| How to Choose the Right Project Management Methodology Posted: 06 Mar 2021 12:00 AM PST Professional projects are like snowflakes—no two are exactly alike. That's where project management methodologies come in handy! Methodologies act like blueprints, providing a specific structure and outline for your project based on the tasks at hand. While project methodologies can be pretty complex, this guide will walk you through the basics by answering some of your most common questions. [Edit]What is a project management methodology? - It's a template that helps you organize and maintain your project. Project management methodologies come in all shapes and sizes, but they have 1 common goal—to help your project run as efficiently as possible. Since there are countless types of projects out there, there are tons of methodologies to help you best manage your workload.[1]
[Edit]What are some popular project management methodologies? - Waterfall: This methodology divides your project into specific segments that you follow in a specific order. Choose this methodology if you'd like to have a lot of control over each aspect of your project.[2]
- Waterfall methodology is best for static projects that aren't likely to shift. Unfortunately, this type of methodology doesn't adapt well to change, especially if the project's focus shifts midway.
- This methodology requires a lot of planning and preparation ahead of time, so your project runs smoothly.
- If you're designing a new hiking boot for a sports shop, you could use Waterfall methodology to create different project phases.
- Agile: Not all projects thrive on a static, unchanging timeline. If your project's scope and goals keep changing, an Agile process might be the best option. With this type of methodology, you'll focus more on working with clients instead of ironing out a contract.[3]
- Think of your project like a boat—with an agile project methodology, the boat heads in a general direction, steering and adapting as needed as the project goals change and develop.
- For instance, if you're designing a new software program, an agile methodology would help you fix problems on-the-spot instead of following a structured plan.
- Scrum: The Scrum methodology operates in "sprints," or fast-paced segments of work. These sprints are usually 1-4 weeks long, and help outline a rapid timeline for your project. This methodology mainly decides when tasks get done—you and your team decide what gets done.[4]
- Each day throughout the sprint period, you and your team members can meet for 15-minute check-ins called "scrums."
- Kanban: The Kanban methodology revolves around creating a Kanban board—this is a whiteboard or digital bulletin board that keeps track of your project. On your board, divide your project into 4 columns: waiting, in-progress, completed, and blocked. Organize project tasks on your board, shifting them as the project gets completed. [5]
- The "waiting" column collects your project's backlog—try to format this in small, bite-sized tasks that are easy for team members to accomplish.
- The "in-progress" column compiles tasks that are underway; once they're done, these tasks are moved into the "completed" column.
- If you can't accomplish a task for some reason, move it into the "blocked" column, where you can get back to it later.
- Six Sigma: You can take this methodology in 2 directions—improving low-quality products, or boosting products that were already optimized in the past. This is a great methodology for manufacturers, or any project centered around project quality.[6]
- The Motorola company originally created this methodology in 1993.
- Lean: The Lean process hones in on 3 common types of waste: wasting resources (muda); uneven production (mura); and strained equipment and employees (muri). Lean methodology tries to get rid of these 3 "Ms" to make your project more efficient.[7]
- This methodology is popular for manufacturing businesses—in fact, the Toyota Production System originated it.
[Edit]What methodology is right for my project? - Pick a methodology that fits your project's size and budget. Before you get your project up and running, brainstorm the possible risks and roadblocks you may encounter further down the line. Outline what your project will and won't be covering, along with your estimated budget.[8] Some methodologies, like Lean and Six Sigma, require a bigger budget to get going, and may not work for projects with tighter budgets.[9]
- If you work for a manufacturing company, your project scope might involve developing a new product as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- If you work for a software firm, you might focus on rapid ways to develop new software.
- Choose a methodology that fits your project timeline. Estimate how long your project will last—is it a matter of weeks, months, years, or something else altogether? Certain methodologies are designed for fast-paced projects, while others give you more wiggle room.[10]
- For instance, Scrum methodology accomplishes tasks in short, "sprint-like" periods. On the other hand, Waterfall methodology follows a very specific, structured timeline.[11]
- Factor in stakeholders and clients when choosing a methodology. Think about the big picture—are your clients and stakeholders looking for a fast turnaround time, or are they more concerned with efficiency? Outline a specific goal or objective for your project that will leave your stakeholders and clients satisfied.[12]
- For instance, Six Sigma methodology targets multiple aspects of a project, including production, development, marketing, administration, and more.
[Edit]Are there other methodologies I can choose from? - There definitely are, but some methodologies cater to certain industries. As the name suggests, the Adaptive Software Development (ASD) methodology is designed specifically for the software field. This methodology revolves around the possibility of change, and operates within 3 phases: speculation, collaboration, and learning.[13] Package Enabled Reengineering (PER) methodology is geared toward product-based businesses, and helps you redesign an existing product from a brand new perspective.[14]
- The Extreme Programming (XP) methodology is another great option for software development.[15]
[Edit]Can you combine project management methodologies? - Yes, you absolutely can. The Hybrid methodology combines and customizes different aspects of waterfall and agile methodologies that work best for your project. Similarly, the Lean Six Sigma meshes the quality-control focus of Six Sigma with the waste management angle of Lean Methodology.[16]
- In the UK, the Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE2) methodology is used the most. PRINCE2 focuses on best practices, and has its own training/accreditation course that you can sign up for.[17]
[Edit]References |
| How to Groom a Rabbit Posted: 05 Mar 2021 04:00 PM PST Is there anything cuter than a soft, fluffy-tailed rabbit? Bunnies are social animals, and they can make great pets as long as you go into it knowing that they require a lot of care. Although they spend a lot of their time grooming themselves, your rabbit will also need some help from you to keep it healthy and clean. - Brush your rabbit every 3-7 days. Rabbits groom themselves frequently, but they still need help from you. If you don't brush them regularly, they can ingest too much hair, which can lead to serious health problems.[1] To prevent this, most rabbits need to be brushed about every 3 days or so. If you have a long-haired rabbit, you might need to brush it even more often, while you may be able to brush short-haired rabbits about once a week.[2]
- If your rabbit's poops are linked together, chances are it's ingesting too much hair. Try brushing it more often.
- If you don't see much loose hair after grooming your rabbit, you're probably okay to wait a little longer between brushing sessions.
- Groom your rabbit daily when it's shedding heavily. Rabbits shed their fur about once every 3 months—and every other shed is typically a very heavy one where they lose most of their coat. When this is happening, brush your rabbit at least once a day, if not more often. Otherwise, you'll have a lot of hair everywhere, and your rabbit will get sick from trying to groom away all that extra fur.[3]
- Depending on the rabbit, its shed might happen all in one day, over a period of several days, or even over a few weeks.
- It's common for rabbits to develop some bald spots while they're shedding. Don't worry too much if you see this, as long as the spots aren't flaky and don't seem to bother your rabbit. Ask your vet if you're not sure, though.[4]
- Use a soft brush made for cats or rabbits. Since rabbits have sensitive skin, some of them really hate being brushed, especially if you use a stiff brush. It can take some trial and error to find the type of brush that makes your rabbit most comfortable, but soft cat brushes tend to work well.[5] Other options include:
- Flea comb
- Rubber brush[6]
- Fine-tooth comb made for people
- Glove brush
- Massage your rabbit to calm them before you start brushing. Don't try to brush your rabbit when it's excited or scared—that's just going to make it more anxious about being groomed in the future. Instead, take a few minutes to pet it calmly before you start grooming, making sure your rabbit is settled and comfortable.[7]
- Most rabbits will be most comfortable if you groom them on the floor, but if your rabbit doesn't mind being handled, you can put it on your lap.
- Start by wiping your rabbit's bottom with a damp cloth. Sometimes urine or droppings can get stuck in your rabbit's fur. If you don't clean this, it can irritate your rabbit's skin, so take a moment to wipe its underside with a damp cloth or cotton pad before you start brushing.[8]
- This will also make sure you don't accidentally spread urine or feces while you're brushing your rabbit's fur.
- If your rabbit is overweight, it might especially have a hard time keeping its bottom clean.
- Begin gently brushing in the direction of your rabbit's fur. Pet your rabbit with one hand to keep it calm and hold it in place. At the same time, use your other hand to very gently stroke the brush or comb across your rabbit's fur. Don't press down too hard or you could irritate your rabbit's thin, sensitive skin.[9]
- If you're using a comb, hold it sideways so it's almost parallel to your rabbit's skin. [10]
- Brush in the direction that your rabbit's fur grows—most rabbits won't like it if you brush the other way.
- To keep your rabbit calm, start by brushing the top of its head and its back. Once your rabbit has had a few grooming sessions, gradually move down to brushing its lower face and chin.[11]
- Remove any loose tufts that you see. As you brush your rabbit, you'll probably see tufts of fur starting to form. Keep petting the rabbit with your free hand and use the hand that's holding the brush to pluck these tufts loose. Your rabbit usually won't mind that you're doing this as long as you're gentle.[12]
- You can also use a glove brush or a rubber brush to help you collect these tufts.
- Remove mats with a fur splitter and a friend. If you notice any mats or clumps in your rabbit's fur, ask someone to help you—it can be a little tough to keep your rabbit still while you comb these out. Have the other person hold the rabbit steady while you use a fur splitter to gently separate and remove the mats.[13]
- A fur splitter is a specialized wide-tooth comb that allows you to tease the mats out of your rabbit's fur without yanking.
- Mats often form on the pads of a rabbit's feet, so remember to check there, as well.[14]
- If the matted fur is too clumped to comb, it's best to take your rabbit to your vet or a professional groomer. If you're comfortable using animal clippers, you can shave away the mats, but be very careful, because it's very easy to tear or cut your rabbit's skin.
- Don't use scissors to remove the mats from your rabbit's fur, as it's very easy to accidentally cut them.
- Check for parasites as you brush your bunny. Look carefully at your rabbit's skin and fur as you groom it, keeping an eye out for things like mites, fleas, or ticks. Also, check for flaky skin or bald patches, which could be signs of parasites. Parasites can make your rabbit very uncomfortable or even sick, so if you do notice any of these, call your vet right away and ask them about treatment options.[15]
- Fleas are tiny black insects, and you'll tend to notice them around your bunny's head or groin area.
- Ticks are larger, round insects, and you might see them crawling in your bunny's fur or attached to their skin.
- Mites will look like dandruff. Also check for dark debris in your bunny's ear, which could be a sign of ear mites.
- Spot-bathe your bunny if its fur is soiled. Rabbits generally don't need to be bathed, but occasionally, their fur may get soiled with urine or feces. If that happens, dip only the rabbit's bottom in warm water and use your hand to cleanse the area. Then, towel-dry your rabbit thoroughly, or use a blow dryer set to warm (not hot) to dry their fur.[16]
- Don't ever put a rabbit completely in water—it could lead to shock.
- You can also give your rabbit a dry bath. To do that, sprinkle a little cornstarch onto the area that needs to be cleaned and massage it into your rabbit's fur. Then, comb the cornstarch out of the fur and use a cloth to wipe away any excess.[17]
[Edit]Face and Scent Glands - Check your rabbit's eyes and nose anytime you brush it. Grooming is the perfect time to examine your bunny to make sure it doesn't have any health problems going on. Check whether it has any discharge coming from its eyes or nose.[18] Also, make sure its eyes aren't crusty, cloudy, or irritated. If you notice anything, call your vet.[19]
- Also, feel around its jaw to make sure it doesn't have any lumps or abscesses.
- Examine its teeth at each grooming as well. While you're doing that, look at the rabbit's front teeth to make sure they don't look overgrown or chipped. Also, check its gums to make sure they're pink—not red or purple, which could be a sign of inflammation.[20]
- In addition, make sure your rabbit isn't drooling and doesn't have a bad odor coming from its mouth. These could be signs of a problem with its back teeth.
- Wipe away any residue around its eyes with a moist cotton ball. Your bunny might sometimes have a little gunk around its eyes—as long as it's not crusty and its eyes aren't watering, this is normal and doesn't mean there's a problem. However, to keep the area around your rabbit's eyes from getting irritated, wipe the area with a damp cotton ball any time you see any moisture or buildup there.[21]
- Only wipe the area around your rabbit's eyes—never touch its eyeball.
- This will also remove any hay that might get into the rabbit's eyes.
- Brush any fur out of your rabbit's eyes with a mascara brush. If your rabbit has long hair, it can grow down into its eyes, which can lead to irritation. Check for this when you're examining your rabbit's eyes. If you notice any hair over its eyes, use a small spoolie to smooth back the hair around your bunny's eyes each time you brush your rabbit. You can also use a small flea comb.[22]
- If brushing the hair doesn't help, use a small pair of scissors to carefully trim it out of the way.
- Wipe ear wax from the outer ear with a cotton swab during grooming. Each time you groom your rabbit, carefully wipe any waxy buildup out of your bunny's ear, but be careful to always swipe outward. Don't push down, or it could push wax further into the ear canal. Also, never try to remove wax from deep in the ear canal.
- If your bunny has wax buildup deep in their ear, ask your vet to recommend an ear wash solution, and talk to them about the safest way to use it. However, this is best done under a vet's supervision.[23]
- Clean your rabbit's scent glands with mineral oil when necessary. Look for the two slits on either side of your rabbit's genitals—these are its scent glands. Dip a cotton ball or cotton swab in some mineral oil and gently swipe it onto these glands. That will soften the waxy buildup there so you can carefully wipe it away with a clean cotton ball or swab.[24]
- Bunnies have glands near their anus that release their scent. These glands can become clogged, so if you notice a bad odor coming from your rabbit, it's a good idea to clean their scent glands.
- These glands are made of a very sensitive membrane, so be extremely gentle when you do this, or the membrane could tear.[25]
- Clip your rabbit's nails every 1-2 months. Rabbit's nails grow continuously, and if you don't clip them, your bunny could accidentally scratch you. It also becomes uncomfortable for your rabbit when its nails get too long, so keep an eye on them, and trim them anytime they start growing long.[26]
- If you're not comfortable trimming your bunny's nails yourself, take them to your vet for a trimming.
- Use a guillotine-style nail clipper. This might be a scary-sounding name, but don't worry—it's the same basic type of nail clipper that's used for cats and birds. These are the perfect size for trimming your bunny's nails, too! You can pick one up at any pet store.[27]
- If you have a baby bunny, it's easiest to just file its nails with an emery board until it gets big enough for this type of clipper.[28]
- Use a penlight to see the quick if your rabbit has dark nails. Just like cats and dogs, rabbits have a blood supply that runs a certain length down their nails. This is called the quick, and it can be hard to see if your rabbit has dark-colored nails. To make the quick easier to see, hold a penlight behind the claw—don't trim into the area that looks darker in the light.[29]
- It's pretty easy to see the quick if your rabbit has light-colored nails, so don't worry about using a light.
- Wrap the back half of your bunny in a towel to trim its front paws. It can be pretty hard to hold a wiggly rabbit still while you trim its nails. To make this easier, wrap your rabbit's back legs in a towel, but leave its front paws free. Then, simply hold one front paw at a time while you clip its nails.
- It's a good idea to have one person cradle the rabbit in the towel while the other person holds the clippers.[30]
- If your rabbit is super calm, you might not even need the towel. Just hold the bunny at the edge of a table so it's cradled against your body. This will help it feel secure as you trim its front paws.[31]
- Be patient—the rabbit will likely try to pull its paws back as you do this. Pet the rabbit to keep it calm, and take a break if it starts to panic.
- Hold the bunny upright to trim its back claws. Securely hold your rabbit with one hand on its chest, then lift it up so it's standing on its hind legs. Keep the bunny pressed against you, then use your free hand to trim the nails on its back paws.[32]
- Some people find that it's actually easier to trim the back paws.
- It can help to have someone else hold the bunny upright as you clip.
- Apply styptic powder to the nail if you trim too far. If you do accidentally cut into the quick, don't panic. Take a little styptic powder between your thumb and forefinger and press it into the nail. Hold a finger over the powder for about 1 minute, applying steady pressure. The bleeding should stop, and the styptic powder will also help numb any pain the rabbit is feeling.[33]
- You can also use flour or cornstarch if you don't have styptic powder on hand.[34]
- If the bleeding doesn't stop after about 10 minutes, call your vet.
- Place soft rugs in your rabbit's enclosure if the fur on its feet wears down. When you're clipping your bunny's nails, take a good look at its feet. If the padding, or fur, is worn down, it can lead to serious irritation. To help avoid that, use soft resting pads, or rugs, in your bunny's habitat or the floor of its enclosure.[35]
- Take your time with grooming—think of it as a bonding experience.[36]
- Keep your rabbit's rugs and litter boxes clean and dry—their skin is very susceptible to infection.[37]
- Consider keeping long-haired rabbits' fur trimmed to about to cut down on hairballs.[38]
[Edit]Warnings - Do not lay your rabbit on its back—this can lead to trancing, which is stressful and dangerous for your rabbit.[39]
- When you're clipping your rabbit's claws, take care not to clip into the quick. This is painful for the rabbit and can cause bleeding.
- Do not try to clean inside your rabbit's inner ear canal. If it has waxy buildup deep in the ear, ask your vet about an ear cleaning solution.
[Edit]References |
| How to Determine the Fair Market Value of a Vehicle Posted: 05 Mar 2021 08:00 AM PST Before you donate or sell your car, it's important to calculate its fair market value (FMV). The FMV will tell you how much your car is worth on the private market or for tax purposes. While it's not an exact science, entering your car's details in an automobile industry website, such as Edmunds, will give you the most accurate valuation. You can also browse the local car ads to see what similar cars are selling for in your area. [Edit]Calculating Your Car's FMV - Go to Edmunds (www.edmunds.com) or Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com). On the main page of each site, look for a tab or icon that states "Price My Car" or something similar. After you click on this tab it will take you to a brief form to fill out. The website will then use the information that you supply to come up with a market value estimate for your car.[1]
- These sites will give you an estimate free of charge in most cases. If you choose to list your vehicle for sale on their site, there may be additional fees.
- Enter in the exact year and model for your vehicle. After you leave the main website and head into the used car category, one of the first pieces of information that you'll need to supply will be the date of creation for the vehicle and the model (or type of body) for the vehicle. This information should be listed on your owner's manual or may even appear on the inside of your driver's door.[2]
- If you are uncertain of the year, enter in a date range. If you are uncertain about the model, look up similar vehicles online until you find one that looks that same as yours.
- Provide your car's mileage. Look at the odometer on your car and you'll see a series of numbers that shows the car's mileage. You may need to turn on your car to see this display on newer vehicles. Then, enter in this number where prompted on the FMV website. Put simply, cars with fewer miles are almost always worth more than those with many miles.[3]
- Plug in your zipcode or city name. This information allows the website to tailor your car's FMV to your particular area. This is important because the FMV of a vehicle can shift according to supply and demand. If the demand for your type of car is high in your area, then your FMV will reflect this.[4]
- For example, if you live in a city area, then smaller vehicles may be in demand and could end up with high FMVs.
- List out all of your car's options and amenities. Walk around your car from bumper to bumper and write down everything that makes it unique compared to other vehicles. Many of these options will be for a driver's convenience or comfort, such as power windows and locks. You might also list chrome bumpers/mirrors, AC, window tinting, sunroof, leather interior, sound system extras, and any guidance systems.[5]
- Be honest about your car's condition. It sometimes helps to assess your car in terms of exterior, interior, and mechanical condition.[6] Note any flaws in these separate areas. Then, read over the levels provided by the website and chose the one that most closely fits your vehicle.[7]
- For example, a car that no longer runs might be assessed as "Poor" or "Not Running" in the mechanical category.
- Save or print out copies of your final report. After you've entered in all of the requested information, click the tab on the bottom to get your pricing report. When the report pulls up, read over it. Then, save a PDF to your computer and print out a few copies for your reference.[8]
- Potential buyers might also want a copy of the FMV estimate. This lets them know that your asking price is fair and reasonable.
[Edit]Making Other FMV Comparisons - Recognize that FMV is different than trade-in value. According to the Internal Revenue Service, a FMV is an estimate of the sales amount that a private seller and buyer would agree to for a vehicle. In contrast, a trade-in value is what a dealership would offer. It's also important to note that the FMV is calculated based on the actions of willing buyers/sellers, not ones under duress.[9]
- Trade-in values for used cars are also often altered by dealers to boost vehicle sales. An FMV estimate is more consistent.
- Enter in reasonable comparison details if you don't know the exact information. If you are looking up an estimate for someone else or if you are researching an older vehicle, you may not know every detail requested by the website. That's okay. Enter in a number of years or a series of options to create a workable value range.[10]
- For example, if you know that the car was made in the late 1990s, enter in 1996, 1997, 1998, and, 1999. Note how the values differ with each year.
- Compare your car to others currently for sale.[11] Look at the automobile listings in your local newspaper. Or, go to a used auto sales website such as www.autotrader.com, enter in your zipcode, and search for similar cars in your area. Make note of the asking prices for cars that are similar to your own.[12]
- For example, if you are selling a 1999 Mustang and see a 2000 model in your local paper, note the price. It's probably a bit higher than your car's FMV, but may be pretty close to it.
[Edit]Changing Your Car's FMV - Adjust your FMV if you take a while to sell your car. Your car's FMV is time-specific, meaning that it can change if you take months or even years to donate or sell your vehicle. Every month or so re-visit the estimate websites and enter in your car's information to get an up-to-date FMV. You may also want to change your car's asking price based on this new estimate.[13]
- For example, you may find that the FMV for a convertible might actually go up during the warmer months, as they are more in demand.
- Clean your car on the inside and out. You can do this yourself or you can take it to a detailing place. If you can remove any imperfections, such as stains on the upholstery, then this will increase your car's value.[14] If you have a few dings on the exterior, buy touch-up paint and make these corrections, too.[15]
- Professional detailing can be costly. Weigh the benefits of a boosted FMV versus the out-of-pocket cost for cleaning.
- Pay a mechanic to assess and fix any mechanical problems. If your car is newer or collectible, take it a local, trusted mechanic and ask them to evaluate it for any issues.[16] Then, decide if the cost of fixing these problems will boost your FMV up enough to warrant the expense. Even making minor repairs, such as replacing the window wipers, might pay off if you can report a higher condition rating for your vehicle.[17]
- If you choose to donate your vehicle for a charity, make sure to get a receipt showing their name, the date of the donation, and the good description of your car. This will make it easier to deduct the FMV of the car from your taxes.[18]
[Edit]Warnings - Only a donation to a "qualified charity" can be deducted from your taxes, according to the IRS. Check the IRS website for a list of approved organizations.[19]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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