SPECIALTIES
Project Management
Process Improvement
Team Building
Information Systems
Project Support Office
Training Methodology |
 The Editor's Desk
Having spent over 15 years watching project management evolve in my client’s organizations I have noticed some behaviors and I wonder if you have observed these same behaviors with your clients. For the purposes of reference let’s call the evolution a four stage evolution: Pioneering Stage, Settling Stage, Conforming Stage, and Maturing Stage. Each has distinct characteristics.
Pioneering Stage
This stage is recognizable because every project manager does it their own way. There are no standards, tools, or templates to guide them. They are definitely on their own. Some turn to reading the literature. Others are encouraged to take courses at the local college. Some are successful but most are not. More drastic steps are called for.
Settling Stage
This stage is recognizable because the executives have hired an outside vendor to deliver project management training. They expect that by throwing a few dollars at training it will solve their problems. Every project manager will now be armed with a set of tools, templates, and processes and the world will be a better place. Right? Wrong? Some of the tools, templates, and processes will surely have been adopted but the impact on project success has been minimal and certainly not what senior management expected. More drastic steps are called for.
Conforming Stage
This stage is recognizable because the executives have hired an outside consulting firm to come in and help develop a standard project management methodology that all project managers will be required to follow. This is a sizeable investment and senior management has great expectations that it will solve their problems. Fortunately, there is a measurable impact but not what management expected. More drastic steps are called for.
Maturing Stage
This stage is recognizable because senior management has formed a Project Support Office to support their project managers. If done correctly, this will begin a maturing process that will lead the enterprise to a stage where projects are fully integrated into the business at both an operational and a strategic level. But that is the topic of a later article.
If you are interested in the Project Support Office topic, take a look at our new publication entitled How to Establish a Project Support Office: A Practical Guide to Growth and Development. It is available in electronic or print format from our online Store.
Robert K. Wysocki, Ph.D.
President, EII, Inc. |
 Eye on the Industry
Summit 2006: What's Next in IT?
10th Annual Cutter Consortium Summit
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 Just Published
The following publications have just been added to our inventory this month.
You may purchase electronic or printed versions through our Store.
Estimation with Use Cases: A Simple and Effective Approach to Estimating Software Projects
by Jon C. Porter
ISBN 1-933788-25-9 (Print)
How to Build a Complete Work Breakdown Structure
by Robert K. Wysocki, Ph.D.
ISBN 1-933788-08-9 (Electronic)
ISBN 1-933788-09-7 (Print)
How to Establish a Project Support Office: A Practical Guide to Growth and Development
by Robert K. Wysocki, Ph.D.
ISBN 1-933788-18-6 (Electronic)
ISBN 1-933788-19-4 (Print)
The Requirements Breakdown Structure: A Practical Tool for Effective Project Management
by Robert K. Wysocki, Ph.D.
ISBN 1-933788-26-7 (Electronic)
ISBN 1-933788-27-5 (Print)
Many books have also been added to the EII Publications inventory this month. Order these books through our affiliate on our web site. |
 Under Development
These publications are scheduled for future development.
You may advance order electronic or printed versions through the Store.
How to Establish a Simple Project Process Quality Improvement Program
by Robert K. Wysocki, Ph.D.
Available in April 2006
ISBN 1-933788-30-5 (Electronic)
ISBN 1-933788-31-3 (Print)
Six Easy Methods for Estimating Activity Duration
by Robert K. Wysocki, Ph.D.
Available in April 2006
ISBN 1-933788-28-3 (Electronic)
ISBN 1-933788-29-1 (Print)
So You Want to Teach with Teams, Online and with Real Projects: Step-by-Step from Traditional Lecture to Online
by Richard Manning, Ph.D., Maxine Cohen, Ph.D. and Robert DeMichiell, Ph.D.
Available in April 2006
ISBN 1-933788-22-4 (Electronic) |
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