Lea BongiovanniProject Manager| ConfidentialPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
I've been asked to give a 20-minute presentation on the "Benefits of Project Management". Mind you, I realize that this is a very broad topic and I have some ideas on how I want to approach the presentation but I'd like to hear from the Community on what topics you would discuss, how to jazz it up (make it interesting to all levels (students, non-PM, entry-level and experienced PMs).
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
I'm looking forward to seeing the deluge of responses you'll get. :-) Some initial thoughts:
Less risk
Lower costs
Higher quality products
Faster completion time of various activities and endeavors
Increased employee satisfaction
Increased customer satisfaction
Ability to share lessons learned from successes as well as failures across an organization
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2 replies by Dr Justin G Mamen and Lea Bongiovanni
Mar 24, 2017 4:04 PM
Lea Bongiovanni
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Hey Eric,
Wow! You are my first responder!! LOL!! Thanks for taking the time to reply to my question. I really appreciate it.
I had to laugh -- yes, I agree. I look forward to the responses I get but that's okay - the more the merrier!!!
Apr 08, 2017 11:59 AM
Dr Justin G Mamen
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Yes
Saving Changes...
Lea BongiovanniProject Manager| ConfidentialPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Mar 24, 2017 3:48 PM
Replying to Eric Simms
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I'm looking forward to seeing the deluge of responses you'll get. :-) Some initial thoughts:
Less risk
Lower costs
Higher quality products
Faster completion time of various activities and endeavors
Increased employee satisfaction
Increased customer satisfaction
Ability to share lessons learned from successes as well as failures across an organization
Hey Eric,
Wow! You are my first responder!! LOL!! Thanks for taking the time to reply to my question. I really appreciate it.
I had to laugh -- yes, I agree. I look forward to the responses I get but that's okay - the more the merrier!!! Saving Changes...
Benefits might not be an accurate enough description. You might want to break it into two separate lists, something like Structure and Promised Benefits.
Some examples of Structure:
Standard process
Common language/definitions when discussing project work
Consistent tools
Boundaries
Using a well-defined project management lifecycle gives you structure. I don't consider this a benefit because the structure is a means of obtaining value, but is not a tangible product or service that you can sell to a customer. This structure promises benefits, or value, but keep in mind that it is only a promise. It requires people to deliver the value, for you to realize the benefits.
Eric has provided a good list of promised benefits. You may not realize them on every project, regardless of how well you adhere to the structure you have defined, but if you have the right structure for your organization, and the right people, your chances are significantly higher of realizing the desired benefits than if you didn't.
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1 reply by Lea Bongiovanni
Mar 27, 2017 9:12 AM
Lea Bongiovanni
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Hi Markus,
These are all good thoughts. I was thinking of breaking it down the benefits by PM Framework and PM Methodology?
What are your thoughts about my approach?
Saving Changes...
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
Check out Mark Mullaly's research into the value of project management. Depending on your audience, stats can help get your point across. Have a look at the PMI website for their other research papers too.
I'd say create an imagination of "undertaking a project without a project management". How things will be done regarding knowledge areas and project objectives.
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2 replies by Jess De Ocampo and Lea Bongiovanni
Mar 25, 2017 7:50 AM
Jess De Ocampo
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Well said, in a nutshell.
Mar 28, 2017 6:41 PM
Lea Bongiovanni
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Adel,
Your idea to approach my presentation from the standpoint of "imagine trying to undertake a project without a project management" was a great idea! Thank you for the suggestion. Lea
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LORI WILSONRETIRED - Technical Project Manager| RETIRED - LifePoint HealthClarkston, Wa, United States
Hi Lea: I wish you well with your presentation! In my experience and in my healthcare position, I would say the benefits are efficiencies and effectiveness. Marcelo Alejandro Briola wrote an article about this called Achieving Benefits Through Organizational Project Management that you might find interesting. You can find the article by putting the title in the Search bar on this web site. Having a PMO in my current organization helps us provide consistent delivery of projects, using templates, lessons learned, same foundational approach to project management. Project Management can also save companies by avoiding issues and challenges due to successful risk management. Effective project managers are also very good at leading teams and companies successfully through change. What my peers have already shared above I totally agree with. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Lea, this is a great opportunity and hopefully you will do a fantastic presentation. As you've mentioned, this is a broad topic so I will just mention one of the "Big Picture" benefits: Higher Project Success Rate.
I would be sure to include expectations management. Having someone on the frontline with the client, helping them understand where the project stands and what to expect can make all the difference between a less than perfect success and a perfect failure. With the high-level view that the PM has, he/she can provide the best feedback to the project owner relative to performance. So if things fall behind, or if specific processes are bogging down, they can first look for ways to get the process back on track but also give prepare stakeholders for delays. Managing expectations is a key part of making sure a project is critically evaluated as a success.
Good luck! Saving Changes...
Marcus ReisFormer President and CEO Razor Engineering Ltd| Project Results Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I have had to do similar presentations at "lunch and learns" for clients and management. Good question and great answers.
In my presentations I begin by saying god/Allah/Buda (any divinity for any religion) is ultimate project manager lol. Don't worry I'm not a crazed religious fanatical.
Then I reference the book of genesis and creation. If during the (very unlikely 6 days, 7th for rest) but during the biblical 6 days of creation any of the "steps" were done in the wrong order there would be not Adam and Eve.
Now I bring it to the "real world" and how creation was much harder than any project I have ever taken on (hopefully I get a laugh from the audience). I state but not limited to the following (I'll make it short but it can go on for pages) so there is back and discussions to my points and my presentations are about 45min to 1 hr. so you need to fill in around points.
Project Management:
1.a skill and cannot be performed by just any individual. It needs a person that is qualified, experienced and mature enough in the organization; 2. leadership and communication; 3. organization and clear objectives that tells anyone on a project where that project comes from, where it is going and what it needs to done to keep stakeholders and owners happy; 4. informs you, your team stakeholders and owners a real play by play of cost, schedule, and deliverables; 5. gives organizations credibility
So just my own personal look at this topic. Good luck! Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Hi,
not much to add from my side.
But one topic here makes me thinking and maybe this is a bit offtopic now but just let me highlight this. Maybe we can do another thread if necessary.
Eric had some great inputs but the point
"less risk"
let me think.
From my perspective through well established and implemented project management there will not be less risk.
The risk is the same without project management.
The benefit through project management is, that this risk(s) are being managed (what they won't without pm).
Am i wrong here?!
What do you think?
All the best for your presentation Lea, i am sure you will doing good. Just one more tip. Keep it simple and straight.
Many topics can only be striven within 20 minutes. Working with examples might be a good idea.
Regards,
Markus
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1 reply by Eric Simms
Mar 25, 2017 2:43 PM
Eric Simms
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You're right. I meant to say "Less chance of negative impacts to project due to undefined and uncontrolled risks".
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