How do I manage different job profiles efficiently in a project?
Obinna OkechukwuProject Manager| Britesoft SolutionsBukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I'm currently working on a BSS project. There are quite a number of complexities involved in terms of the scope of work. The team I'm working with is a relatively small team; this translates to me having to get my hands dirty in lower level tasks involving development and even technical documentation! Hence, most often times i have to wear different hats. As easy as this may sound, it can be quite daunting, as focus on one task very usually usurps time given to the other. What should be my best approach in terms of ensuring that the interference of other tasks do not jeopardize my primary responsibility: Delivering the Project? Saving Changes...
Not an easy position to be in. What you are really saying is that your project is actually under resourced resulting in you having to work "in" the project rather than "on" the project.
You have possible two options here if you want to maintain quality;
1. Ask for another resource
2. Schedule your PM work and your project work and reschedule your project showing the effects of your involvement in the project in doing of some of the project tasks as well as the PM tasks.
Then raise a change request giving your sponsor both options.
If quality in terms of project management can be reduced then again do as above but remove the PM tasks that you won't be able to do and again raise a change request highlighting the risks of this approach.
PM tasks such as team and steering/board meeting can be reduced in frequency, monthly not weekly etc. Status reports cut down to give less detail, etc. Do you have a PMO who can help with som eof the administration tasks?
Just to follow up on the "Ask for another resource"
This does not have to be an internal resource, you can get creative here, are there any parts of the project you could outsource? Again this can be either within the company or externally.
Is there another internal resource you could train up to do some of the tasks and then send back to their normal area upskilled? Swap the resource costs for the training costs so the effect may be neutral on actual expenditure.
Can you pay overtime? Ask for a couple of weekends to be worked. But don't do this too often as fatigue will reduce productivity and you could find your schedule slipping even more. Saving Changes...
Peter CraigTechnical Leader| Yorkshire WaterBradford, United Kingdom
The only addition I would make to Julie's excellent suggestions, is that (given my experience in similar situations), it's almost certain that it's Project Management that will suffer, not the technical work (assuming you have the right technical skills for what's needed).
You will start looking for 'unnecessary' PM work or processes to drop or slim down. That's fine - there may be some - but it will still introduce extra Risk to the project.
In your place, when I have my discussion with the sponsor, I would ask for extra contingency in timescales and cost based on the increased risk. Saving Changes...
Peter CraigTechnical Leader| Yorkshire WaterBradford, United Kingdom
... I meant if the sponsor 'insists' on your wearing the two hats of course. Saving Changes...
If, as Peter days your sponsor "insists" you wear two hats then it sounds like you are going to have to have one of those "difficult" conversations with your sponsor. It sounds like your sponsor does not understand the value of project management as a discipline and just wants the "job done".
I suggest that some education is needed here. Go through the PM work with him/her and explain the vaue it provides. I would also get their formal sign off as to the parts of project management they dont want done on a change request and as well as updating the risk register, assign the risk to them to manage.
Good luck Saving Changes...
Quaidjoher MotiwalaDEPUTY MANAGER PLANT| MITHRA KYOKUTO SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE COMPANY PVT. LTD.India
Although everything is already explained by the seniors
Add to it go for resources leveling and resources requirement part and do some research in that Saving Changes...
