The Project Management Makeover Project. A Fresh Look For Our Profession.

 

We need more sex in project management. Says Ron Rosenhead. No! Not in that way. Jeez.

Someone once said to Ron: “the words project management are such a turn off. You need to sex it up a bit and call it something else!”

You see. In that way.

Of course I agree. "Project Management" is just, you know, too much "Management". Calling people "resources". Having Excel sheets for every occasion. Calling "obnoxious" "proactive". Actually using phrases like "being on the same page" and "thinking out of the box."

Oh my.

So. We need to make it more sexy.

We need a new word. That word will be "bootstrapping". Really. I will not have any discussion on this.

But only a new word will not cut it.

I actually tried to make Project Management sexy.

Nine years ago. In a beer-commercial way.  If we get a sexy girl to act as an Project Manager, then the profession will be sexy.

Yeah I know.

In 2002 I published my first book "The Microwave Way to Software Project Management" (PS. Don't buy it. Buy the other one, because it also contains the first one).

On the cover was a drawing of a girl. The idea was: "look how cool this Project Management stuff actually is."

Let me provide you with some text from the introduction:

"Sometimes I wish the job of software project manager has more danger. Walking around, shooting from the hip to your opponent. Employees in fear, ‘cause there’s a new project manager in town. Something like that.

Sometimes I wish the job of software project manager is cool. In the 1995 movie “Hackers” actor Jonny Lee Miller is painting his laptop with camouflage colors. Cool. Mine is black, sadly.

But there is danger. It is cool. That’s why being a software project manager is the choice of Sofi. Sofi is the new heroine we desperately need in our profession. It’s like Lara Croft is kicking some programmer butt."
 
Oh my. I was young.

Nine years later we still have the same problem. So. This doesn't work.

I think we really need a good makeover. Not just a different hair color. Or those underpants that make your waist look thinner.

And I will do this.

I am the right man to do this job.

I have a word (bootstrapping!). 

So. I am all set for "The Project Management Makeover Project."

And we need a theme song.

Can we do Shabby Ranks again? Please!?

Shabba!

Bas = Writer who draws. Author of  A Travel Guide for Transitions: Because Freaking Out About This by Myself Totally Sucks.