Hack:
Project Management, Dinosaurs and Us!

We have to seriously start believing that Project Management is not only science, but a (strange) combination of art and science (and maybe luck as well, which I am leaving out for the moment). Strange because for every project you will need a varied mix of these skills, and if you are lucky enough to run the same project twice, you will end up getting a different experience (and sometimes result) altogether!

This is how I would love to influence these fundamental issues listed earlier:-

APPROACH

We are taught to base our project management around managing the constraints (the Iron triangle of Cost, Scope and Time) from the very beginning.

No wonder then, that our focus is almost always constraint oriented and constrained accordingly.

Our modus operandi also needs to shift from a “narrow” science / technical mode (aka scope, cost, deliverables, schedule, quality and then work towards fitment and fit for purpose) to a wider people and needs mode (aka fitmentand fit for purpose first followed by associated quality and timeliness etc), akin to what the LEAN methodology also emphasizes.

Such shift in approach and mindset will force-evolve a transition from being compartmentalized and hierarchical to a more collaborative and flatter ecosystem (for organizations, teams and people within and outside).

This will facilitate an environment where perfect alignment between people, their needs and overall expectations is indeed possible.

To summarize: I would recommend trashing the famous iron triangle of project management in favour of a balance – depicting Project Management and Project Manager’s true philosophy and intent – balancing People’s Needs and Expectations.

Both are not the same, and getting them on a level playing field is what project management is all about.

STYLE & CULTURE

By virtue of its current design and topology, the project management ethos is structured so as to bring out the managerial qualities / abilities in any one indulging in it, unfortunately.

Also, more often than otherwise, the implicit widespread understanding / given is that, Leaders run companies and Managers run projects. Why?

What separates the Leaders from Managers and why don’t they find the time to run projects as well?

Talk about leadership skills and you talk about the softer aspects around motivating, leading the team from the front, setting an example, taking risks when necessary and also common sense sometimes (to speak of a few but key aspects).

We should go ahead and orchestrate our education and training / certification processes so that we can help groom people turn into leaders and not typical managers who can at the most, swear by, and manage by the book.

Also, in line with the approach, I would like to reconfigure the essence of Project Management as more parts Art, and less Science.

In doing so, (hopefully) Technical and Business Savviness, Process Definition and Controls etc will all be old norms and an expected baseline, from where it is only an understanding, facilitation and collaborative process that is applied on top – to execute projects.

FUTURE PROOFING

How do we future proof our new approach?

If you look at the recommended approach and style outlined earlier, these lay emphasis on a people / expectation centric outlook and "managing" in a non technical mode, by focusing on the softer aspects.

By doing so, I strongly believe that we will always be “future proofed” and the discipline of Project Management can be taken to the highest levels!

In closing, for me, the “Art of Project Management” holds more water than “Project Management” alone.