n Project Management n Role or Discipline n

n. Project Management n. Role or Discipline n Geof Lory – GTD

Tonight’s Conversation n Definitions: n n Discipline Project Management Discipline Projects and Tasks Project Manager role or title Project management disciplines outside the project manager role Benefits of spreading project management disciplines Line management vs. project management disciplines Special focus of the Project Manager role/title

Incompetence Conscious Competence 2. Diagnosis/Formulation 1. Analysis 1. Building Commitment Conscious 2. Drilling Technique Unconscious Incompetence Implicit Learning Incompetent 3. Acquiring Mastery Unconscious Conscious 3. Implementation Awareness Defining Discipline Unconscious Competence Competent Skill Level

A Definition of Discipline n n n n The ability to consciously choose actions that are explicitly in alignment with your goals and intentions. Behavior of conscious choice Exercising your “moral muscles” Internal or self-control NOT external or governed control Requires you stay awake Requires courage and persistence Requires consciousness and honesty of goals and intentions Requires the ability to see beyond the immediate

The Discipline Set of Project Management n n n Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements” (Project Management Institute) Not exclusive to an organizational position or “the boss” Is not specific to any industry or domain Can be performed at varying levels of formality Is embedded intrinsically in any activity that produces an outcome Can be identified as activities separate from the actual activities/work to produce the project deliverables

How could you Define a Project? § A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. § Temporary - Every project has a definite beginning and a definite end. § Unique - The product, service, or result is different in some distinguishing way from all other products, services, or results. Source: PMI Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge®, 3 rd Edition

PMI Project Management Areas of Discipline Project management includes these disciplines: n n n n n Project planning/tracking/change control Scope management Schedule management Cost management Staff resource management Communications management Risk management Procurement Quality management

Project Manager’s Unique Activities How does a Project Manager perform these activities differently than others on the project team? n n n n n Project planning/tracking/change control Scope management Schedule management Cost management Staff resource management Communications management Risk management Procurement Quality management

Distributing Project Management across the Team members or leads for each role own the responsibilities corresponding to the listed knowledge t en or discipline areas m nt e ge m a e an e m nt ag nt e t t M n g n e c n a a e m me me ns our M m o an ge M na ge age cati es nt ent age a nt n i n. R e m n n a n e n it o M Ma Ma u a e m u re Ma l i t y e m a r e m m Hum nag roc isk ua nag eg cop ime ost t o R Q a a P C In T C S M M t en Team Leads Project Manager Product Manager Development Test User Experience Release Manager at overall project level at sub-team level

Scaling Up Project Management Functions At three levels of scale… …who is participating in project management? all team roles are filled by When six persons or less…. . . project manager formally owns project management activities Project Manager Product Manager Development User Experience Test Release Manager

Scaling Up Project Management Functions At three levels of scale… …who is participating in project management? When roles are filled by subteams, each with a team lead… …project management is distributed among team leads Project Manager Product Manager Development User Experience Test Release Manager

Scaling Up Project Management Functions At three levels of scale… …who is participating in project management? When project management becomes complex… …program management function team includes a program manager and project manager Program Management Product Management Development User Experience Test Release Management

Scaling Up Project Management Functions At three levels of scale… …who is participating in project management? When project management becomes complex… Product Management Product Manager Development User Experience … project management is distributed among team leads Development User Experience Test Release Manager … program management function team includes solution architect and project manager Test Release Manager Project Manager Test Release Management Project Manager When all team roles are filled by six persons or less… Development User Experience roles are filled by subteams, When each with a team lead… Product Manager Program Management … program management owns project management activities

Line Management vs. Resource Management Disciplines Lead Program team Management Function team Role Lead User Experience Product Management Development User Experience Test Release Management Program Management User Experience Desktop Feature Team Program Management Development User Experience Test Program Management Development User Experience File and Print Feature Team Feature teams Test Messaging Feature Team Development Test

High Low Organizational Interdependence Activities that Reflect Project Management Disciplines Lead for work within a domain skill Cross. Discipline Formal PM Role Individual and Informal Disciplines Line or Functional Management Role High Low Formality of Project Manager Role Executor Lead PM

Assessing Project Management Complexity & Formality What are your project management risks? size or Project D High cost Geographic ally dispersed Multiple organization s Contractual, legal issues Fixed budgets, schedules Project C Project B Project A Low Large Project Management Complexity n Project E Low High Technical Complexity

Variable Responsibilities of the Project Manager Role n n Project management activities are an especially important competency of the project manager role Different project characteristics will require different disciplines from the project manager Project Management Project Manager Domain SME Example of a project manager also functioning as the product manager

Applying Discipline and Process Appropriately Uncertainty of outcome - Change High Requires more discipline by everyone X Project B The slippery slope to Unaccountability Discipline is replaced by process and governance X Project A Low Frequency of Occurrence and Control High

Discipline vs. Process – You Decide What You Get n n n Heavy or formal process is more appropriate for problem resolution where the desired outcome is known Process will assure consistency The greater the uncertainty of the outcome, the more flexible the processes needs to be Discipline is more appropriate for creating where the desired outcome is uncertain or changing The greater the process the greater the ability to abdicate responsibility and accountability to the process Discipline will adjust faster to a changing environment because the focus is on the

How Project Managers Discourage Disciplines Project managers disempower team members when they: n Control decision making n Act as the sole conduit to the customer/sponsor n Act as the “process Nazi” n Don’t share ownership of Project Management disciplines Project Team Members Project Manager Project Sponsor

Leading with Discipline vs. Managing with Control Hold people to a higher level of consciousness n Be clear about their goals and intentions n Echo back behavior and perceived interpretations n Be uncomfortably honest n Be specific n Stay in and foster a learning mindset n Don’t be afraid to fail and learn n Get your ego out of the way n

Moving away from an Orwellian mindset When the disciplines of the team are sufficient, process governance is unnecessary, when the disciplines of the team are insufficient, process governance is ungovernable. Apologies to Emil Durkheim “When the mores of the people are sufficient, laws are unnecessary, when the mores of the people are insufficient, laws are unenforceable. ”

More on this and similar subjects n Fissure Simulated Project Management training n Articles on Project Management and Parenthood at www. projectconnections. com n Learning As a Way of Being – Peter Vail n Execution – The Business of Getting Things Done – Larry Bossidy

Questions and Answers ? ? ? Question s?