You have not been around Project Management long if you have not uttered those words before. I may show my age a little here, but I started with Microsoft Project when it came on (2) 5¼-inch floppy disk. I have used more software packages than most are familiar with. This is a person that was weaned and very successful in developing and carrying out waterfall based plans usually displayed on some type of Gantt Chart.
How many of us has used these words Stick to the Plan? In retrospect, how many of us felt like we were following the path of the cartoon below?
As I go back and review some of my past project management notes and books, it is interesting to note that they really said the same thing just wrapped in a different wrapper. I will borrow a simple outline that I have referenced for years and what Ken Blanchard called the book, The One Minute Manager for project planning. The book, Getting the Job Done!, was co-authored by Barry Posner (if you have been around project management a while, I am sure the name will ring a bell).
In the book, Posner lays out a acronym
- Set a clear Goal.
- Determine the Objectives.
- Establish Checkpoints, Activities, Relationships, and
Time estimates. - Create a Picture of the Schedule.
- Develop people individually and as a team.
- Reinforce the commitment and excitement of people.
- Inform everyone connected with the project.
- Vitalize people by building agreements.
- Empower yourself and others.
- Risk approaching problems creatively.
The acronym ends up being GO-CARTS, and every GO-CART needs a DRIVER. What I find that this fit waterfall projects as well as it fits most agile projects. What I guess I get frustrated with is the constant selling of unique processes and systems that are the answer. Even in the most complicates and complex environments will still need to adhere to a set of rules or agreements that these 10 steps suggest.
It goes back to the simple fact, that Getting the Job Done is not a process thing, it is a people thing. Not sure where this statement came from but it is so true. There no such thing as project management software, they are all project scheduling software. Project Management in its truest form is winning the competition for someone’s time –there are only 1440 minutes in a day.
I wonder how Moses did Project Planning?