Project Management For Dummies, 4th Edition

Chapter 7

Planning for Other Resources and Developing the Budget

In This Chapter

Accounting for your project’s nonpersonnel resources

Preparing a detailed budget for your project

A key part of effective project management is ensuring that nonpersonnel resources are available throughout the project when and where they’re needed and according to specifications. When people are available for a scheduled task but the necessary computers and laboratory equipment aren’t, your project can have costly delays and unanticipated expenditures. Also, your team members may experience frustration that leads to reduced commitment.

In addition to clearly defined objectives, a workable schedule, and adequate resources, a successful project needs sufficient funds to support the required resources. All major project decisions (including whether to undertake it, whether to continue it, and — after it’s done — whether it was successful) must consider the project’s costs.

This chapter looks at how you can determine, specify, and display your nonpersonnel resource needs and then how to develop your project budget.

Determining Nonpersonnel Resource Needs

In addition to personnel, your project may require a variety of other important resources (such as furniture, fixtures, equipment, raw materials, and ...