Managing Your First Project

Plans are worthless, but planning is everything

• Dwight D Eisenhower

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Panelists – SWE Lehigh Valley

Kathryn Kinsey, PMPIT Project Manager, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Laureen Pellegrino, PMPProcess Engineering Manager and Continuous Improvement Lead at Harsco Industrial Patterson-Kelley

Michele Stuart, PMPPresident, Efficiency Engineers

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Basic Principles of Project Management

What is a project?

A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result.

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Basic Principles of Project Management

Project management processes fall into five groups:

1. Initiating2. Planning3. Executing4. Monitoring and Controlling5. Closing

Source: Project Management Institute, www.pmi.org

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Basic Principles of Project Management

Project management knowledge draws on ten areas:

1. Integration2. Scope3. Time4. Cost5. Quality6. Procurement7. Human resources8. Communications9. Risk management10. Stakeholder management

Source: Project Management Institute, www.pmi.org

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Project Types

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Hard Skills

Project PlanningProblem Solving

Vendor/Contract ManagementIssue and Risk Management

SchedulesReportingBudgets

Meeting ManagementBusiness Writing

Technical Knowledge

Soft Skills

Well-organizedSelf-driven

Enjoys learning new information and concepts

Strong communication skillsGreat leadership

AccountabilityAttention to detail

IntegrityAbility to work with different

personality types

Project Manager Skill Sets

http://projectbliss.net

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Leading by Example

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Resources on Project Management

Project Management Institute, www.pmi.org – offers Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, training, conferences, and local meetings

The Girls Guide to Project Management, www.girlsguidetopm.com – British IT Project Manager

Project Bliss, www.projectbliss.net

The Lazy Project Manager, www.thelazyprojectmanager.com – “Work Smarter, Not Harder”; has a podcast also

Many colleges/universities offer Master’s Degree or certificate programs in Project Management

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Dealing with Experienced Project Team Members

• Issues you may encounter

• Lack of belief in the project

• Lack of confidence in your ability

• Unconscious bias

• Unwillingness to commit time or prioritize

• Jealousy

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Dealing with Experienced Project Team Members

• Understand your role as PMP:

• Facilitator, not SME

• Listen

• Empathize but do not Patronize

• Conflict Manager

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Dealing with Experienced Project Team Members

• Tools:

• Past Lessons Learned

• Utilize current organizational assets such as

policies and procedures

• PMP Principles and documents

• Conflict Management

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Dealing with Experienced Project Team Members

• Conflict Management:• Understanding emotions – 5 options

• Acceptance• Defensive• Hostility• Cooperation• Withdrawing

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Dealing with Experienced Project Team Members

• Conflict Resolution Modes

• Withdrawal – retreat from the potential conflict• Smoothing - emphasize areas of agreement and

de-emphasize areas of disagreement• Compromising - willingness to give and take• Forcing - direct the resolution in one direction or

another, a win-or-lose position• Confrontation - face-to-face meeting to resolve the

conflict

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Dealing with Experienced Project Team Members

• Suggested Conflict Aids

• Get input from ALL participants• Meet with each participant separately• Allow time to let emotions cool off

• Discuss the conflict resolution process with the team BEFORE the first conflict!

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Overcoming Resistance to Your Authority

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Stakeholders

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Understand your Stakeholders

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Cultural Dimensions

http://geert-hofstede.com/books.html

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Overcoming Resistance to Your Authority

LISTENING is the most important element of communication!

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Overcoming Resistance to Your Authority

• Build relationships before you need them.

• Trust is sustained through frequent face-to-face contact.

• Realize that “what goes around comes around.”

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Project Management is an Art, not a Science

Every interaction is a learning opportunity

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Scenarios

• Being the least experienced person with the project problem

• Project re-boot with everyone volunteered into the team

• Talks to boss in the room, not the true PM• Two team members are in direct conflict