How to manage multiple projects? 2

[raydefan]

I am a project engineer and have four lower level engineers below me. I am having a difficult time keeping all of my projects organized and am in dire need of some sort of system. Can any recommend a book?

 

[dbuzz]

You can actually manage a portfolio of projects pretty simply using earned value management. It might take some training of your engineers and it will require a disciplined and honest approach from you and them.

Simply treat each project as a WBS element of a master project.

Do you have any project management software in your organisation? If not, in an MS Excel table, set up:
[ul]
[li]Project list down the left hand column[/li]
[li]EVM settings across the top row[/li]
[ul circle]
[li]Original Budget[/li]
[li]Approved Variations[/li]
[li]Budget at Completion (BAC), BAC = Original Budget + Approved Variations[/li]
[li]Pending Changes[/li]
[li]Planned Value (PV)[/li]
[li]Actual Cost (AC)[/li]
[li]Percentage Complete (PC)[/li]
[li]Earned Value (EV), EV = AC x PC[/li]
[li]Cost Variance (CV), CV = EV - AC[/li]
[li]Percent Cost Variance (CV%), CV% = (CV/EV)%[/li]
[li]Cost Performance Index (CPI), CPI = EV/AC[/li]
[li]Schedule Variance (SV), SV = EV - PV[/li]
[li]Percent Schedule Variance (SV%), SV% = (SV/PV)%[/li]
[li]Schedule Performance Index (SPI), SPI = EV/PV[/li]
[li]Estimate to Complete (ETC)[/li]
[li]Estimate at Completion (EAC), EAC = AC + ETC[/li]
[li]Variance at Completion (VAC), VAC = BAC - EAC[/li]
[li]Percent Variance at Completion (VAC%), VAC% = (VAC/BAC)%[/li]
[/ul circle]
[/ul]

You can then monitor progress by checking the cost and schedule performance measures on a periodic basis.

There are various ways of independently establsihing the ETC based on performance data (CPI and SPI). You then also monitor the VAC.

I'd also suggest establishing a master project schedule in MS Project.

 

[Ashereng]

ray, there are lots of books that can help.

If you could shed a bit more light, more focused light on what type of problems regarding organization that you think you need more info on, it may help with the book recommendation?

Perhaps you need to start with some brushing up on clear succint communication with your direct reports?

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[INBCPE]

Ray,

We started using a web based project management site about six months ago. Best thing we ever did. I can see where everything's at. Very WBS oriented. Gantt charts. Calendars. We have our field crew schedule posted there for the project managers to see and modify. Auto e-mail feature whenever you update a file (which can be stored on the site) or enter a diary-type entry in a task. Awesome site. We pay $39 a month, and we get 50 GB of storage. We have 256 projects in there now.

I can't tell you the name of the site due to the rules, and I'm not promoting it, but start your own search for with a Google search for "projects software 2006", you can make up your own mind.

 

[PGLB]

"PRINCE 2" is a standard for managing projects. It gets some bad press for being an overkill, but there are simplified versions and some freeware. Do a web search.