The Occasional PM: Cook or Chef?

  Career Development   New Practitioners   ProjectsAtWork  

An OPM cook follows a project management recipe (process), whether or not it is right for the particular meal (project) being served. An OPM chef can adapt the recipe, or create a new one, to align with a project’s characteristics. There is a need for both types.

This is the third in a series of six articles devoted to the Occasional Project Manager (OPM).

For the purposes of this series there are two types of Occasional Project Managers (OPM). We call them cooks and chefs. An OPM cook typically follows project management “recipes” developed by others. If they cannot follow the recipe for any reason, they may not be able to do their job or be forced to fit their project into the existing project management process that may place it in harm’s way. An OPM chef is not limited to pre-existing project management recipes, even ones they may have created themselves for a previous project. When faced with project anomalies that don’t fit the recipe, they either adapt an existing recipe or create a new one to align with the characteristics of the project.

There is undoubtedly a need for both types of OPMs. In some instances, OPM cooks may be aspiring OPM chefs given the project management needs of their business unit. Often, the role of OPM chef is earned through experience and reputation. Except for training in vertical industries, where project management processes and …

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