When you think about “art”, words such as music, literature, film, photography, sculpture, or painting come to mind. Rarely, if ever, do you hear Project Management. Why is this? I think Project Management should be added to that list. One definition of art is “the product or process of deliberately arranging items (often with symbolic significance) in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect”.
I don’t know about you, but every project I undertake involves influencing and affecting one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect to get things done! Sure, there’s always the “science” of project management…identifying deliverables, creating a WBS, compiling schedules, and monitoring budgets. But, there’s also the “art” of project management that involves knowing when to follow your gut instincts, knowing when to talk or remain quiet, knowing when to raise a risk or let it ride and knowing just the right thing to say to different people to bring your project to closure.
What do you think? I’d love to hear if you think there is an “art” to project management and what that includes. Saving Changes...
Sort By:
Wai Mun KooPMO Director| Intergraph PP&MSingapore, Singapore
Jennifer,
I totally agree with you. Project management requires a lot more soft skills than technical skills, things that are not easily quantifiable scientifically. In my opinion, this is 'art'. In fact, in one of my blog posts - 'Orchestrating Projects', I compared project manager to an orchestra conductor directing all the musicians to deliver a wonderful musical performance. Isn't the conducting a piece of 'art' by itself? Saving Changes...
Hans RobbersSenior Director| SalesforceVlissingen, Netherlands
Jennifer
Interesting thooughts. I fully agree pm is an art. Science is defined and repeatable however each project is new and although elements can be identical there is no standard recipe.
People & Teams – We all know the dynamics (and challenges) of individuals and how those dynamics are compounded by asking these people to work together. A project manager must have the skills to work to get the right people in the right positions at the right time on a project.
Organization – While most people have strong organizational skills for the own personal responsibilities, organizational skills across a diverse team can be much more complex.
Communication – As a Project Manager, you are working with a variety of constituents, ranging from executives to clerks. Not only are you challenged by the number of people who need to be communicated with, but also each person at each level has a different style and approach to communication. The best project managers are “multi-lingual” in their ability to speak all of these different languages.
Analysis – Analytical skills are the core to the Project Managers ability to think critically and wade through the noise of a complex project.
Change Management – Most project sponsors and leaders assume because the change is readily obvious (often it isn’t) that the masses will jump on board with the effort. As we all know this is rarely the case.
Saving Changes...
