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Study Guides index of guidesOrganizing
Projects

Organize first for knowledge,
first with the object of making
us know ourselves as a nation, 
for we have to do that before
we can be of value to other nations
of the world
Eleanor Roosevelt,
American, 1884–1962

  • Begin early: It is never too early to start.
    By starting early you have more time to finish the project,
    and you guarantee yourself adequate time to do a good job.
  • Determine the time commitment.
    • Estimate long the project, presentation or paper will take to develop and complete
    • Determine how hard the material is to research
    • Set a mid-point to evaluat progress
  • Break the project down into manageable sections.
    This table of tasks includes a column "done by" date to help you organize yourself and the project.

    Print a blank form

What How When:
Summarize objectives Objectives should be SMART:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Relevant

Trackable

from  Blanchard, Zigarmi, and Zigarmi
Leadership and the One Minute Manager

  
Determine process
to achieve objectives
  • project planning tools
    (Gantt, Critical Path, PERT)
  • project production tools
    (word processing, demonstration software (PowerPoint), etc.
  • stages of development
  • critical sequencing (timeline)
  
Verify with instructor  

 

 as often as necessary
Research
  • text book research
  • library research
  • field research
  • other:
  
Analyze research/findings
  • plan for gaps
  • request assistance
  • mid-stream check-in
  
Outline "product"
  • thesis statement
  • individual topics
  
Write/Compile
document/presentation
  • opening paragraph
  • body
  • closing arguments/statement
  
Document & create bibliography  

 

  
Test  

 

  
Review and evaluate
  • product
  • process
  
Summarize/digest  

 

  
Rehearse (presentation)  

 

  
Present final product  

 

  
Celebrate  

 

  

See also:
 Managing by exception

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