Execution

• Start up & Implementation
  • Maintaining Support
  • Progressing the Project
  • Leading the Team
• Checklist Worksheet
• Project Communications

Additional Materials

• Communications Plan
• Tips for Leading Teams
• Managing Contractors
• Data Analysis Tools

Maintaining Support

Basically this is about communications. Keeping in contact with the key stakeholders to ensure that they are still supportive of the project and are up to date on progress - as it is relevant to them. The project sponsor can often help in this and it is a key part of their role. This is particularly important with any change in organisational and working practices. Otherwise, situations arise that can delay the project.

The key point is that the stakeholders will tend to have differing needs and the key to success in this area is to tailor the communications to these differing needs.

Because of this, the best place to start is the work already done on terms of reference, stakeholder analysis, and gaining support. This should give a good insight into what key stakeholders would like from the project and who is supportive or not. For simple projects try the following:

• Simply list the key stakeholders - at a minimum those listed in your terms of reference in the Project Plan.
• Then look at the Project Plan time schedule and identify the key points at which you feel that they might need to be communicated with.
• Then as the project progresses, ensure that you or the project sponsor keep in touch with them and ensure that they are still supportive.
• Use your Project Reports to support that.

If the project is complex, it will be worthwhile formalising this by carrying out a communications analysis and plan along the lines described in "Communications Plan" in Additional Material.