Cowshed projects has been set up to provide the full benefits of project management, to help companies that aren't big enough to sustain an experienced project management office or don't feel they are mature enough in how they run projects, in a way they can afford to improve that maturity.

THE BUSINESS

Every business can improve their project management maturity.  There is a recognised scale defined as the levels below, in key areas of management:
1.Aware (Least developed)
2.Repeatable
3.Defined
4.Managed
5.Continuous improvement (Most developed)
In improving your project maturity you increase your chances of success and the associated improved profits/benefits

​Cowsheds aim is get best value, help you and make your projects and profit better.

USE WHAT YOU'VE GOT
Don't throw process, tech or labour at the project straight away. Set up your team to ensure projects are run efficiently and productively without adding to management.  Create leaders not managers if you will.
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INFORM BETTER
Limit communication and information fog, making quicker and better decisions, the main factor in wasted time on projects.

THE PROJECTS

My approach to project management is based around fitting the method and people to the project, not fitting the project to the method or people.

Use your current resources, who know your product best, guide and give them the right responsibilities, not add management resource unnecessarily.  Make sure the projects get managed the best they can, with Cowshed supporting.  Giving you and the client best value. 

In order to do this you need to understand and know how projects work, so not to be a silo in the process.  There are PM methods and tools that are very good and can be applied, but lets not believe or hope that one fits all.

No projects are the same, that's the definition of a project .... so don't fight it, understand it.

Cowsheds approach at project start up is to understand what is required from the project and business, get a plan, get the roles and responsibilities inline with a structure.  Move onto focusing on getting the communication and information right.  As the project develops,  the project process will not always be the same throughout and it needs planning and review.  The aim is to keep looking forward and make the project the best it can, they can soon run away!  Stay in control to maximise productivity.

Projects will be better and more fun ....