Utilizing Project Managment in non project oriented organizations?
Brian MooneyProgram Analyst| DCSAKnox, Pa, United States
How have folks been successful in implementing and utilizing PM skills, tools and mindsets in organizations /roles that are not traditionally project focused? I have my PMP but often feel like I am just not utilizing it. Saving Changes...
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Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear Brian
Interesting your question
Thanks for your sharing
The last event I organized at my home (dinner for 30 people) was managed as a project
- Scope (WBS)
- Schedule
- Costs
- Risk
- Providers
- Communication with guests and the project team
- Stakeholders
- Resources
- Quality
It had an initiation (as the idea came up), planning, execution according to plan, monitoring and control and closing
In the end the guests praised the dinner and the organization :-)
What prevents you from managing projects in your company, according to best practices? Saving Changes...
Scott TheusSenior Project Manager and Agilist| BWX TechnologiesEuclid, Oh, United States
I love this question!
Speaking directly to organizations that normally don't run projects, I have successfully implemented a software tool for a 501c3 charitable group using PM skill and tools; I just didn't tell them that was what I was doing.
Here are some of the items I remember doing:
- Wrote up a task list by talking to each person
- Added a "countdown" calendar to the office area to show when stuff was due
- Did a pros/cons exercise on each software package
- Set up a budget
- Had a weekly lunch with the key people (This was the status meeting)
The key was to take the "Project" terminology out and replace it with things the stakeholders were familiar with. Saving Changes...
as Scott says, you have to make it meaningful for your audience.
Introducing PM concepts, principles and practices within a team or company which hasn't used those before is a sales and change management exercise, so you'd want to create a sense of urgency among key stakeholders, start small focusing on simple changes which can generate big benefits and be pragmatic.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
The key point here is to clear understand the difference between applying project management and applying it in a way (PMI way, IPMA way, GPM way, etc). Organizations always apply project management. The point is the way and the degree of formality. Saving Changes...
In such circumstances the object of the project manager by any other name is to use what ever existing process has been used to manage projects and formalize the process. In such environment it is of paramount important not to be seen tinkering with the process as you may get immediate resistance and non cooperation. Only introduce lasting change when the mood of the project team is upbeat, buoyant and optimistic after achieving a 'win' by implement a project of improvement to the overall business processes.
