projectS
To achieve a quality project you need a quality planning system. A system that is easy to use, captures
every project detail and takes the stress out of project management. With The Grass Roots Project
Planner, you can quickly and easily develop a project plan to organise, monitor and evaluate every aspect
of your project, saving you time and money. Using tried and tested techniques based on the internationally
recognised Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), every template can be customised to suit
your organisation's specific needs.
Each CD contains valuable information, checklists and over 40 templates providing essential project
information on:
Get greater value from your projects with The Grass Roots Project Planner. 30 day money back guarantee.
Contact Irene Baker at Inzpire on (07) 4696 8492 or email irene@inzpire.com.au for more information.
Quality Projects Depend on Quality Plans: Get Your Essential Project Planner Now!
including a lack of proper planning, underestimating the time involved to complete a project,
lack of project management expertise internally due to no training or systems and poor
communication with stakeholders.
training in project Management
The level of project management training provided to staff was another significant finding, with
54% of respondents indicated that staff had received no training in project management at all.
23% of respondents had received a half to one day workshop in project management; 14% had
received between a one to three day non-accredited training in project management; 9% had
received accredited training such as the Certificate IV or Diploma of Project Management and
2% had a qualification above a Diploma in Project Management. Given the high numbers of
projects being completed and the almost total reliance on internal staff to undertake these proj-
ects on top of their normal workload, more training in project management processes and tech-
niques may result in less stress for workers and improve the quality of the project outcomes.
time, Cost and people a triple Constraint
Respondents identified a number of problems associated with managing projects, which were
very consistent with other large industries and general project management research as a whole.
As the respondents could tick more than one issue, the ratings refer to the number of respon-
dents for each issue. Managing stakeholders and getting them to be supportive of the project
came up as the number one issue for respondents with 51% indicating this as a problem. 46%
indicated that budgets and coming in on cost was a significant issue and general people man-
agement was the third largest issue at 40%.
When asked what the leading causes for the problems listed were, many respondents cited
funding, lack of time, lack of expertise and experience in staff and reluctance by the Board of
Management to engage with the project among other issues.
These concerns are not uncommon in the not-for-profit sector
in relation to other issues, so it is not surprising that they are
echoed in project management. However most respondents
were also quite philosophical about the wisdom they
gained from their projects and believed ultimately that
the benefits outweighed the costs.
With the White Paper still in development, the
research above provides only a snapshot of some
of the potential practice wisdom that could assist
the sector to gain improved benefits from their
projects. n
If you would like a copy of the White Paper sent
to you on completion, please contact:
Irene D. Baker, Director, Inzpire Pty Ltd. Telephone:
(07) 4696 8492; Email: irene@inzpire.com.au
volunteering
Capturing project Wisdom in the
Not-for-profit Sector
The current and future challenges we
will face as a nation such as the diverse
needs of an ageing population, advances
in and reliance on technology, and the
impacts of climate change, to name a
few, will necessitate greater support for
our volunteer sector to help keep our
communities resilient and strong. n
Amanda Everton is Manager, Education
and Skills Development at Volunteering
Australia.
Volunteering Australia (www.
volunteeringaustralia.org) has a number
of free downloadable resources to assist
not-for-profit organisations. They cover
topics such as: how to write position
descriptions, involving volunteers from
CALD backgrounds, Baby Boomers and
Volunteering, Do your volunteers need
training etc.
Continued from page 14