Project Management | Training Module #1
Module includes:
- 6 Templates (Supporting Documents)
- 1 Video (Walking you through the documents)
In this first module, we’ll cover the basics of Project Management as it pertains to opening a grocery store as we review the related documents – including Stakeholder tracking, Project Charter, Executive Summary, Business Plan, and more.
This video is intended for those wanting to learn more about managing large projects and grocery store owners needing to learn enough to be able to either open their store themselves or hire a project manager to help open their store. Large projects are too big to manage in your head and require tools to manage the large amounts of details and people involved in your project.
As project management is largely a skill of communication, the suggested documents aim to help minimize miscommunications, the most frequent issue within a project. The documents also help us to “begin with the end in mind,” given the importance in project management of having a clear destination/definition of success in mind at the start before beginning work on the project.
Note when hiring for Project Management that it’s a very different skill set than managing daily operations. We’ll talk a bit about the difference and then go more in-depth into project management concepts.
Finally, please note that this information comes primarily from my certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP), but there are many additional methods for managing projects.
Video
Supporting Documentation
Project Management Concepts
The Project Management Concepts document gives an overview of the topics and ideas most important for managing projects efficiently.
Mod1_1 Project Management Concepts (Word file, 105 KB)
Mod1_1 Project Management Concepts (PDF, 196 KB)
Project Charter Template
The Project Charter outlines justifications for the project, its objectives, and milestones. The goal of this document is to prevent conflict by proactively outlining responsibilities, high-level risks, the authority of the Project Manager, and a shared vision of success.
Mod1_2 Project Charter Template (Word file, 290 KB)
Mod1_2 Project Charter Template (PDF, 210 KB)
Executive Summary Template
The Executive Summary often appears to stakeholders without you – like sending it to your banker prior to meeting with them – aka this document should be able to stand alone without your added verbal explanation.
Mod1_3 Executive Summary Template (Word file, 7.4 KB)
Mod1_3 Executive Summary Template (PDF, 116 KB)
Business Plan Template
The Business Plan begins with and builds on the Executive Summary, but rather than being tailored toward stakeholders, this one’s for you and the success of your project.
Mod1_4 Business Plan Template (Word file, 13.7 KB)
Mod1_4 Business Plan Template (PDF, 242 KB)
Stakeholder Tracking Template
All of the people needing to know any level of detail regarding your project are your stakeholders, and it’s important to keep track of them. The Stakeholder Tracking spreadsheet is an organizational tool for keeping all stakeholder information in one place to avoid conflict and confusion.
Mod1_5 Stakeholder Tracking Template (Excel file, 8 KB)
Task Tracking & Scheduling Dependencies Template
The Task Tracking & Scheduling Dependencies spreadsheet tracks the order and importance of tasks needing to be completed for your project, along with any other relevant information to each task.
Mod1_6 Task Tracking & Scheduling Dependencies Template (Excel file, 74 KB)
References
Please note that this information comes primarily from my certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP).
Grocery Tool Kit – https://www.ruralgrocery.org/rural-grocery-toolkit/Overview.html
Rural Grocery Initiative – https://www.ruralgrocery.org/
PMBOK – https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Guide_to_the_Project_Management_Body_o/FpatMQEACAAJ?hl=en
Communication video – “Why Can’t I Talk The Way I Do in My Mind” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-Zel07vrro
Content curated and presented by Carly Whorton. Carly can be reached at carlywhorton@gmail.com
Video editing credit goes to Maddie Billings. Maddie can be reached at maddiebillings14@gmail.com