Why academics are unable in training students to the level where they can easily handle real life project management scenarios? Any suggestions what can be done to make this situation better?
Anna KierczynskaSenior Technical Project Manager| censhareLondon, United Kingdom
I took my IT PM pos graduated studies that were honored by PMI and I've actually learnt a lot that I use now. I think that the key were our teachers who were PMs and coaches themselves and gave us real life examples. They always introduced the tool and how to use it in practice. We had a final exam but also a final project in which we needed to prepare everything correctly with PMI standards. Saving Changes...
I agree with all of these responses. I think there are two issues. First, in project management there is no substitute for hands on experience. The skills involved need to be learned by doing not by reading, many people who get degrees go through the same shock when they get into the real world and find out most of what they learned theoretically needs to be un-learned on the job.
Secondly with the leaning of organizations and the elimination of administrative positions the position of "project manager" has become a universal term and covers everything from performing administrative functions to managing real projects.
A friend of mine responded to a posting for a project manager and when s/he when to the interview it was only a data entry position paying $10 and hour, which of course was not in the job description when it was posted.
When companies do that, because they don't understand what project management really is, they waste both parties time and effort and water down the requirements for what it really means to be a project manager, especially if they have gone to the effort of becoming a PMP.
Providing opportunities for those who aspire to be a project manager by offering a mentoring program for Jr. PM's or PA's gives all parties the opportunity to be successful, but too often we have become too lean and there is no room for an extra body on a project so in the long-term there is no opportunity for growth or hands on experience. Saving Changes...
John TiesoAuthor, Lecturer in Business Management| The Catholic University of America, Busch School of Business & EconomicsArlington, Va, United States
Here I have to completely disagree with many of the comments, and for three reasons,:
1- As I teach my students, never generalize when you are speaking of specifics. There certainly are SOME instructors or professors who do not teach Project Management well. That does NOT mean ALL academics are failing the profession
2- Many of my colleagues, like myself, have many years in consulting, hundreds of projects under our belt, and many have an excellent idea on how to impart some of their experience to their students. All of my students do a project in some form during a semester; that project is developed and executable over time, and they have a well-formed idea of what they need to do for success. They also learn that, in some instances, failure is acceptable.
3- Experience goes hand-in-hand with learning. Formal learning, using accepted standards and best practices, in far more preferable, from my perspective, than on-the-job learning, where you might see some best practices or standards, but more frequently simply adopt the same mistakes as the person 'teaching' you.
There is room in our profession for both; basking the educators is not the answer. Assuring that projects meet standards, use best practices, and PM's teach their team members to help them gain experience is far more preferable. Saving Changes...
Shravan NaikProgram Manager| CenteneTampa, Fl, United States
Apr 12, 2017 10:37 AM
Replying to Andrew Willums
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To "bring the lesson home" for college students studying project management, there's no substitute for hands-on learning whether the practice project would be on or off campus. In my experience, people become project managers after a mid-career change or promotion anyway, after they've already learned and contributed in another discipline. Little work experience can be difficult to translate to management and leading people.
Andy,
I couldn't agree more. I am in a similar situation, where I am making a career transition into Project Management. However, I am using my education to bridge this gap. As stated earlier, I feel as my education is providing me with a solid foundation. Yet, my experience in leading people and managing work has given me the "soft skills" to apply my education. Saving Changes...
MARK A ANNUNZIATA, SrVP/EXPERT CONSULTANCY TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY| ROMAN STRUCTURES, INC WELLINGTON FLDammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
Fazal/Gentlemen-
Some stray thoughts-
Becoming a "good" PM and becoming a "good" engineer cannot be achieved solely within the academic environment. For most of you equally concerned about the disparity, I will confirm what you already know: You need (Construction) Field Experience!
One short story- While associated with a large Municipality, acting as the Owner's Rep, we discovered very uninformed and incorrect feedback from the young Engineers working within the Municipality. Luckily, we (my Project Management Team) were authorized to develop a curriculum that included both hands on field experience (on our mid-rise Project-performing Inspections and QC work) and On Site classroom training by our Subject Matter Experts on the Site. This Effort produced significant results in many ways, including a Mentorship relationship for the future, an example of the discipline required to operate within the Construction Environment, and a renewed interest in the exciting process associated with the "Works".
In my opinion, this exposure and mentoring is the only way to convert the classroom experience to the Real World of Construction. The sooner one can mentor with an experienced execution PM the sooner one can further their career goals. Age is not important.
Most "consultants" and professors do not possess these skillsets for Construction Execution and Management. These skills are not transferrable within the academic setting alone.
Most large US firms require 3-5 years of field experience for their young Engineers, prior to allowing them to participate in the management of Projects. This confirms what we already know! To further your career goals seek out a mentor within your company(in the US he/she would be known as your godfather) and observe and learn as much as possible! Saving Changes...
Anita DhirPresident/CEO| Medhira EnterprisesLong Island City, Ny, United States
Great discussion! I bring in a lot of practical examples and practice (exercises) into my classes/workshops to make sure that the students get at least one opportunity to practice what they have learned in theory. Practice is the only way to understand and pick up the nuances of implementation. Saving Changes...
Jeff SicardSenior Director of Professional Services| ClutchHuntsville, Al, United States
I obtained my MBA with a focus in Project Management. Most of my instructors had came from industry or had a robust background in industry as PMs before moving into the academic realm. My MBA did not prepare me for the PMP exam much less the ability to walk directly into a PM role. What it did for me was familiarize me with PM fundamentals and allowed me to work on actual PM plans as a capstone event. Going through my degree, I thought I knew so much. Studying for my PMP exam actually increased my depth of understanding on the methodology. What really helped me though is understanding where my past projects in the military had relevance to what PMI had labels for. THAT allowed me to look back and understand how much of my past projects were aligned up with PMI standards and where there were some nuances unique to military projects. I teach PM now for Warrant Officers and I focus on closing the gaps in their understanding of industry versus what they have done.
As far as what can be done to close the gap....nothing replaces actual experience. I think working on a culminating PM plan for my capstone was helpful because I had more context of what it was and how much effort goes into fleshing it out. I would not have that in just studying for my PMP. I would have liked more hands on with MS Project or a similar software. What I do in my teaching is focus on "tool kit" items that augment Warrant Officer's in their current roles in managing projects. For example, the military has a tendency to ignore stakeholder analysis. The assumption for most military members is that everyone will receive orders on what to do so I'll just worry about my part. I show them how stakeholder anlysis can cut down on them having to "rework" a PM plan if they identify the stakeholders and capture the interest/concerns/expectations of these stakeholders. So....maybe "toolkit" items is something academics can focus on for a new PM desiring to enter the work force is a better focus than the expectation that a degree will instantly make them marketable. Saving Changes...
I would suggest the point of an academic approach is to develop the ability to analyse, think critically, constructively and independently while developing early confidence with an understanding of how to shape a personal view of the world and be open to self-question and deepening that understanding through experience. A willingness to re-visit an academic environment or equivalent a couple of times during working lifetime also helps to reinforce the value of thinking critically and sometimes it is just good and refreshing to step back and reflect with a degree of robustness and intellectual challenge in doing so. If the basis of your ability to earn income is through exercising knowledge a theoretical and practical - praxis - this apporach makes sense. And it does not have to be business studies, in fact I would argue best not to be these areas, in an academic environment there are science and arts subjects which are far better at forcing critical thinking and developing self-awareness than tick box MBA's.
The UK Government have been working on an interesting approach to improve the career path, competencies and develoment of all roles involved in projects and prorgammes of varying scale and scope.It is a blend of competency, practical experience and development with the point being to professionalise the sector. It's at this link and worth a look:
This post is very informative.Its a very sensible post for me. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Concur with the assessment. I figured out how to dock a watercraft not by watching recordings but rather by doing it. PMs need to manage genuine issues and perceive that issues don't come at them conveniently packaged and tied with a pretty bow. Saving Changes...
