Project Management Mantras: Be an Efficient PM, Not a Bookish Zombie

Saurabh Saxena has 11 years of IT experience, the last seven of which he has specialized in software sizing measurement and estimations using function points. He is a Certified Function Point Specialist (CFPS) and Project Management Professional (PMP). The International Function Point User Group (IFPUG) has appointed Saurabh as Function Point India Representative (POC for India region). He is a major contributor to several software sizing manuals, white papers and trainings. He is also part of the IFPUG task force for any function point-related initiatives around the world.

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A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide) defines project management as the art of integrating all aspects of a project, ensuring proper knowledge and resource availability as and when required, and—most importantly—making sure that the expected results are produced within the permissible limits of the triple constraint (scope, cost and schedule). PMBOK Guide also suggests 10 knowledge areas, five process groups and 47 processes for a project lifecycle.

Despite having an army of project management professionals equipped with all types of management tools, the following stats don’t show a gleeful picture of the software industry:

• One in six IT projects has an average cost overrun of 200% and a schedule overrun of 70% (Source: Harvard Business Review)
• The United States economy loses $50-$150 billion per year due to failed IT projects (Source: Gallup Business Review)
• Less than a third of all projects were successfully completed on time and on budget over the past year (Source: Standish Group)

So what’s the main problem? Are we relying too much on management tools, or are we not able to apply book knowledge into practical scenarios? Are we becoming modern-day zombies who are managing projects as …

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