Time. With a well planned project each phase rolls into the next like well- oiled precision machinery, everyone knows what to do and when to do it .... and we end with everyone satisfied. Except in this case, the object of the exercise is to make the target audience unhappy, but that's a detail. You're paying the bills at the end of the day, so as long as you are happy the project has succeeded.

Each of the tasks defined in the early phase of the project must be assigned a certain amount of time.

So how do you assign the right amount of time for efficient completion of each task? Well, much of this you will already know - you know how long it takes a lawyer to do anything. With that knowledge in the back of your mind, ask your lawyer how long it will take him to give you the information you need, fill in the relevant forms and present his bill. Then ask a number of other lawyers and choose the one who offers the best value for money. And bear in mind that value for money doesn't always mean cheapest.

Go through each of the tasks and assign a time.

Bear in mind that some tasks can be done at the same time - building the elephant house and building the wall, for example, are construction projects that can run concurrently.

There are other tasks that can run concurrently. There are also some that can only be started when other tasks are finished. So the wall and the elephant house can only be built when the plans for them are finished - a bit like our overall project!

Work out the timings on the tasks now - you can start with the things that need to be done first, or you can work backwards from the end date. Or a bit of both. Post-it notes are useful at this stage - remember to mark them as budget items!

It's at this point too, that you will mark some tasks or completed phases as milestones. Milestones are important. They mark where you have completed a phase of the project and moved into another. So, for example, the completion of the elephant house and the wall, on schedule and on budget will mark a milestone - it's the end of the construction phase. Define the other milestones.

You will have noticed I have delegated this task to you - that's part of my function as Project Manager. And you need the practice! Email me if you need some help.