George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
If you believe performing project management has advantages, list at least two of them. (in order to grow, good things needs to be exalted and repeated)
If you believe there is also disadvantages of performing project management because nothing is perfect in life, list at least two of them. (in order to grow, bad things needs to be shown and corrected) Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Some advantages include:
Less time wasted on rework
Resources conserved due to efficient methods
Less stress from uncertainty
The disadvantages are so greatly outweighed by the benefits that I can't really consider them 'disadvantages'. For example, the time needed to create a project schedule can be considered a cost of 1, but the overall time I save can be considered a surplus of 100.
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1 reply by George Lewis
Apr 12, 2018 12:05 PM
George Lewis
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Eric - I understand, thanks for your comments. But nothing is perfect, if you do remember any disadvantages or challenges that we as PM sector would need to change. Let us know.
Saving Changes...
Donna GordayIndependent Contractor | Smart Project Management ServicesEdmonton, Alberta, Canada
From a management perspective, there is an additional cost in overhead to add in project management. The biggest downside to project management is how it is applied. Tailoring the project management is a skill and applying only what is required takes experience.
Misjudging the level of stakeholder engagement that is required and the timing. In some projects where the engagement is done a month or two before the project is ready for execution doesn't leave a lot of time to accept feedback and make any adjustments.
Managing the changes required by the organization. This happens in IT quite often where some of the benefits outlined in the business case are never realized as the organization is not willing to accept the changes required to achieve them.
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2 replies by Donna Gorday and George Lewis
Apr 12, 2018 12:07 PM
George Lewis
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Donna - I really like your input...
"The biggest downside to project management is how it is applied. Tailoring the project management is a skill and applying only what is required takes experience."
Do you have an idea of how this can be fixed? if there is any fix I mean.
Apr 12, 2018 12:52 PM
Donna Gorday
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The fix falls within the PMO to provide guidance for new PM's on how to do this. Also using Agile or rolling wave planning could also help as you can then add rigor as required and delete activities if things are going well.
I have also seen great success when using portfolio managers who mentor the junior PM's and provide oversight on the projects. Managing projects by portfolio can improve the understanding of the business drivers and priorities thus tailoring becomes easier.
Saving Changes...
Enrique CavalittoRetired| RetiredLa Plata Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The impact of project management on work is well known, but it also has an impact on the everyday life of project managers.
In my case the two biggest improvements that my personal life got from the PM practice were:
- Better communication skills, especially listening actively and the resolution of conflicts
- Better management of risks
I can't think of any significant disadvantage.
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2 replies by George Lewis
Apr 12, 2018 12:08 PM
George Lewis
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Enrique - yes, Project Management drives and enforces good communication, so that's one a the greatest advantages within the sector.
Apr 12, 2018 12:10 PM
George Lewis
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Enrique - nevertheless, nothing is perfect, there are somethings that are not right and needs to be fixed.
For us who loves this area and are in the quality area, we love to continually improve.
Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
Apr 12, 2018 10:24 AM
Replying to Eric Simms
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Some advantages include:
Less time wasted on rework
Resources conserved due to efficient methods
Less stress from uncertainty
The disadvantages are so greatly outweighed by the benefits that I can't really consider them 'disadvantages'. For example, the time needed to create a project schedule can be considered a cost of 1, but the overall time I save can be considered a surplus of 100.
Eric - I understand, thanks for your comments. But nothing is perfect, if you do remember any disadvantages or challenges that we as PM sector would need to change. Let us know. Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
Apr 12, 2018 11:23 AM
Replying to Donna Gorday
...
From a management perspective, there is an additional cost in overhead to add in project management. The biggest downside to project management is how it is applied. Tailoring the project management is a skill and applying only what is required takes experience.
Misjudging the level of stakeholder engagement that is required and the timing. In some projects where the engagement is done a month or two before the project is ready for execution doesn't leave a lot of time to accept feedback and make any adjustments.
Managing the changes required by the organization. This happens in IT quite often where some of the benefits outlined in the business case are never realized as the organization is not willing to accept the changes required to achieve them.
Donna - I really like your input...
"The biggest downside to project management is how it is applied. Tailoring the project management is a skill and applying only what is required takes experience."
Do you have an idea of how this can be fixed? if there is any fix I mean. Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
Apr 12, 2018 11:38 AM
Replying to Enrique Cavalitto
...
The impact of project management on work is well known, but it also has an impact on the everyday life of project managers.
In my case the two biggest improvements that my personal life got from the PM practice were:
- Better communication skills, especially listening actively and the resolution of conflicts
- Better management of risks
I can't think of any significant disadvantage.
Enrique - yes, Project Management drives and enforces good communication, so that's one a the greatest advantages within the sector. Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
Apr 12, 2018 11:38 AM
Replying to Enrique Cavalitto
...
The impact of project management on work is well known, but it also has an impact on the everyday life of project managers.
In my case the two biggest improvements that my personal life got from the PM practice were:
- Better communication skills, especially listening actively and the resolution of conflicts
- Better management of risks
I can't think of any significant disadvantage.
Enrique - nevertheless, nothing is perfect, there are somethings that are not right and needs to be fixed.
For us who loves this area and are in the quality area, we love to continually improve. Saving Changes...
I don't believe there's anything fundamentally wrong with project management itself but rather with how it is implemented. Two common failure points are not tailoring one's approach to the context of a specific project and becoming too confident in the plans or models we develop to predict the future.
My elevator pitch for the main benefit of project management is increased predictability in expected outcomes.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Christopher McLeanProgram Manager| Traffic & Parking Control Co., Inc.Milwaukee, Wi, United States
I have to agree with previous comments. Communications is a big benefit. Get everyone talking the same project 'language'. The results (monetary, social skills, teamwork, processes, list goes on) of a process that can be repeated are the second benefit.
I know I will get lambasted, but there are disadvantages! The process and management style as a whole is great. Maybe its more of a style to fit the project, but a formal project for something that can be completed in 40 hours or less is a bit of an overkill in my estimate. If you set up guidelines and simple processes (KISS principle), this less structured approach is very successful. Are they still projects? Yes, but do they require the full scale project methodology and practices? Not so much. Where that works really well is in smaller companies that have no formal project management type experience. Give them the basic tools to succeed, and they will graduate.
Hope my ramblings are making sense.
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1 reply by Donna Gorday
Apr 12, 2018 12:56 PM
Donna Gorday
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Chris makes some very good points. The basics of project management applied to smaller projects helps (schedule, estimating techniques and scope/change management) The old iron triangle.
Saving Changes...
Donna GordayIndependent Contractor | Smart Project Management ServicesEdmonton, Alberta, Canada
Apr 12, 2018 11:23 AM
Replying to Donna Gorday
...
From a management perspective, there is an additional cost in overhead to add in project management. The biggest downside to project management is how it is applied. Tailoring the project management is a skill and applying only what is required takes experience.
Misjudging the level of stakeholder engagement that is required and the timing. In some projects where the engagement is done a month or two before the project is ready for execution doesn't leave a lot of time to accept feedback and make any adjustments.
Managing the changes required by the organization. This happens in IT quite often where some of the benefits outlined in the business case are never realized as the organization is not willing to accept the changes required to achieve them.
The fix falls within the PMO to provide guidance for new PM's on how to do this. Also using Agile or rolling wave planning could also help as you can then add rigor as required and delete activities if things are going well.
I have also seen great success when using portfolio managers who mentor the junior PM's and provide oversight on the projects. Managing projects by portfolio can improve the understanding of the business drivers and priorities thus tailoring becomes easier. Saving Changes...
"Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious and immature."
