Re: first time managing a project

gretzteam@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

Hi,
I just got chosen as 'project manager' for our next project. It seems
like most people feel 'sorry' for me around here... We are designing a
moderately large mostly digital asic and the team consists of about 6
people. I've never managed anything before and most of the people in
the team are more senior designer than me. Right now, things are
decided from hallway conversations, and nothing is really written down
in terms of schedule and who-does-what...

I wonder what tools if any that people use to manage a project. Is
something like MS-Project any good? I understand that the schedule we
would put in place will never hold, but I figure it's better to have
something than nothing. Also, what do people use to track down bugs and
issues. The chip is divided in 6-7 blocks, each will be assigned to
one-two person. Where should I gather the information coming out of the
weekly meeting - schedule slip, bugs to be fixed etc...email?
ms-project? hallway?

Thanks a lot,

Dave

I'm not sure what "project manager" means at your company, but if you can't fire anyone you're not a manager. If someone calls you a manager, with or without the word "project" in front, holds you responsible for results, but doesn't let you hire and fire then you're not a manager, you're a future scape goat.

If you're lucky you won't be held responsible for schedule slips &c. If you're not lucky then the piece of software you most need is your friendly local word processor, for resume composition.

As mentioned elsewhere, you want to understand project management skills before you bother getting the tools. If you can't do it with index cards and magnets on a whiteboard then you can't do it with Project. When that poster mentioned "soft skills" he meant the people skills to manage your troops _and_ the political skills to get the resources you need to succeed from your superiors. This cannot be underrated -- I have never known a truly successful project manager who could not get what he needed from higher-ups, nor have I seen one who could not get people to do what he felt was necessary, even if no one else could.

Enough of that.

However you manage your schedule data, you need to have a solid estimate. I've found two ways to accurately estimate a project: wideband delphi (do a web search) and looking at how long it took to do the last project. The second option only works if you've done something similar; wideband delphi is very accurate but it takes a long time (it also refines the project definition, so you can call it "preliminary design" if you can get people to cooperate).

No matter what, if you track the actual schedule against your original estimate you can at least have an estimate of when you'll actually be done. Not only can you use this estimate to motivate the troops, but you can use it to warn your boss that things aren't going as fast as expected.

Track bugs with a data base. I prefer a real honest computerized database, either a pre-written package designed for bug tracking or a custom application written on the data base of your choice. At any rate you need to be able to track the progress of bug fixes and feature additions from cradle to grave, you need to know whether they are newly discovered, who's currently responsible for them, whether they've been fixed, whether the fix has been tested, and if they've been put to bed. I'd start with a purpose-written application, if I could find a good one (do a web search).

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: first time managing a project
    ... > I just got chosen as 'project manager' for our next project. ... > in terms of schedule and who-does-what... ... > something like MS-Project any good? ... > weekly meeting - schedule slip, bugs to be fixed etc...email? ...
    (comp.arch.fpga)
  • Re: Intuitive Explanation of Phase Conjugation
    ... Back in the Star Wars days at a previous company we had a manager that ... designing systems based upon the truth of the stantement. ... intuitively what is going on in phase conjugate mirrors. ... Engineering Calculations ...
    (sci.optics)
  • Re: Inherit a VisualStudio 2008 generics form
    ... my suggestion is changing the code to inherit Form class when designing. ... Microsoft Online Community Support ... You can send feedback directly to my manager at: ...
    (microsoft.public.vsnet.ide)
  • Re: 8 bit microcontroller market
    ... manager or when designing uC into otherwise analog circuitry for my ... clients: Availability of programmers. ... In most industries people try their darndest to avoid designing in a single-sourced part. ... Cost ...
    (comp.arch.embedded)
  • Re: BED BUGS OMG!!!!
    ... effort to secure a "free cruise" as one poster suggested. ... Yep, sure enough, bed bugs. ... with a manager privately. ... off of the ship and think about something other than bugs. ...
    (rec.travel.cruises)