What makes a well-managed project

Keeping track

Your project should have been extensively planned at the proposal stage. However, it is in the nature of research that things will soon start to go off the planned track. Active monitoring is essential, and early decisions to take corrective action or amend plans must be agreed so that control of the project is not lost. There are various methodologies available to help, as well as commercial software and training courses. The 'Kick-off' meeting is a good time to establish positive working practices among all partners and set the tone for all future conduct. This important phase of the project should itself be well prepared and managed so that good practices are firmly established by consent.

In FP6, and especially for the new instruments Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence, consortia have an increased level of autonomy and flexibility. This means that they must put in place very robust management structures that are adequate for the size and complexity of the envisaged project. It is good practice to have dedicated management staff with the right professional background as well as a management board with a degree of independence from the day-to-day project management and operation.

Project management is not only about doing the work and getting paid, but also protecting, publishing, and utilising the knowledge generated. Management of intellectual property and exploitation of results, both the anticipated direct results and any unexpected spin-offs, is fundamental to achieving a highly rated project. A project Web site with both public and private areas can be a useful tool both for project management and or stimulating dissemination and use of your knowledge.

Remedial actions

Project contractors must take responsibility for keeping each other in line. It is not the Commission's job to police your project. If one or more partners are not meeting their obligations the project must have the mechanisms to warn them, impose sanctions on them, and eventually to reject them from the partnership