Drake SettsuProject Manager / BloggerHi, United States
The objective of Project Management is to delivery a project on time meeting the goals that were set and not drift to far away from the allocated budget since government most of the time can't provide a good estimated budget.
Good Project Management will save taxpayer monies to be spent in needed areas. Saving Changes...
Probably nothing since good project managers will continue to manage projects in a good way, and bad project managers will sometimes manage projects in a bad way, regardless of the economic state of the country. I don't think it's a PM's responsibility to lift the economy, like it isn't the responsibility of any person's job, other than perhaps politicians that make the legislation and decisions that effect the economy. So if you ask me how can PM's directly do their part for the economy? Perhaps 1: stay employed so they can keep paying taxes and 2: vote for politicians who make responsible fiscal decisions. Saving Changes...
MANDA SATSHISHINGAManager| Ordem Dos Engenheiros de AngolaLuanda, Angola
Dear George,
Personaly I think is possible only if Govnerment accept with some Project Management Practices as best and accpeted nationalwide then later with effiency in managing public sector project, Govt. could save money to invest in other area, thus boosting economy.
Otherwise is difficult even to measure the impact of Project Management benefits as a profession.
Regards
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1 reply by George Lewis
Mar 18, 2018 10:26 AM
George Lewis
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Manda - good point you made there.
Any specific way to you're thinking to achieve this?
Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
Mar 18, 2018 10:22 AM
Replying to MANDA SATSHISHINGA
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Dear George,
Personaly I think is possible only if Govnerment accept with some Project Management Practices as best and accpeted nationalwide then later with effiency in managing public sector project, Govt. could save money to invest in other area, thus boosting economy.
Otherwise is difficult even to measure the impact of Project Management benefits as a profession.
Regards
Manda - good point you made there.
Any specific way to you're thinking to achieve this? Saving Changes...
Beyond project delivery, I'd hope that a good PM will influence sponsors and other funding authorities to make the right investments which will further the country's economy. PMs will rarely be in a portfolio decision making authority role but they can certainly develop strong relationships with portfolio decision makers to increase the likelihood of worthwhile spend.
Kiron
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1 reply by George Lewis
Mar 19, 2018 11:11 AM
George Lewis
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Kiron - I agree with you, but the question is at a higher level (decision takers) not just only the PM role but the PM sector in general (as PMs we are all part of this sector).
Saving Changes...
MANDA SATSHISHINGAManager| Ordem Dos Engenheiros de AngolaLuanda, Angola
Yes, sure!
In case of my country (Angola), is through education and communication.
1. I can start at school, then universities because is where the opinion will be made later.
2. Making sure that public opinion is aware that growth can be achieve with best practices in public sector.
3. To Politicians, by informing what they could gain by enforcing the best project management practices and where to find these practices and how to measure the benefits.
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1 reply by George Lewis
Mar 19, 2018 11:05 AM
George Lewis
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Manda - this is the direction I wanted with the discussion. I do think there is a lot that can be done, but I'm not sure how and where.
The PM sector has a great potential, but it has been asleep in terms of causing a greater impact.
Leaders are most focus on PM standards (which are good, very good) but project management has been around for a while and it too common people misunderstanding the concept.
Are consolidated enough to drive a bigger change in economy? What are we missing?
Saving Changes...
Lenka PincotChief of Staff to the CEO| Project Management InstituteParis, France
Hi, I think it can help but not sure about boosting as such. Do you consider portfolio management part of the project management section? In the portfolio management it should be identified and prioritised which initiatives can help the economy. I believe this is happening on the level of sectors but then they actually compete for financing. E.g. you put money in infrastructure but then you have to cut education. If you would eliminate this competing and manage the project portfolio as whole, have better identification of synergies and better visibility on real project benefits then you can do overall better. But with all the political stakeholders that’s really hard to achieve. And then yes, you need to execute the projects effectively so that they actually bring the expected values and benefits. And for that good project management is important. But will not save it if there’re stronger political or other interests that will push the project wrong direction.
Shortly said, I see project management as enabler, a tool, but not as the driver for economy boost.
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1 reply by George Lewis
Mar 19, 2018 7:51 AM
George Lewis
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Lenka - really interesting comments. Le me quote your statement so other don't miss it.
Lenka - "see's project management as enabler, a tool, but not as the driver for economy boost."
Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
Mar 18, 2018 9:25 PM
Replying to Lenka Pincot
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Hi, I think it can help but not sure about boosting as such. Do you consider portfolio management part of the project management section? In the portfolio management it should be identified and prioritised which initiatives can help the economy. I believe this is happening on the level of sectors but then they actually compete for financing. E.g. you put money in infrastructure but then you have to cut education. If you would eliminate this competing and manage the project portfolio as whole, have better identification of synergies and better visibility on real project benefits then you can do overall better. But with all the political stakeholders that’s really hard to achieve. And then yes, you need to execute the projects effectively so that they actually bring the expected values and benefits. And for that good project management is important. But will not save it if there’re stronger political or other interests that will push the project wrong direction.
Shortly said, I see project management as enabler, a tool, but not as the driver for economy boost.
Lenka - really interesting comments. Le me quote your statement so other don't miss it.
Lenka - "see's project management as enabler, a tool, but not as the driver for economy boost." Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
Lenka - thanks for your reply!
Lenka - so, in other words, Project Management Sector as a whole does not have a strong positive impact on our countries economies? Most of our tasks in the sector can only enable certain achievements BUT NOT a strong boost our economy? And cannot achieve this by any means!
Let me know if this is what you think, don't forget the question comment is "HOW CAN...."
Is this your statement?
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1 reply by Lenka Pincot
Mar 19, 2018 9:36 AM
Lenka Pincot
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Hi George! What I meant was this:
In my eyes project management is a tool that helps you to deliver a project in efficient way. You maximize your chances to deliver the required results whatever it is supposed to be.
When it comes to boosting economy I think it’s important to have the right ideas and understanding of the situation of that particular country, opportunities it has, global economics etc. here we come to managing of the portfolio of ideas because you don’t want to have various ideas competing with each other, being counterproductive, you want or have synergies, you want to set the right priorities because resources will be always limited.
My question was if you consider this under project management too or not?
And then once you believe you work with the right set of ideas and you turn them into projects than the project management comes and helps you to implement them.
So if you would give me just set of skilled project managers and methodology I don’t believe it would be enough. It would be definitely needed for the implementation but are those project managers supposed to come with the right ideas? You rather need experts to bring the ideas. So then project management is a tool for me to help boosting the economy but not the primary driver who cause the boost.
Saving Changes...
Lenka PincotChief of Staff to the CEO| Project Management InstituteParis, France
Mar 19, 2018 7:55 AM
Replying to George Lewis
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Lenka - thanks for your reply!
Lenka - so, in other words, Project Management Sector as a whole does not have a strong positive impact on our countries economies? Most of our tasks in the sector can only enable certain achievements BUT NOT a strong boost our economy? And cannot achieve this by any means!
Let me know if this is what you think, don't forget the question comment is "HOW CAN...."
Is this your statement?
Hi George! What I meant was this:
In my eyes project management is a tool that helps you to deliver a project in efficient way. You maximize your chances to deliver the required results whatever it is supposed to be.
When it comes to boosting economy I think it’s important to have the right ideas and understanding of the situation of that particular country, opportunities it has, global economics etc. here we come to managing of the portfolio of ideas because you don’t want to have various ideas competing with each other, being counterproductive, you want or have synergies, you want to set the right priorities because resources will be always limited.
My question was if you consider this under project management too or not?
And then once you believe you work with the right set of ideas and you turn them into projects than the project management comes and helps you to implement them.
So if you would give me just set of skilled project managers and methodology I don’t believe it would be enough. It would be definitely needed for the implementation but are those project managers supposed to come with the right ideas? You rather need experts to bring the ideas. So then project management is a tool for me to help boosting the economy but not the primary driver who cause the boost.
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1 reply by George Lewis
Mar 19, 2018 11:00 AM
George Lewis
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Lenka - I do understand.
I just feel that at a higher level, there should be something our sector (PM) could do to cause a major impact in our society economy.
