Hello all, This will be my first PM role, I come from System Support background and have been reading few books on First Time project managers. But wanted draw from practical experience and expertise. What will be the first ten things(or may be any number) you would do when you start a PM role? Saving Changes...
Congratulations! what kind of projects will you be managing? Although the PM framework is very specific about the different process groups & knwoledge areas I think its important to customize it to your project needs.
A good start would be the PMBOK® Guide Fifth Edition where you can find a “Project Management Process Groups and Knowledge Areas Mapping” matrix. Its on Table 3-1 on page 61, this table correlates the 47 project management processes to their corresponding Knowledge Area and their corresponding Process Group. If you dont have the PMBOK just do an internet search for "pmi process groups and knowledge areas" Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Have conversations. Build relationships. Understand the vision/intent of the project(s). Good luck. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
1. know your stakeholders - their goals, motivations, habits - they are the source of your power
2. visualize a communication plan - meetings, reports, document repository and standards, all-hands, 1:1, newsletter, orgchart
3. keep a project diary - to learn from and to support your memory
4. ask questions and listen - do not try to tell
5. get a mentor Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Here are the first practical things I'd do if I was in your position to gain control over the project:
1. Define the project scope (you can do this as part of the project charter you create). You want to know what you're expected to accomplish and make sure all your stakeholders are in agreement. Doing this will save you from communication problems at the least, or the failure of your project at worst.
2. Identify stakeholders. Failing to identify a single stakeholder (and their requirements) during Month 1 could lead to your project 'mysteriously' failing during Month 24).
3. Identify project requirements. As above, failing to identify a single requirement at the beginning of the project can spell doom for your project at some point in the future.
4. Identify project risks. Unidentified risks can doom a project from the beginning. Saving Changes...
Alfred HortonCEO & President| AOC Connect, LLCLovettsville, Va, United States
Learn to know and to manage your stakeholders, your charter and your communications plan. As Thomas stated in his comment, the stakeholders are where the power and influence to successfully run a project come from. If you have a full understanding of the project charter, your stakeholders and how to communicated successfully with them, you are well on your way to meeting your PM expectations. Saving Changes...
Antonio LouroDirector Africa| Insight InternationalLuanda, Luanda, Angola
Hi - Yes I agree all of the above but make sure you put together a good team. Without that all of the preparation and planning will be useless. Best Saving Changes...
Alyne Padilla LynchSr Business Process Analyst| Communications and Finance IndustrySacramento, Ca, United States
Good morning and congratulations! Few tips:
- Celebrate your accomplishment. Oftentimes, we forget to embrace the moment and acknowledge our accomplishments. So go out to dinner, eat a cupcake (or cake - no one is judging : ) ). Whatever makes you feel like you have celebrated this accomplishment.
-Network and begin building a personal SME reference list. Identify key strengths of your existing and new professional connections for easy reference when their expertise is needed.
- Become familiar with your organizations unique PM processes. Not all orgs follow PMI standards word-by-word.
- Understand the project templates used in your orgs and/or identify the ones you'd like to use.
- Learn the culture of the organization and the project management flow. For example, how much influence will functional managers expect to have during projects, what type of PMO office do you have (supportive, directive, etc.). All these details will help you better transition into the role.
Lastly and in my opinion highly important - show genuine appreciation and/or provide recognition for anyone that goes above and beyond on a project or helping you during this transition. Peers remember recognition and will be more willing to exceed expectations when working with you again. This will also help build a reputation that you value and acknowledge hard work. Again, congratulations and best of luck! Saving Changes...
As many have said, Celebrate! It is definitely an accomplishment. As someone with a similar background from System support, I would offer the following:
1) Get a mentor. They will work with you on the processes and procedures of your particular organization.
2) Read the right material - I would start with the organization's PMO guidance/SOP's and move into the PMBOK.
3) Don't be afraid to ask questions, especially those dealing with planning and specific workflow (ie: assigning project resources). Every organization is different.
4) Most importantly, know your organization's personnel. I found it very helpful to go to lunch with, take breaks with - whatever it took to build a report with your team. This builds trust and more importantly - it helps you understand your teams needs at a management level.
5) Finally, as other's have said, build your network. Have at least six people to support you in the process.
Hope this helps. Best of luck! Saving Changes...
Gordon AlexanderSenior Principal - Global Programme Director| IndepndentChelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom
Hi Ted, Congratulations! your at the start of a very enjoyable journey.
I agree with Alyne on this one, find out the pulse of projects in the organisation from the PMO and PM's, find a mentor from other PM's and listen to what the organisation expects.
Hi Tied, Congratulations! for your 1st assignments ( Project) I am suggesting in PMI ways, it may help you to some great extent:
1. 1st of all Knowing your organization is very important, vision mission, goal, strategy and culture, etc.
2. Connect with PMO and PMs to understand the organization standards like OPA (organization process assets) and EEFS (Enterprise environmental factors) these are very important
3. Identify the Mentors who can guide you properly when you will be stuck up in any aspect of planning and executing the project
4. Project Understanding, Rapport with sponsor and Project charter signoff to start the project
5. Stakeholder identification, their requirements and stakeholder analysis to understand them better
6. Understanding of Scope and requirements gathering is the most important factor for project success, acceptance criteria of deliverables will be discussed and signed
7. Creation of WBS (Work break down structure) and define scope baseline
8. Define activities and Developing schedule and schedule baseline
9. Build good rapport with team members, take activity estimation from team members, self-review the estimation and also study OPAs and also take views from PMO and PMS and identify cost baseline by considering all members views and lesson learned in previous projects
10. Prepare Resource, quality, communication and risk management plans, Integrate all subsidiary plan into master project management plan, conduct kick-off meeting to make everyone understanding and expectation at same level, then start executing project like project life cycle will start, you can tailor the project planning as per the requirements Hope these points will help you to start the project as a PM. Saving Changes...
