Looking to kick-off your project with a bang? Consider developing a visual timeline.
The first stage of the project management process is initiation and planning. It is vitally important because, when done well, it helps to minimise stress, inspire confidence, drive communication, unite teams, create accountability, prevent team overload, and mitigate risk.
The project timeline is the topic of this blog because, in my experience, this key deliverable is the most influential communication tool when a project is initiated.
The project timeline is a visual one-page schedule that captures all the project’s future activities, deliverables, milestones, and dates. The timeline is a great way to kick off your project with a bang and ensure everyone is on the same page. Timelines are quick to develop and has something for everyone:
1. For executives – it shows in a single page how their strategic agenda will be realised and the project’s critical path.
2. For mid-level management – it provides transparency on what the project team will be doing and when.
3. For delivery staff – it helps to articulate what they will be responsible for and the timeframes they need to work towards.
Consider creating a timeline using the format below if you are initiating and planning any new project. This timeline has been developed in Microsoft Visio; however, Microsoft PowerPoint can also be used for smaller timelines.
View on your computer for best results.
Most project timelines I have encountered during my seven years of experience as a management consultant were usually too complicated and rarely used. The format of the above timeline is straightforward – two examples of how to interpret the timeline are provided below.
Facilitating a workshop with individuals responsible for different aspects of the project is a practical way to gather the information you need to develop the timeline.
I led the development of more than 20 project timelines at four large and complex federal government agencies in Australia. Stakeholders at all levels indicated that the timelines I had developed were easy to follow and were helpful as a communication tool. My most influential timeline captured in an A0 size poster the activities and milestones for the entire portfolio of 35 IT projects over a 36- month period from July 2021 to June 2024.
I offer a 90-minute virtual training session on how to develop timelines in Microsoft Visio. Prior experience with Visio is optional, and a timeline template and an instructions pack will also be provided to assist you. If you want to attend this training session, please email me at kirtan.jamnadas@aclivity.com.au.
To summarise, timelines are an effective way to kick off your project and generate buy-in from your stakeholders. If you can work off a previous template, they are quick and easy to develop. My timeline format is very effective as it is easy to follow and has a proven track record.
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About the Author
Kirtan Jamnadas is a management consultant with over seven years of experience successfully delivering complex IT projects at four large federal government agencies in Australia.
Kirtan is passionate about initiating and driving projects forward while ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged and on board with the project’s goals.
With his employer’s support, Kirtan established the company’s project management practice – this included developing all the frameworks, tools and templates to ensure projects are set up for success.
This blog is the second in a series of fortnightly project management blogs. My mission is to provide current and aspiring project managers with simple and practical tools to help streamline operations, optimise performance and achieve project success.
