Tools Matter – An Update

In project management, a good template can be invaluable in helping you organize your thoughts and communicate effectively. Watermark Learning has many templates for project management, as well as business analysis and business process management, all of which can be found on our new website.

A resource that may get overlooked for project management templates is A Project Manager’s Book of Forms: A Companion to the PMBOK® Guide. With over 200 pages of clear, useful forms, this collection includes a template for anything a project manager might need, from Project Charter and Risk Register to Contractor Status Report and Team Operating Agreement. It’s logically organized by process group to cover all aspects of the project management life cycle. A table of contents and index make finding the form you need a snap. All forms are available online and completely editable. Perforated pages make for easy tear out for duplication if you’d rather just use one as-is. Updates to the PMBOK® Guide Fifth Edition include online access to over 65 updated forms.

Templates are only tools, but good tools matter. As they say, when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. As a PM, the more you have in your toolbox, the more effective you will be in tailoring your project to the needs of your stakeholders and the organization.