Project Management According to Napoleon, Part 4

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.

 

In these quotes, you will get a feel for the principles that led to Napoleon's successes: exactitude, character and simplicity and, above all, an inherent belief in the value of planning.

Responsibilities of the Project Manager
"The government must place entire confidence in its general, allow him great latitude and put forward only the objective he is to fulfill. A commander is not protected by an order from a minister or a prince who is absent from the theater of operations and has little or no knowledge of the most recent turn of events."

The project manager needs to run the project as he or she sees fit, provided the general objectives from management are clear. It's up to the project manager to insure clear objectives from management, determine specific requirements from the customer and then craft a solution (or multiple alternate solutions) to present for approval.

Once the project is underway, upper management should demonstrate faith and trust in the project manager by allowing him or her the leeway to manage the project accordingly. Of …

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