Ingredients for a Successful Project (Part 1)

  Estimating  

I've traveled the entire week, hopping from city to city and meeting many talented people, I realized I'm one lucky guy to have managed projects in multiple industries. I have come to learn that while each project is unique, so are the industries they're meant to benefit. At the top of my list for most complex projects to manage…you guessed it, technology projects. Here are some lessons learned to help you mix the proper ingredients while you're in the heat of the kitchen.

Accept Chaos and a Non-Linear Environment

Technology projects are extremely complex, not because the resources who work on them don't understand the technology. Rather, technology projects are non-linear by nature; some might call them "squishy" projects (you know, that which you cannot wrap your arms around). So the question is, what makes them non-linear?

For starters, progress in a technology project is incredibly difficult to measure in the eyes of the business partner or the sponsor, who is paying for the project. It's not like we can prove the foundation has been completed (infrastructure), as in concrete poured and paved in a construction project. Thus, our business partners rely upon the Technology Project Manager (TPM) more so than we realize. It's our job to make them understand that their time, money and performance are being well managed. Here is the first batch …

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