Project Management According to Napoleon, Part 1
Jerry Manas is the author of the best-sellers Napoleon on Project Management and Managing the Gray Areas, and a recognized thought leader in organizational project and resource management. His latest book is The Resource Management and Capacity Planning Handbook (September 2014). Jerry's work has been highlighted in a variety of publications, and he has appeared on radio programs nationwide.
It is evident by the increased adaptation of project management principles and practices in companies worldwide, and by the rapid rise in PMI membership, that recognition of the value of project management principles is reaching an all time high. However, project management is nothing new. Since the beginning of time, mankind has been managing projects of one kind or another, from building cities to conducting warfare, and there is much to be learned from the masters of such arts.
Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the great masters of project management in the field of warfare. One could argue his motives (and his ego is well known), but there were few greater at leading a group of people to accomplish such a vast amount of work with such a high rate of success. General George S. Patton recognized this. He was a passionate believer in Napoleon's methods, and his successes with the Third Army among seemingly impossible odds were no less outstanding than those of Napoleon himself (for more on Patton, read Alan Axelrod's superb book, Patton on Leadership--Strategic Lessons For Corporate Warfare).
It's also apparent that Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, was familiar with the methods of …
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"I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate." - George Burns |
