As a project manager working for start-up, it has become quite challenging for me to practice religiously project management due to unpredictable way of start-up working culture. E.g For saas product company, client, whom we provide service abandon project for a month or two and again resume their work at their will since they have already paid subscription for product integration work. It is quite challenge to maintain project schedule, resource allocation. Also, software is offered at minimal cost, enhancements are not charged etc.
what kind of KPIs should be measured in such environment. Saving Changes...
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Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Not at all. Or perhaps, I could agree that you need something to act as project manager BUT trying to implement project management practices into as startup will fail. Why? Because the strategical focus for startup is making money to survive. That is something people do not have into account when tried to implement project management. Lot of people talk about the strategical reason of project management but they do not really understand what that is. You need to understand the point where the organization is inside the organization life cycle and then you will understand if to implement something is aligened or not. Remember that strategy is the way the organization asks to environmental stimulus. To ask the organization implements functions that can be located inside organizational units. Is it project management function critical to survive when we are in the growing period of our organizations life cycle? In that period, making money is the focus. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
It sounds like you need to build stop/restart activities in your projects. I have had one project that stopped then restarted, twice, due to financial constraints.
All you can do is plan for project stop activities, which are similar to project closure activities, and project restart activities such as re-scheduling and re-budgeting. Saving Changes...
Sharath, I am sure you know how a Project Manager typically provides value. You then have to access whether or not you are providing Value in your role in your current organizational situation. If you are not providing value, perhaps there is no need for a PM. If that is the case, I would suggest repurposing/renaming the role so you can provide value Saving Changes...
Serigo, Stephane & Samuel - Thank you so much! for giving very good insights such as
" understand the point where the organization is inside the organization life cycle and then you will understand if to implement something is aligned or not".
Although i don't have control over unpredictable way of start-up working culture, I ensure that projects run in predictable way to extent by identifying risks, planning mitigations, project plan, monitoring activities and more focus on project communication to all stakeholders in the project. It is challenging to infuse culture of executing project in disciplined manner. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
The main objective for each organization is to survive. That is,because product/service/results are created to get resources from the environment in order to survive. Do you think that somebody in the startup period will pay attention to risk? Forget about it. Nobody can start a compa y without being risk seeker. So, Project manegement is in the last place inside the pruority list. But if you want to continue working there you can apply Project management priniplea if an only if you,select those aligned with the reality. As your organization you must adapt or fue. Saving Changes...
Hi Sharath, I agree with Serigo's comments. The main objective for a startup is to make money and get the product live. I was in a similar situation as you. I helped a startup arrive at MVP and go live. The challenge with starting and stopping, as well as, funding makes it fun and unpredictable at times. At times, my focus was on apply SCRUM and software best practices instead of a traditional waterfall methodology. I think the key for us or at least me was to be very flexible in our approach. Saving Changes...
