Executing Small Projects - Instructor's Guide

This course focuses on management activities and factors that are unique to the small project execution environment. Many of successful management activities and techniques for project management generally are applicable to small projects. The course will overview the primary differences in managing small and large projects with an emphasis on those techniques and methods that the research has shown to be most effective.

Research conducted by the CII Small Projects Execution Research Team indicates that:

• Front end planning effort for small projects is critical to success. Small projects have no “slack” in either budget processes nor in schedule.
• Where the small project contractors are alliance or preferred vendors, the research shows improved project performance.
• Communication is critical for the success of small projects. Core management teams functioning together over extended periods of time and organizations that have developed and used checklists to track project phases have been shown to improve small project execution performance.