PM History Lessons: Battle of Saratoga

Paul Bruno, PgMP, PMP has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of project management and information technology. He holds bachelor's degrees in management and computer software, as well as master's degrees in business administration and history.

  ProjectsAtWork  

A turning point in the American Revolution, the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 offers a number of critical lessons that today’s project leaders would do well to revisit now and again, from the fundamental importance of the project charter and thorough risk assessment, to understanding the project environment and skill-sets of team members.

Many historical events and milestones meet the definition of a project as a “temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end that is undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, which will typically bring about beneficial change or added value.” The goal of the ongoing PM History Lessons series is to provide practical knowledge applicable to today’s projects while exploring some history along the way.

The American Revolution began in April 1775 after 12 years of increasing tension between Great Britain and her colonies in North America, primarily over the issue of taxation. The rebellion, at first perceived by the authorities in England as localized to Massachusetts, quickly spread. The year 1776 saw the British capture New York City, General George Washington’s army pursued across New Jersey, and the American invasion of Canada fail. Washington won a surprise attack victory at Trenton on the day after Christmas 1776 and along with a follow-up victory at Princeton in early 1777 stemmed the tide of the British.

However, even …

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