Project Scheduling on the Back of a Napkin

I'm sure most of you have come across the old curmudgeon who says "I could have planned that on the back of a napkin and done a better job." Well, in some cases, that may just be true.

I'd go so far as to say that a rough schedule done on the back of a napkin by someone who's been around the block is more reliable than a detailed project schedule in MS/Project by a rookie, or even a mediocre, project manager. I've seen it done. Hell, I've even done it myself in the past (and came up with better results than the PM assigned to the project).

Bu don't try this at home, folks. I'm not saying that this is an effective or even a correct method of scheduling projects. I'm merely illustrating the importance of experience and good analytical skills. So, if you lack experience in the area that you're managing, be sure to include the subject matter experts and ask them to point out all the issues and pitfalls!