Resource Management? What's Resource Management?
From the Strategic Project Management Blog
by Ty Kiisel
Some time ago, I was talking to one of my friends trying to explain just what it was I did for a living, what project management was and why it's important to organizations to wrap their head around all the work that's done in their organization. I mentioned that I thought resource management was the Holy Grail of project management, to which he said, "Resource management? What's resource management?"
When I explained that resources were people, he pointed out something that I have felt for a long time, but have ignored because we all know what "resources" are.
He said, "So you call people resources? People aren't things."
He's right.
Steven Covey would argue that people can't be managed—only things can be managed. "The greatest tragedy of our time is that many so-called business leaders confuse management with leadership. Business schools have been excellent at equipping would-be business leaders to competently manage costs, cash flows, stocks, machinery, and so on. This is very correct. Things lend themselves to management because they can be controlled. 'Things' do not have choices. Extending the principles of managing costs, cash flows and stocks to people yields disastrous results. That's why many so-called business leaders resort to 'turning people into things' so they can manage them."
In project environments (or any work environment for that matter) we rely on people to do the work and get things done. Empowering people to maximize their contribution for something worthwhile, to create and invent, should be our goal. I know it's a subtlety, but shouldn't we stop calling them resources? They're people.
I have to admit, I don't have a better term. But that doesn't mean we can't collectively come up with one. Does it mean we will have to constantly explain what we mean? Probably. Will it ultimately be worth the cost in time and exasperation? Most definitely.
Let's put our collective heads together and come up with a new term for "resources" when we're talking about people. Any ideas?
Posted on: May 18, 2011 09:11 AM |
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Comments (4)
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Joyce Brook
Availability Manager| Thales UK Limited
Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom
The dictionary defines "resource" as: means of supplying a want or deficiency, which although not unkind is not a very warm description.
Having chewed my way through a thesaurus, I have found a lovely synonym for "resource", and that word is "talent". It sums up individual wealth of knowledge and expertise, and - let''s face it - sounds way more sexy to say you are a talent manager ( and HR could rename themselves Talent Scouts!), and it is a real ego boost to be known as a talent rather than a resource!
Heck - when I get headhunted by agencies looking for "resources" with my skillset, I would feel so much more glamourous being told they are looking for my talent skillset!
I get what you're trying to say here, but in my humble point of view... People are "Resources" to achieve a goal. However, just because we call people "resources" doesn't mean we should treat them like a computer or a server, steel, wood, machinery or any other type of resource for that matter. As PMs, we should absolutely ensure that our leadership treats people like human beings. I believe firmly that project success depends on it.
Unfortunately we have no other choice but to use the word Resources ! Perhaps in its place it is better suited to name it 'Project Management Resources' We need different Resource Types = People - Materials - Equipment - Expert knowledge and Time. Lets not forget that when human resources are allocated to a project tasks they can be overloaded! too much to do! and shared between other projects! The Project Manager must protect his\her project from resource overloading - I personally don't think project levelling is the answer as it can hinder the project that usually requires more time to complete and the costs will rise! The PM should really negotiate to get the best resources ! having said that it does depend whether the project is deemed to be business critical or not ! well that's another topic!.
Sumeet Chavan
Project Manager| ThumbStack Technologies
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Resource is just a term. It doesn't matter what you call them. What matters is how you treat them. Treat them like humans and not machines. They have their own dreams, goals, need of belonging to a group and healthy environment.
Maybe someday we really come up with a different word to address them but right now the word "resource" doesn't do any harm.
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