Project management guide

The Project Management Guide equips teams with policies, practical tools, support, and training, needed to deliver projects safely, efficiently, and cost‑effectively. It provides best practices, templates, and guidance from project initiation through closeout, adaptable to both traditional design‑bid‑build and alternative delivery methods. 

Grounded in the principle that a project is a temporary effort undertaken to create value, the guide offers teams the flexibility to tailor processes to their specific context and needs.

Project Management focus areas

Refer to the chart for templates and resources designed to support and guide you through every phase of your project, from planning and launch to ongoing management. You will also find additional tools under the specific performance domains below.

Performance domains

Governance

Establishes the framework, rules, and decision-making processes that align the project with organizational objectives. It defines structural boundaries and how the project interacts with other organizational entities. Find training opportunities, downloadable templates, and step-by-step guidance (PDF 34KB) to help you launch, manage, and deliver successful projects every step of the way.

Scope

Focuses on defining, validating, and controlling exactly what is included and excluded from the project work. It prevents scope creep and ensures the team delivers the agreed-upon results. Browse training, templates, and additional resources below to strengthen your scope management skills (PDF 54KB).

Schedule

Entails managing timelines, activity sequencing, dependencies, and resource allocation to ensure deliverables are completed on time. The P6 Learning portal (PDF45KB) site will help effectively manage, monitor and communicate project progress.

Finance

Get started with the training (PDF 43KB) to help support this part of the process. Finance covers cost management, budgeting, financial stewardship, and value realization to meet expected returns on investment (ROI) expectations.

Stakeholders

Involves identifying, engaging, and collaborating with the people or groups who impact or are impacted by the project to maintain supportive relationships. See an example of communications with a Notice of Entry Letter example (DOCX 53KB).

Resources

Explore a range of training materials and resources (PDF 343 KB) designed to help you effectively manage and allocate team members, physical assets, materials, tools, and facilities required for successful project execution.

Risk / Value Engineering

Identifies potential threats and opportunities and guides how to navigate uncertainty. It includes strategies to protect project objectives while enabling innovation. Discover the tools, resources, and video training materials (PDF 43KB) you need to support your project from launch through ongoing management.

General resources

Tools

Deliverables Expectations Matrix (PDF 45KB) communicates typical expectations for project deliverables and helps establish mutual understanding of these expectations.

Use the Master Deliverables List (MDL) (XLSX 137KB) to provide an organized and consistent list of WSDOT milestones and deliverables. 

Learn about current transportation network improvement and preservation activities throughout the state. Search and view current transportation projects.

Discover the Project Management Learning Path (PDF 365KB)  that lays out the essential fundamental courses for project management.

Browse the Design Courses Training Matrix (PDF 202KB) to explore available learning opportunities in your field, including recommended courses and priority training options to support your professional development.

Manuals

WSDOT manuals provide policy and guidance to staff, local agencies, contractors, and consultants to help us deliver an efficient and effective multimodal system. 

The WSDOT Program Management Manual (PDF 4MB) helps assist in the department’s core responsibilities in the delivery of projects that preserve and improve the transportation network. 

The Organizational Conflict of Interest (PDF 908KB) manual presents WSDOT’s latest policy regarding conflict of interest and it is intended to be used as the primary reference in the evaluation of all Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCOI) issues on WSDOT projects. 

As part of ongoing improvements in project management, WSDOT implemented the Project Management and Reporting System (PMRS) to assist with managing and reporting the status of capital transportation project delivery. See Agency Policy 1032.02 – Project Management (PDF 287KB).

Contacts

Subject Matter Expert (SME) contacts and specialty group descriptions (PDF 475KB) provide descriptions of each WSDOT specialty group to help identify the appropriate subject matter experts and support resources.

Find specialty groups resources (PDF 475KB) within WSDOT. This resource provides a directory of specialty groups across WSDOT, helping users identify the appropriate subject matter experts and access support resources for project planning and delivery. (List of offices)

Connect with local WSDOT training resources (PDF 94KB)

The Capital Systems Team supports team members providing a vital link between end users and the Capital Systems. They provide operational support and training to construction offices, subject matter experts, end-users, and contractors.

Subscribe to receive updates on upcoming training opportunities, events, and professional development activities. The listserv helps you stay informed about programs that align with your interests, career goals, and learning needs.