Project management by Ad Valoris

Don't
waste
your
resources,
time,
and
energy
on
poorly
selected
and
managed
projects.

Indeed, $1,000,000 is wasted
 every 20 seconds collectively
by organisations worldwide due to
poor project selection
and management practices. 

*According to a global survey conducted by the Project Management Institute (PMI)
Avoid the most common pitfalls in project management

In a context of almost constant change, successfully completing your projects is essential.

Your projects are
an indispensable source of value for your company. 

When used effectively, they transform the economic engine of your company.
They accelerate your reorganisation, product development, and the integration of the technologies you need.

Create
value
for
your
company
through
optimal
project
management.

01

Relevant
projects

02

Winning
projects

03

Value
more quickly

01

Relevant
projects

We help you choose projects that best align with your strategy.
You have a portfolio of projects that fully contribute to achieving your objectives.
We establish selection criteria to prioritise projects.
We evaluate the strategic alignment and return on investment of your projects.
We provide you with an overview of your project portfolio.
Opt for relevant project selection
02

Winning
projects

We ensure professional and tailored management of your projects.
You control the progress of your projects and make the right decisions at the right times.
We implement and apply proven project management methods.
We identify risks and put contingency plans in place.
We present key performance indicators to adjust the project in real-time.
Master the progress of your projects
03

Value
more quickly

We integrate agile techniques to allow you to adjust your needs as you go.
You demonstrate reactivity, and the benefits of your projects are realised more quickly.
We organise several short delivery cycles that bring you more value each time.
We drastically reduce the bureaucracy associated with project management without compromising on quality.
We continuously improve project performance.
Manage your projects with more agility

Our added value

Your projects are strategically aligned.

01.

Your project portfolio fully contributes to achieving your objectives.

You control their progress.

02.

You make the right decisions at the right times.

You obtain benefits more quickly.

03.

You maximise the return on your investments.
Let's meet

Project management
By Ad Valoris

Our comprehensive guide

Too many companies accumulate projects without finishing them.

Resources are wasted, opportunities are missed, and strategic priorities are not addressed.

Administrative costs skyrocket, the human factor is neglected, and deadlines are extended.

Don’t let inadequate project management hinder your success.

Opt for effective and adaptive project management,
and watch your company
gain agility and competitiveness.

 

Let's talk clearly!

5 reasons to choose Project management by Ad Valoris 

1. Everything is clarified from the start. You sort and launch your projects efficiently.

2. No unnecessary bureaucracy, but clear and understandable progress reports.

3. You keep control and make the right decisions at the right times.

4. You achieve results well before the project ends. 

5. Your projects become simpler and more effective.

Contact us to learn more about our unique approach.
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Avoid the most common pitfalls in project management

Project management is a central element in achieving your strategic initiatives. However, traditional project management presents challenges, notably an excessive focus on technical aspects at the expense of value creation. To overcome these challenges, it is important to emphasise the strategic alignment of your projects, effective communication, and stakeholder engagement, among other factors.

The main pitfalls to avoid

  • Launching projects without proper analysis

  • Lack of a defined project plan

  • Communication problems

  • Neglecting risk management

  • Lack of visibility into the number and progress of projects

  • Increased bureaucracy and costs associated with project management

  • Insufficient attention to the human factor in managing projects and the change they entail

  • Excessive focus on the technical aspects of project management, such as planning, estimation, cost, time, scope, and risk management, at the expense of focusing on results and value creation

Key to success #1: Strategic realignment

The success of a project is strongly linked to its alignment with the company’s overall strategy. Clear alignment ensures that each initiative effectively contributes to the organisation’s long-term objectives. Sometimes, the focus can be on the technical completion of projects, often at the expense of this strategic alignment. This can lead to misallocated resources and missed opportunities.

This alignment from the outset of the project is very important. It involves a deep understanding of the company’s objectives and translating these objectives into clear and measurable project parameters. This approach also promotes open communication between project stakeholders and management to ensure the project remains aligned with the company’s strategy throughout its lifecycle.

Key to success #2: Effective communication

Effective communication is the cement that binds all parts of a project. It ensures clarity of objectives, understanding of roles and responsibilities, and effective coordination between teams.

Adopt open and regular communication between all stakeholders from the start of the project. This ensures that everyone is aligned regarding the project’s objectives, expectations, and deliverables. Effective communication tools, regular meetings, and clear progress reports are some tactics that can be employed to strengthen communication.

Encourage a culture of open feedback where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas, concerns, and suggestions.

Key to success #3: Proactive risk management

The world of projects is inherently linked to various risks that, without proactive management, can seriously affect project performance and success. Effective risk management involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks from the initial phases of the project. This anticipation not only prevents unpleasant surprises but also aligns stakeholder expectations with the reality of upcoming challenges.

Integrate risk management into the project’s strategic planning, ensuring a clear understanding of potential risks and their impact on project objectives. This includes establishing robust processes for risk assessment, developing mitigation plans, and transparently communicating risks to stakeholders.

Promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement, where lessons from past challenges and risks are used to strengthen the risk management of future projects. 

Also, emphasise the importance of flexibility and adaptability in risk management, enabling project teams to better respond to changes and unforeseen events. 

Key to success #4: Stakeholder engagement

The success of a project depends not only on the effective management of tasks and resources but also on the strong engagement of key stakeholders. Identifying and engaging these stakeholders from the outset can significantly influence the project’s perception and its ability to achieve its objectives. Insufficient or late engagement can lead to resistance, misunderstandings, and delays that are detrimental to the project.

Create a comprehensive inventory of stakeholders and understand their interests, concerns, and levels of influence on the project.

Develop a stakeholder engagement strategy that identifies the needs and expectations of each group and establishes effective communication channels. This also includes setting up feedback mechanisms that allow stakeholders to express their concerns and contribute to solution development. 

Practise regular and transparent communication with stakeholders to keep them informed and actively engaged in key project decisions.

Key to success #5: Flexibility and adaptability

A project’s ability to adapt to unexpected changes is crucial for its success. Rigidity in project management can lead to failures, especially when external circumstances evolve rapidly. Adaptability enables a quick response to feedback, changes in project requirements, or market conditions, ensuring the project remains relevant and viable. 

Integrate principles from agile approaches, which value rapid iteration and the ability to adjust the project’s course based on feedback and new information. These agile approaches promote smoother planning and execution, enabling project teams to better respond to challenges and exploit opportunities as they arise. 

Foster a culture that encourages continuous learning, innovation, and improvement. This includes promoting open communication that enables rapid identification of areas for improvement and establishing processes that facilitate quick adaptation to changes.

Key to success #6: Incorporating lessons learned

Learning is a central element of continuous improvement, essential for the long-term success of projects. Examining past mistakes and integrating lessons learned are crucial to avoiding the repetition of the same errors and improving the management of future projects. A thoughtful approach to capturing and applying these lessons can lead to better project preparation, execution, and achievement.

Develop a culture that promotes regular evaluation of project performance and identification of improvement opportunities. Establish formal mechanisms to capture, document, and share lessons learned across the organisation. 

Implement post-project reviews, feedback sessions, and knowledge-sharing platforms. These initiatives foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement, enabling project teams to constantly adapt and improve. 

Contact us to discover how we can help you pave the way to success for your business. 

Opt for relevant project selection

A more effective and targeted selection of your projects will result in a better return on investment (ROI) for your project portfolio.

We establish selection criteria to prioritise projects.

We conduct a comprehensive analysis of your business environment to set rigorous selection criteria. This enables the prioritisation of projects that best align with your strategic objectives. 

We collaborate with you to ensure these criteria are understood throughout the organisation, ensuring that future initiatives will align with the overall strategy.

You allocate resources to projects that will bring the most value to your business, thereby optimising the overall performance of your project portfolio.
We evaluate the strategic alignment and return on investment of your projects.

Using analytical tools and simulation models, we assess the strategic alignment and potential return on investment of each project in your portfolio. 

This ensures that your resources are allocated efficiently.

We present the results of these analyses in a clear and understandable format, enabling you to make informed decisions regarding the continuation or adjustment of projects.

You reduce the risks associated with misdirected investments.
We provide you with an overview of your project portfolio.

We create a dashboard offering a clear and comprehensive overview of your project portfolio, including their status, costs, and progress. This dashboard is regularly updated and accessible at all levels of the organisation.

We establish regular review sessions to discuss portfolio performance, identify any deviations, and enable you to take corrective actions as needed.

You have a monitoring system for your project portfolio, facilitating the strategic management of projects and rapid decision-making.

Contact us to discover how we can help you pave the way to success for your business. 

Master the progress of your projects

Manage your projects more efficiently while gaining increased visibility and control over their progress and outcomes.

We establish and apply proven project management methods.

We analyse your environment to identify the project management method best suited to your specific needs (agile, waterfall, or a hybrid of both). Of course, if you already have a methodology in place, we will apply it.

We then implement these methodologies, providing the necessary support to ensure their full adoption by your team.

You benefit from rigorous and consistent project management, thereby increasing the likelihood of success for each project.
We identify risks and implement contingency plans.

Using risk analysis tools and regular assessments, we identify potential risks associated with each project.

We then collaborate with you to develop robust contingency plans to minimise the impact of these risks.

You are better prepared for uncertainties, reducing the risk of cost and schedule overruns.
We provide you with key performance indicators to adjust the project in real-time.

We set up a dynamic dashboard that displays the key performance indicators (KPIs) for each project.

This dashboard is regularly updated to allow you to track the progress and efficiency of your projects.

You have up-to-date information that facilitates quick and informed decision-making, enabling you to adjust the project's course as needed.

Contact us to discover how we can help you pave the way to success for your business.

Manage your projects with more agility

Gain the flexibility and speed needed to generate value more efficiently and responsively.

We organise several short delivery cycles, each bringing you more value.

We plan and execute short iterations to quickly deliver priority features. Each cycle is designed to provide measurable and immediate value to your organisation.

You achieve tangible results faster, accelerating the return on investment of your projects.
We drastically reduce the bureaucracy associated with project management without compromising on quality.

By adopting agile methods and modern management tools, we reduce the administrative complexity often linked to project management. All this, without compromising quality or compliance with standards. 

You gain operational efficiency, allowing you to focus on the essential aspects of your project.
We establish feedback mechanisms to continuously improve project performance.

We implement regular reviews to assess performance and gather feedback. These mechanisms help us identify areas for improvement and adjust course accordingly.

You benefit from continuous improvement, optimising the performance and long-term success of your project.

Contact us to discover how we can help you pave the way to success for your business.

Our comprehensive guide

Project management is a complex, multidimensional discipline that extends far beyond simply completing tasks. It encompasses aspects such as strategic planning, team coordination, performance monitoring, and much more. It requires mastering fundamentals, more advanced methodologies, technological tools, and psychological approaches. It is also important to know innovative strategies to help you optimise your projects, whether they are standalone, integrated into programmes, or part of a project portfolio.

Section 1: Fundamentals of project management

What is a project?

A project is a temporary initiative undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. It has a defined beginning and end, and is generally characterised by time, cost, and resource constraints.

  • Defined beginning and end: A project has a limited duration.
  • Unique objective: Each project aims to achieve something specific.
  • Constraints: Projects are often limited by resources such as time, money, and personnel.

What is project management?

Project management is the art of directing and coordinating human and material resources throughout the life of a project using modern management tools and techniques to achieve predefined objectives.

  • Planning: Establishing objectives and defining the path to achieve them.
  • Execution: Implementing the plan effectively.
  • Monitoring: Evaluating performance and making adjustments if necessary.

What is a project portfolio?

A project portfolio is a collection of projects and programmes that are managed as a single unit to achieve the organisation’s strategic objectives.

  • Diversity of projects: The portfolio can include projects from different areas.
  • Strategic alignment: All projects contribute to the company’s main strategy.
  • Centralised management: A single team manages the entire portfolio
Section 2: The project lifecycle

Understanding the project lifecycle is crucial for its success. This section details the different stages that make up the project lifecycle and the key activities at each stage.

The project lifecycle

The project lifecycle consists of several phases ranging from initiation to project closure. Each phase has its own activities, deliverables, and success criteria.

  • Initiation: Defining objectives and required resources.
  • Planning: Developing a detailed plan.
  • Execution: Implementing the plan.
  • Control: Monitoring and adjusting the project.
  • Closure: Finalising and evaluating the project.


What are the project management steps?

Project management generally follows a set of well-defined steps that ensure smooth execution and successful achievement of objectives.

  • Defining objectives: Clarifying goals and deliverables.
  • Identifying stakeholders: Recognising individuals and groups affected by the project.
  • Developing the budget: Estimating costs and allocating resources.
  • Risk management: Identifying and mitigating potential risks.
  • Monitoring and control: Regularly evaluating performance and making necessary adjustments.
  • Final evaluation: Reviewing the project and documenting for future projects.
Section 3: Tools and methods

A multitude of tools and methods are available to help you manage your projects effectively. This section explores some of the most commonly used tools and methods.

What are main project management tools and methods?

Project management tools and methods vary depending on the specific needs of the project and the organisation. They can range from simple task lists to complex project management software, and various methodologies such as Agile or Waterfall.

  • Project management software: Such as Jira, Asana, and Microsoft Project.
  • Methodologies: Such as Agile, Waterfall, and Scrum.
  • Communication tools: Such as Slack, Teams, and emails.
  • Analytical tools: Such as Gantt charts and dashboards.
Section 4: Traditional vs agile methodologies

The choice of project management methodology can significantly impact a project’s success. This section compares traditional and agile methodologies, highlighting their respective advantages and disadvantages.

Waterfall: Advantages and disadvantages

  • Advantages: Clear structure, easy planning, and comprehensive documentation.
  • Disadvantages: Lack of flexibility, difficulty in managing changes, and high risk if requirements are not clear.

Agile: Advantages and disadvantages

Agile is a project management methodology that emphasises flexibility and collaboration. It is often used in projects where requirements may evolve over time.

  • Advantages: Flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness to changes.
  • Disadvantages: May lack structure, requires constant communication, and can be difficult to manage for large projects.

Choosing the Right methodology

The choice between a traditional methodology like Waterfall and an agile methodology depends on various factors such as the nature of the project, requirements, and available resources.

  • Nature of the project: Some projects are better suited to a structured approach, while others require more flexibility.
  • Requirements: Well-defined requirements favour a Waterfall approach, while evolving requirements are better suited to Agile.
  • Resources: The availability of human and material resources can also influence the choice of methodology.
Section 5: The emergence of hybrid methods

With the increasing complexity of modern projects, a hybrid approach that combines elements of traditional and agile methodologies is becoming more widely adopted.

Why a hybrid approach?

A hybrid approach allows you to leverage the best of both worlds by combining the structure of traditional methodologies with the flexibility of agile methods. It is particularly useful for projects with diverse needs and complex structures.

  • Flexibility and structure: A hybrid approach offers both the flexibility to adapt to changes and the structure to maintain order.
  • Better risk management: It allows for better risk identification and management through more flexible planning.
  • Resource optimisation: Resources can be allocated more efficiently based on the specific needs of each project phase.
  • How to Implement a Hybrid Method
  • Implementing a hybrid method requires a clear understanding of the project’s needs, as well as careful planning and execution.
  • Needs assessment: Identifying the specific needs of the project that require a hybrid approach.
  • Planning: Developing a plan that integrates elements of both methodologies.
  • Execution and monitoring: Implementing the plan while making adjustments based on feedback and performance.
Section 6: Technological tools in project management

The adoption of technological tools has become essential in modern project management. This section explores the different types of tools available and offers tips for choosing the ones that best suit your needs.

Types of tools

There is a variety of technological tools designed to facilitate project management, ranging from task tracking software to online collaboration platforms.

  • Tracking software: Such as Jira or Asana, for tracking tasks and deadlines.
  • Collaboration tools: Such as Slack or Microsoft Teams, for team communication.
  • Document management solutions: Such as Google Drive or SharePoint, for document storage and sharing.

How to choose the right tool?

The choice of technological tool depends on several factors, including the size of the project, specific needs, and available resources.

  • Needs assessment: Identifying the specific needs of the project to choose a suitable tool.
  • Feature comparison: Evaluating the features offered by different tools.
  • Budget and cost: Considering the cost of the tool in relation to the project budget.

Integration with Other Systems

Integrating project management tools with other systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM) or management information systems (MIS), can offer significant benefits.

  • Unified workflow: Successful integration enables a smoother workflow.
  • Better visibility: Integration provides better visibility into project performance.
  • Increased efficiency: Integration can reduce duplication and increase efficiency.
Section 7: The psychology of management in project management

Project management is not just about processes and tools, but also about people.

Importance of communication

Communication is a key element of project management. Effective communication between stakeholders, teams, and managers is crucial for project success.

  • Clarity and transparency: Avoiding misunderstandings by being clear and transparent.
  • Continuous feedback: Encouraging open dialogue for quick adjustments.
  • Communication tools: Using appropriate tools to facilitate communication.

Leadership and motivation

Good leadership is essential for motivating the team and guiding the project to success. The ability to inspire and motivate is often as important as technical skills.

  • Vision and direction: Providing a clear vision and direction for the project.
  • Recognition and rewards: Using incentives to motivate the team.
  • Talent management: Identifying and utilising the strengths of each team member.

Conflict management

Conflicts are inevitable in any project. Effective conflict management can not only resolve issues quickly but also improve team dynamics.

  • Identifying conflicts: Recognising signs of conflict as soon as they arise.
  • Collaborative resolution: Encouraging conflict resolution through dialogue and negotiation.
  • Mediation: Using a neutral third party in cases of persistent conflicts.
Section 8: Standalone projects, programmes, and portfolios

Project management can manifest in different ways, including standalone projects, programmes, and portfolios.

Standalone projects

A standalone project is a project that is managed independently, without being part of a programme or portfolio. It has its own objectives, resources, and constraints.

  • Independence: The project is managed autonomously.
  • Specific objectives: The project has its own objectives to achieve.
  • Dedicated resources: The project has resources specifically allocated to it.

Programmes

A programme is a set of interdependent projects that share a common objective. Programmes allow for more efficient management of resources and risks.

  • Common objective: Projects within the programme contribute to an overall goal.
  • Coordinated management: Resources and risks are managed centrally.
  • Synergies: Projects within the programme can benefit from synergies.

Project portfolios

A project portfolio is a collection of projects and programmes that are managed together to achieve the organisation’s strategic objectives.

  • Strategic alignment: Projects and programmes are aligned with the company’s strategy.
  • Centralised management: A portfolio management team oversees all projects and programmes.
  • Resource optimisation: Resources are allocated to maximise the portfolio’s value.

Project management is a complex discipline that requires a deep understanding of various aspects, from fundamentals to technological tools, and the psychology of management. Whether you are an experienced project manager or new to the field, it is crucial to continue learning and adapting to new methodologies and technologies.

Contact us to discover how we can help you pave the way to success for your business.