Path to solidfy PM skills

Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)

Anonymous

Hi,

I am making a career change into Project Management. to prepare, I am working to change my mostly informal skills into credible Project management skills.

I currently run small to medium projects - (less than $150,000 budget not counting people's time, 4 to 12 people, 1 to 5 months time).

Documentation consists of a rough plan (the org got so burned by overly detailed and constrictive PM methods 3 to 5 yrs ago that they shun formal planning), Charter, Requirements, status documentation , and some other materials. Ms Project docs are not required.

My communication, presentation and soft skills are good.

My question is: Can someone suggest an order to learn and employ PM methods / skills to BOTH:

1. Make me more effective quickly in my current work

2. Build my credibility in PM methods and tools which I can then use for a career change

One list might be:

1. Learn WBS

2. Learn MS Project

3. Learn Scope management

etc.

Thank You All.

Saving Changes...

Posted: Apr 9, 2008 12:39 PM

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Ramakrishna CH PMP Delivery Manager| Value Momentum Hackensack, Nj, United States

Hi, firstly you said you are already managing projects albeit of small size and complexity. As far as the skill set is concerned, there is hardly any difference of PM methodologies OR skills for managing small, less complex Vs Big and more complex projects. Of course the issues could vary in nature and magnitude. But the core skills to manage projects should remain the same as some you listed like, WBS, Scope Management, and Schedule Management etc...

So, in my opinion there is no single bullet which can transform one from a non PM or a novice to an experienced, result driving successful PM. One has to travel the path of experience filled with issues, resolutions, problems, solution alternatives etc... I am not sure if I could address your concern in a direct and satisfied way, but this is what I personally feel the path to success is. Bottom line, be involved in what ever you manage and learn from issues, resolutions and people and environment around.

Posted: Apr 9, 2008 4:27 PM

Al S. Brown PMP CSM PMI-PBA President and CEO| Real-Life Projects Inc. Belle Mead, Nj, United States

In my opinion, project management is an incredibly rich, complex discipline. There are a huge number of techniques and processes and ideas out in the community today.

I teach a PM 101 class (two days), and I recently realized that it took me almost 10 years of real-life practice before I could say I had used every single one of the techniques in that "introduction" class. It takes a long time to get the chance just to participate in every phase of a project, let alone get cross-industry experience.

I recommend doing a one- to three-day introductory course in project management, if you have not already. List all the tools and techniques presented there. Then sort them, in order of which ones would be most useful to you in YOUR current project environment.

Start getting real-life practice using these techniques, starting from the top of the list. Buy books or go to classes that specialize in those areas. Study and practice until it is no longer "the most important thing for you to learn". Then move on to the next-most-important-thing.

I would also add that the #1 way to grow and get credibility is to get a strong mentor. Build a relationship with someone you admire professionally, and solicit his or her feedback regularly. Ask them what you need to work on next, what one, single skill or capability would help you do better in your job. Professional associations like PMI or IPMA can be great sources of mentors, and you may also be able to find someone at work to mentor you. Most of my mentors have been through work, because they can see my work day-to-day and give me pointed, informed advice about how to do better at my specific company.

Posted: Apr 9, 2008 9:55 PM

Jayarajah Jeyakanthan Project Manager/ Coordinator| UNOPS-LKOC Mildura, Victoria, Australia

Following Alex and ramakrishna's advises, in my observation you have started managing projects and therefore, you are getting hands on experience on projects. Your soft skills seems to be alright.

Now, you may be lacking in the knowledge of Project Management. You are supposed to kick off with a training programme immediately. I would recommend you to get the PMP qualification from PMI, USA which helped me a lot to enhance my knowledge in Project Management. There is no order available for me to suggest to follow the PM topics. Obviously it is a blend of nine knowledge areas that PMI recommends.

Once you have got the theoritical knowledge try and apply as much as possible and there you gain your experience in a well organized manner.

Do not stop there. Continue developing your knowledge while working. It is not that easy to experience every inch of PM in our life. You need opportunities to build on it.

In conclusion, What I wanted to say is that, Theoritical knowledge and the practical knowledge should go in hand together, in order to rise quickly in the field. Focus on both aspects.

Hope this is satisfactory.

Posted: Apr 10, 2008 3:01 AM

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