resource is required to meet your deadlines and ROI estimates and, by doing so, you provide him/her with ammunition to get the resources from the folks who hold bigger purse strings than s/he does.

You learn why some resources aren't going to be forthcoming under any circumstances, thereby giving you the chance to either (a) find a lower cost workaround, (b) solve the problem by stretching out the project schedule or (c) convince the Prime Mover that, given resource constraints, the project is better off shelved before money is lost in what would become a non-performing investment (the project).

You help your Prime develop a budget schedule that ensures project resources are available on a Just-In-Time basis rather than having them, while lying in wait in some budget category, become a target for ad hoc initiatives in search of funding.