PM Methodologies IPrinciples and Approach

OR: How we know what isn’t so

Dirk Swart – Cornell University

Just do it.

Summary – Read this book

Project Management is about prediction and prevention, not

recognition and reaction

A lot of project management is about managing risk while still being productive.

This means finding the sweet spot in process complexity

In any economic endeavour there are winners and losers.

Consistency trumps brilliance + death march

Ed Yourdon said this. I think he still does.

The value of using a project management methodology does not only accrue those executing

the project

Value – predictability, certainty, repeatability, confidence, etc, is spread out. Which is as it should be. But it means PMs need to be policy entrepreneurs. This has a cost.

I believe that it is easier to hide costs related to people than costs

related to hardware + software

So people costs get hidden quite frequently.

A lot of people cost is opportunity cost.

Methodologies

They can be good to great. They are frequently perceived as « the beatings will continue until morale improves « 

Let’s change that impression.

.

A systematic study of methods, or analysis of methods, rules and postulates.

methodology: Tailored plan + skills necessary to effect the plan

Methodology: Attempt to centralize thinking (because people aren’t

smart enough to think for themselves)

Peopleware, p114.

methodology

Methodology

Methodologies are sold on a long list of benefits. And they DO have benefits. But they have problems too – especially with creative knowledge workers. A lot of hidden benefits accrue through the ‘self-healing’ property of small-m methodologies

Hidden Benefits

Hidden Pitfalls

Methodology

The point here is, don’t force people through statute. Convince them through benefits of training, tools and peer reviews of what is best (which naturally trends to convergence). This is more than re-naming – it is a consensus based collaborative approach.

Convergence of method

"A good deal of strategic planning is like a ritual rain dance. It has no effect on the weather, but those who engage in it think it does. Moreover, much of

the advice is directed at improving the dancing, not the weather.”

Next: Choosing a Methodology

If we all agree one is needed, how to we create an appropriate methodology in a way which retains stakeholder buy-in? How do we cross the gap between when we roll it out and when we see benefits?.

Some useful links

• Ohio State IT: http://cio.osu.edu/planit/ PM at Cornell: http://projectmanagement.cornell.edu/ General PM site: http://www.gantthead.com/

The brain has no executive

I’m told it’s more accurate to say that the brain has no unitary executive controller for higher order functions.