PMcrunch

When thinking about stakeholder analysis, I am reminded of the old carpenter’s motto which is to “measure twice and cut once”. The idea here in project management is to make sure you have clearly laid out what is to be done before beginning a project. Now this being said, there are many shades of grey.

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As project managers, we often are handed projects once they are sold. For example, in a consulting organization, a sales force will often sell a project which then is assigned to a project manager. Similarly, within organizations, someone has “sold” a project to upper management and to stakeholders and then the project is assigned to a project manager for implementation.

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Most of us know that we personally are limited by how we see ourselves. If we see ourselves as a winner, the likelihood of us being a winner, in any given endeavor, goes up dramatically. If we see ourselves as a loser, our chances of success are really low. Of course, these are examples at the extremities. There are many many shades of grey in between.

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It is a great exercise in the beginning of a project to identify all the stakeholders. For anyone who has been on just a handful of projects, you know the importance of identifying stakeholders as it helps to formulate requirements, as well as to push toward a successful close of an effective project. RACI Analysis provides a useful way to put into perspective each and every one of the stakeholders or stakeholder groups on a project.

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How we succeed is every bit as important as what we achieve.  Really, what I am saying is that we need to review our definition of project and program success periodically.  Making our mark on our projects and programs does not need to involve compromising with our ideals for making our mark in a positive [...]

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Though I have not heard it made official all indications are that we are in recession. This appears to be not just for the United States but for much, if not most, of the rest of the world. The cause of this recession, of course, is the credit crunch and all issues surrounding that. So the big question is, “What can project and program managers do to cope with this recession?” I have some thoughts, and for reference have tapped into ideas of Jack and Susie Welch.

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As leaders, Project Managers and Program Managers need to communicate clearly. Communication is a tricky thing, and among other things, it is influenced greatly but what we see in the world, and what we see is shaped by what I call the “color or your glasses”.

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Time off is not just a luxury. It’s a responsibility of leadership for project managers and program managers. Especially in summer, where schedules tend to be a little lighter, it is easier to take some time off and connect with others who also are taking time off. Taking time off helps us personally, as well as our families and social relationships, but it is also a big gain for members of our project team, as everyone appreciates an organization that acknowledges and values time outside of work.

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I have encountered misunderstandings numerous times due to different concepts of the meaning of the word ‘plan’. There are various types of plans. In Project Plan Integration, we pull together various aspects of the project plan, which taken separately actually represent separate plans. One of those plans, the Configuration Management Plan, is one that I have encountered misunderstanding over.

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As Project Managers, our propensity to assess and manage risks needs to align with our understanding of the level of leadership required on the project. We need to understand clearly the range and depth of our responsibilities on the project in order to effectively manage risk. Otherwise, our risk management program may be over or under what is really required. Here’s my thinking on why.

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