When you hear the words Chaos and Project Management used at the same time, what is the first thing you think of?
Steve KellyExecutive Director| RGA Reinsurance Company, Inc.Saint Peters, Mo, United States
Provide an example of what you would consider Project Management Chaos, if you would like to share. Thank you. Saving Changes...
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Brenda Chaplin-ChaseIT/Business Project Management Professional| FiservSpeedway, In, United States
I immediately think that the project has gotten out of control and things are going crazy in the wrong way. I much prefer to hear Project Management is a way of 'controlling' chaos. By this I mean it allows the chaos a way to work. Let's face it, life is challenging in ways that no one can always expect. Putting some limits around what is acceptable and what is not acceptable doesn't always stop chaos, but it helps you control what reactions sometimes are to the chaos.
I used to work for a company that was always reorganizing. Once my team and I had so many different bosses in a single year it was ridiculous. My team was very upset and it was starting to impact our performance since we were way past the storming phase but sliding back. To make the right kind of change, I decided that I'd coach the team to not worry about the boss as much as keeping the projects and people on track.
I am not sure that the bosses liked my approach but I'm sure my teams did. In the end, the bosses moved on and my teams remained. Saving Changes...
The first thing I think of linking these words is the combination of a Senior Manager who has loosely decided on a pet project, and a business person who has been nominated as the Project Manager, with no PM training or maybe just sending them on a Prince2 course... Saving Changes...
Rebecca BraglioCommunity Engagement Specialist II| Project Management InstituteNewtown Square, Pa, United States
First thing that comes to my mind is a team that isn't communicating and a massive amount of negativity.
To me, chaos results from a failure to communicate (well, also disorganization) but when people aren't talking, bad things happen.
I imagine the PM sitting at his or her desk with head in hands, feeling beaten down and wanting to go home and crawl back into bed. Surrounded by lots of disgruntled team members with a feeling of impending doom! Saving Changes...
In general, meaning of "chaos" is disorder or confusion.
This depends on the individual's opinion on the situation.
Is not project management about managing expectations, progressive elaboration and managing ambiguity?
If so, are not all the above be present in the early phase of project?
However, if these are present in the later phase of project, then it depends on the project management maturity of the organization. As the projects are supposed to go through stage-gate process, it means that if a project clears a stage gate, it means that it has sufficient level of definition on scope, time and cost and it has a valid business case.
Is the above not part of ASSURANCE Review process?
Also it depends on the project management understanding of the individual and how he perceives a particular situation.
How comfortable he is with ambiguity and uncertainty?
Chaos could mean project is going through lot of changes and not able to control. What is the cause for this?
Is it because of assumptions are no more valid or changed?
Is it because of new requirements being imposed?
Is it because of some key sponsor is not interested in the project? Saving Changes...
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
The first thing I think of is the Chaos report from the Standish Group - that much-reported statistic of failing projects! Saving Changes...
