Kenneth PerryProject Manager| RDU Airport AuthorityApex, Nc, United States
Hello Everyone,
I have a question and was hoping for feedback. My question is regarding Project Management Plans (PMP).
Background: I have been tasked with helping to improve the Project Management maturity of my organization, and lately we have been strengthening our focus on project planning. Accordingly, I have been working with staff to develop PMPs for their projects, which has been a big step in the right direction.
However, I fear that many see PMP development as just an exercise - and the PMP document as something that will just gather dust after it's approved. I'd like to push back on that notion.
So my question is this: If you could very simply and clearly explain to staff about why Project Management Plans are valuable AND how Project Management Plans should be used during the Execution and Monitor & Control Phases - what would you say?
Thanks in advance for any and all feedback!
Kenneth Perry Saving Changes...
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Brian RiehleIT Program Manager| US GovernmentFairfax, Va, United States
Kenneth,
I struggle with communicating the value of the Project Management Plans in my organization as well. The development of detailed PMPs is critical for business leaders to make the appropriate decisions regarding the future of the given project. This is especially true throughout the execution and monitoring/controlling phases. A detailed PMP drives the value for key decision makers in their pursuit of attaining predefined goals. Saving Changes...
In my opinion the best tactic thats worked for me is the building the WIIFM model for each role or area i am trying to change. In your case you will need to collect a minimum of 3 very impactful reasons why PMP is required that are tied to a personal impact. Building a WIIFM is a personal impact exercise and therefore you will really need to know what makes them 'tick' so to speak in order to build the WIIFM.
Let me know if you need some advise on how to build a WIIFM model Saving Changes...
The PM plan captures your baselines (e.g. what you are committing to do) and your practices (e.g. how you are going to do what you committed to do). When it is produced in a right-sized, pragmatic manner, it is a set of documents which are frequently referenced over the life of the project as it governs what we will do and how we will do it.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Here's what I typically say to people regarding the PMP:
"A project management plan is like a project's genetic code. Just as a single DNA defect can cause an organism to die, a poorly written or ignored PMP can cause a project to fail. Trying to execute a project without adhering to a PMP is simply a recipe for disaster." Saving Changes...
Kenneth PerryProject Manager| RDU Airport AuthorityApex, Nc, United States
Thanks Brian, Salima, Kiron and Eric! All good advice that is helping me to shape a presentation that looks at this topic. I will be mentioning WIIFM and the DNA comment as well. Super helpful Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
I will say: that people are right. One thing is to have a plan and other thing is the degree of formality to create it. Believe me, from more than 30 years in the field I am facing each day of my life with the same you stated. There is no person in this world that do not perform project management from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed. The difference is the degree of formality you use to do that. I have a PH.D in Software Engineering so I was trained (in practice and academic) in maturity models. Maturity is not about to get a document. Maturity is about to "internalize" each thing you do from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed and what is critical: to understand that you are responsible for that. So, forget about to try to convince them to create a document (obviously just in case you are working into an industri where you need that for compliance proposes). Show them that the only thing they will do is the same they do each day of their lifes. Saving Changes...
Janvier NdayisabaManager| Fuzzy International General TradingDar Es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic Of
I find that when I work on a project with four other organizations, I have five different sets expectations - not just about my role, but about how the project should work. "Waterfall" projects have been around so long that everybody thinks they know how they work, only they don't agree on the process.
I don't call it the Project Management Plan, but on larger projects I put together what I call a "project approach" powerpoint presentation that goes through everything you might find in the Project Management Plan, and maybe a little more, just condensed Saving Changes...
Kenneth PerryProject Manager| RDU Airport AuthorityApex, Nc, United States
Thanks Sergio and Aaron for contributing to this conversation. Much appreciated!
Are there any additional thoughts about how the PMP should be used over the course of Project execution? Saving Changes...
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