Authors: Clark A. Campbell, Mick Campbell
Publication Year: 2012
Category: Project Management

“The New One-Page Project Manager” by Clark A. Campbell and Mick Campbell is a detailed guide on how to simplify project management using a single sheet of paper. The book emphasizes clarity, simplicity, and effective communication to streamline project management and ensure success. Through various concrete examples and practical advice, the book illustrates how to create and utilize the One-Page Project Manager (OPPM) to oversee any project efficiently.

The OPPM is a concise tool designed to manage projects on one sheet of paper. By consolidating essential project information, it promotes transparency and facilitates quick, informed decision-making. The OPPM addresses common issues in project management, such as complexity, lack of communication, and deviation from goals.

Specific Action: Begin by deciding the core components of your project. Outline the primary objectives, timelines, and metrics that will fit on a single sheet, maintaining conciseness and clarity.

The authors stress the importance of having clear, measurable objectives. Each objective should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Example: In a software development project, an objective might be to “Develop and test a new mobile application feature by the end of Q2 2022.”

Specific Action: Define 3-5 SMART objectives for your project and ensure they can be updated and tracked on your OPPM.

The timeline is where project milestones and deadlines are displayed. It provides a visual guide to the project’s progress and key dates.

Example: A marketing campaign might have a timeline with milestones such as “Campaign strategy finalized,” “Content creation completed,” and “Campaign launch.”

Specific Action: Plot your project’s key milestones on a timeline and make it visually clear on your OPPM, marking the start and end dates for major activities.

Budget tracking and resource allocation are crucial for project success. The OPPM facilitates monitoring budget adherence and resource use, preventing overruns.

Example: For an IT infrastructure project, you might track costs for hardware, software, and labor separately against the budget.

Specific Action: Break down your project budget into major categories and track these against actual expenditures on your OPPM.

Identifying project risks upfront and monitoring them throughout the lifecycle is a key aspect of the OPPM.

Example: In construction, risks might include “Weather delays,” “Material shortages,” and “Regulatory changes.”

Specific Action: List potential risks on your OPPM and develop mitigation plans for each. Update the status of these risks regularly.

Clear roles and responsibilities ensure accountability. The OPPM can designate who is responsible for what part of the project.

Example: In a product development team, responsibilities might include “Design Lead,” “Engineering Lead,” and “Quality Assurance Lead.”

Specific Action: Assign and clearly mark the key project roles on your OPPM, including each team member’s primary responsibilities.

In a construction project, the OPPM can track all phases from design to completion. It includes objectives such as “Finalize blueprints by Q1 2022,” budgets for materials and labor, and identifies risks like “Permitting delays.” Responsible roles would be allocated to “Project Manager,” “Site Supervisor,” and “Financial Controller.”

Specific Action: Implement the OPPM in your construction project by specifying each phase, budget expectation, and identified risks, ensuring that the entire team is aware of their responsibilities.

For a software development project, the OPPM can set objectives like “Complete Beta Testing by Q3 2022,” track costs for development and testing, and address risks such as “Scope creep” or “Technical debt.” Team roles may include “Lead Developer,” “Product Manager,” and “QA Tester.”

Specific Action: Ensure each development sprint or phase is captured on the OPPM along with any associated costs and risks, communicating frequently with the team to keep everyone aligned.

The OPPM enhances communication among team members and stakeholders by providing a clear, concise project overview.

Specific Action: During project meetings, use the OPPM as the primary communication tool to update stakeholders on project status and next steps.

By clearly documenting who is responsible for each part of the project, the OPPM increases accountability.

Specific Action: Regularly review and update the OPPM, ensuring that team members are held accountable for their assigned tasks.

The simplicity of the OPPM streamlines the reporting process, making it easier to produce and understand project reports.

Specific Action: Generate regular project status reports using the OPPM, making sure to highlight achievements, upcoming milestones, and any concerns.

The OPPM’s structured layout aids in prioritizing tasks and focusing efforts on critical activities, thus improving overall project efficiency.

Specific Action: Use the OPPM to identify and prioritize the most critical tasks and allocate resources accordingly.

By consistently monitoring risks via the OPPM, projects are better equipped to handle potential issues proactively.

Specific Action: Conduct regular risk assessments using the OPPM, updating it as new risks are identified or current risks escalate in severity.

“The New One-Page Project Manager” by Clark A. Campbell and Mick Campbell is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to streamline their project management processes. By boiling down project management to a single page, the OPPM simplifies complex information, making it accessible and actionable for all team members. From setting clear objectives and visualizing timelines to managing budgets, identifying risks, and defining roles, the OPPM provides a concise framework that drives efficiency, accountability, and communication.

Final Action: Implement the OPPM in your next project by starting with a draft outlining your key objectives, timeline, budget, risks, and team responsibilities. Regularly update and refer to this single-page document to keep your project on track, ensure stakeholder alignment, and facilitate successful project completion.