Kevin ColemanSubject Matter Expert, Author, Speaker and Strategic Advisor| - InsightsPa, United States
Can a project manager telecommute 100% of the time and never be onsite? Saving Changes...
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saurabh mahajanPMP, ITIL, PRINCE2| vodafonePune, Maharashtra, India
Yes, I have seen a case like this. However the manager do visit office once in a month. I wonder if the manager has great communication skill and control over the team.
In my opinion this is possible but with disadvantages more rather than advantages. Saving Changes...
arlene trimbleAssistant IT Director| Local GovernmentAlamo, Ca, United States
Yes. This is doable especially for projects with remote teams or projects that are global or nationwide in scope.
The team needs to use an excellent working communication tool to make telecommuting effective and there needs to be short periodic/regular cadence check-in (e.g. daily standups) using videocamera to ensure that connections are established and continuous. Having a centralized and collaborative place for documents would be helpful as well. Working agreements need to be spelled out as well at the beginning of the engagement so that expectations are managed in terms of deliverables, presence and availability. Saving Changes...
I prefer working remotely. I have used Chat, 'Skype-like' screen sharing, email and phone to communicate. This can work well. Saving Changes...
Scott ShindledeckerChief Product Security Officer| Becton DickinsonForect Hill, Md, United States
100% is tough to do. Communication is 70% or more of a PM's job. There are times during a project when clear communication, i.e., message reception/delivery, is extremely important to project success. Studies have shown body language communicates much more information than text or words alone. Add to the complexity of a project things like cultural differences and multiple time zones and you have even greater challenges. I would say you can try and you might be successful but to improve your chances of project success, I'd plan in at least a few trips for face to face meetings during critical integration points. Saving Changes...
Andreas MadjariSenior Consultant| consigma Management Beratung GmbHVienna, Austria
It takes excellent communication skills, establishing a virtual team culture and tools in place to manage a completely virtual team.
100% virtual leadership and management is a very challenging environment. I personally prefer meeting in person at least once to establish the relationship. If possible, regular face to face meetings are helpful as well. If this is not possible, I put a strong emphasis on virtual culture and availability rules. Saving Changes...
Kevin ColemanSubject Matter Expert, Author, Speaker and Strategic Advisor| - InsightsPa, United States
I hate to say it but I get so much more done telecommuting then when I am in a cubical in an office it is not funny. I absolutely LOVE it! Saving Changes...
Joanna NewmanHead of Innovation and Transformation , Telecoms| VodafoneCholderton, United Kingdom
Hi - I think that 100% is a challenge for most industries and that you would need to have clearly defined roles and processes to meet them.
But, I think that 95% is much more attainable. This would require you to be in an office once a month for a day (or even two) to touch base and build relationships, run workshops etc.
Hope that helps! Saving Changes...
Beth SpriggsHome Furnishings AssociationWoodbridge, Va, United States
I see this happen a lot, where the PM is 98%-100% remote from the rest of the project team and stakeholders. That 2% can make a big difference, which would ideally be an in-person kick-off meeting. Also, if there is already an established in-person relationship and the project is new, but you've already had that in-person connection, then the 100% remote model is easier.
When I'm selecting a partner for a project, I like to hold a meeting in person in their office to get a sense of their work culture and style. That also establishes the relationship for any future project work.
I prefer video calls to strengthen the relationship with remote PM's, but my experience has shown that to be more rare. Saving Changes...
Working from home allowed me to accomplish more in 6 hrs that I could in 8 hours at the office. Communications can be a challenge - but not if you are a born communicator. I would reduce my rates considerably for the opportunity to telecommute! Saving Changes...
Larry MinerFounder and Sr. Project Management of Decision Memory Systems| Decision Memory SystemsBath, Oh, United States
A lot can change quickly and I'm seeing a change in collaboration even in the office now. Resources are finding it wasteful to have to find a room, a time slot to get the room, make sure the overhead and the phones are working today, search around for chairs and THEN schedule the call...when they can set up a meeting in a matter of minutes from exactly "where" they're setting and get the work done now. Not that they don't like getting together but in the world of less is more of everything, internal remote, in the office, makes more sense. To add per Mr. Collins if you get more done with external remote and internal remote is being used more and more - stay out of the office! Saving Changes...
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