Project communications
May 5, 2014Planning communications
The communications management plan describes the specific communication channels, networks and methods that will be used to communicate with project stakeholders. The plan documents the activities needed to ensure timely and appropriate collection, generation, dissemination, storage, and ultimate disposal of project information among the project team and stakeholders.
The communication management plan is executed throughout the life of the project. It is developed in coordination with, and must be accessible by, all project team and stakeholder entities. All scoping and stakeholder analysis, and schedule, cost, quality and risk activities required for project execution need to be integrated into the plan.
The communication process
According to some statistics, a project manager will spend around ninety per cent of their time communicating with the team, stakeholders and suppliers. One of the contributing factors to project failure is poor or insufficient communication. Communications, therefore, requires careful planning and management by the project manager and team.
Effective communication:
- involves a two-way dialogue between sender and receiver, and encourages input from the receiver
- allows an equal opportunity to participate
- evaluates input in order to inform the decision-making process or communication outcome
- provides continuous feedback
- requires that mutual understanding of the issue is achieved.
Upward, downward and lateral communications
upward communication is directed at higher management- downward communication is directed at the project team and peers within the organisation
- lateral communications are those with clients/customers and sellers to negotiate resources, time and budget.
The key to successful project communications management is to establish and maintain networks to interact with peers, team mates and stakeholders within, and external to, the organisation.
At Project Advantage, the five day integrated Melbourne project management training provides participants with in depth and practical skills regarding project communications.