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10 Undeniable Truths of Project Management

June 27, 2007 from Raven's Brain: Project Management

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The excellent IT project management site gantthead has a great article by Tom L. Barnett, PMP. In 10 Undeniable Truths of Project Management Barnett outlines 10 points gleaned from the history of IT project management and presents them for new and used project managers to reference. Some great tips are included, some you've probably seen in other lists, books, posts, articles, etc., and a few that might surprise you (or not, if you're a seasoned, battle scarred or veteran PM):
1. Project Scope Is Not Defined On PowerPoint Slides
2. Project Schedules Do Not a Project Plan Make
3. Projects Are Not Managed From Behind a Spreadsheet
Some project managers secretly want to be statisticians. They love to calculate all of the various metrics pertaining to their project such as the percentages of deliverables completed, tasks currently on schedule, tasks that should have started, of variance from budget, etc. These are all good to know. The problem is that they spend so much time summarizing and restating data in their spreadsheets, they never talk to the team members about how the project is going and what problems they are having. Without that connection with the team, they are not managing so much as they are reporting.
4. No Task Longer Than 80 Hours and Not Shorter Than 40
5. No More Than One Person Responsible For a Task
6. Every Task Generates a Deliverable. No Work for Work’s Sake.
7. Large projects should be broken down into sub-projects (if they have long timeframes)
8. Plan for the Worst
The old saying is “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”, and they do. Always think through your risk plans. Even if things are going well, a good PM has to ask “what if?” Remember that for each risk you can think of, come up with a way to reduce the likelihood of it happening (mitigation) and have a Plan B if it does (contingency).
9. Make it Fun
IT projects can be daunting events. Have you ever noticed that there are some project managers that people just don’t want to work for? The Project Tyrant that is always changing things, asking for things at the last minute and making demands of people is someone that is hard to support over the long haul of a project. There will be tense times on any project, but the lead comes from the top. When things are at their worst, if the PM can laugh at himself it will relieve the tension of the entire team.
10. In the End it is People
In the end, the key point to be mindful of is that all of the previous techniques exist for one purpose: to produce results with a team of people. All of the techniques in the world will not produce anything if they are not constantly tuned, adjusted and calibrated for the individuals on your team. People are different and they all respond differently in various situations. The most successful senior managers I have run across in my experience were the ones with a unique respect, passion, appreciation and understanding for people.
 
Read more detail here: http://www.gantthead.com/article.cfm?ID=236775
 Though all 10 points are good, I did highlight the ones that stood out for me. This doesn't diminish the value of the other points, rather I'm noting a few tips that are often overlooked or underestimated.
  • Point 3 makes the radical suggestion that PMs get out from behind their desks, walk around, talk to the team, communicate with sponsors and stakeholders and anyone else. Don't be a paper pusher or status reporter - Manage the project!
  • Point 8 makes the case for a solid risk management plan, something often forgotten or overlooked on smaller projects. Don't assume, we all know the joke. This is where you can harness the spreadsheet lover in you! make a simple sheet noting  possible risks, contingencies, mitigations and owner of each item. Large or small, evil project risk gremlins will get you if you're not careful!
  • Point 9 is so important - work should be fun! Nobody wants to work on a death march project but a lot of IT projects are very complicated, stressful and can become a pressure cooker. Use your sense of humor or go get one, try to keep things serious but light - use humor to diffuse arguments or help folks get through a difficult meeting or day. Also, try to keep your team's mood up throughout the project - look for time to give your team a break, like a company BBQ at lunch or on release night, or find other ways to keep folks energized and motivated - movies, bowling, unannounced "go home early" Friday or late arrival Monday - all of these things can help your project team through a tough project.
  • Lastly, point 10 - In the end it IS the people that make things happen on a project. I couldn't summarize this point any better than author Tom L. Barnett did "The most successful senior managers I have run across in my experience were the ones with a unique respect, passion, appreciation and understanding for people." So treat your people right and remember to focus on your soft/interpersonal skills and you'll be more successful as a project manager

Enjoy!

posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Project Management
Tags:  IT Project Management, Project Management, Technology Project Management, Project Management Tips, Project Management Truths


This article is syndicated from Raven's Brain: Project Management . The original article is available here. Read more in Project Management News, Raven's Brain: Project Management .

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