3.Implementation: just remember, it is always tricky! Try to keep implementation as simple as possible and have a rollback strategy in place. How you react to unexpected issues will make difference between success and failure. Don’t demoralize a team working long hours by letting critical decisions hang or go unanswered. Make sure that everyone on team is in communication loop and has a stake in project. By same token, don’t be afraid to use rollback strategy if unexpected events sabotage timeline.

4.Reflection: is your most valuable tool. We all learn a lot after project is over about what or how we might have done something differently. It is helpful to keep a written log during project. The log can also be used as a tool after project is over to figure out how things could have been improved. A post-project team meeting where all team members can contribute to feedback is warranted and will produce valuable information from all stakeholders.

Project managers should take time to learn from formal methodologies and utilize help from mentors and other experienced project managers. In my humble estimation, though, there is no substitute for “hands-on” approach to project management and planning. Regardless of methodology or set of ideals you start out with, nothing will replace amount of sweat, teamwork, hard work and personal involvement required to successful project management. You can reduce number of problems and issues you deal with, however, by following these four simple guidelines.

Publishing Rights: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as author's information and web link are included at bottom of article and article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. The author would appreciate an email indicating you wish to post this article to a website, and link to where it is posted. Copyright 2005, Michele Webb. All Rights Reserved.

Clearly, though, residential VoIP is heading towards direct competition with local phone companies’ coveted landlines. A couple of years ago at a meeting in SBC’s Publishing division, one of executive managers cried, “Landlines, we need to stop losing landlines!” This was in response to cell phone companies taking away market share from local Baby Bells. Now that VoIP is on radar, executive management teams for local and long-distance phone companies must be huddling in their back offices, trying to figure out how they will stop bleeding in years to come.

With VoIP costing far less that traditional local and long-distance phone service and overcoming last of residential hurdles, one can be sure that consumers will soon be taking notice. Many will also start wearing t-shirt like “VoIP VIP” and “Got VoIP?” to herald in new era in telecommunications.

Copyright © 2005 VoIP Service Providers