Project Management Processes vs. Methodology

People tend to confuse processes and methodology. A set of project management processes is not a methodology. A methodology is how we "operationalize" our processes.

PMI offers processes for project management. PRINCE2 from the UK offers a full methodology, with stage gates, work authorization forms, and so on.

The trick is to keep our methodologies lean. I look at processes as a toolbox. They are the best practice inputs, outputs, and tools/techniques for the various elements of managing a project. And, if we follow IDEF process design standards, they also include controls.

But the methodology selects from among these processes and includes forms, templates, stage gate processes, and so on, so that project managers can have a basic foundation from which to manage all projects. Applying Jack Welch's organizational approach (see my previous blog), these methodologies MUST be lean, if project management is to come across as an enabler and not added bureaucracy.

Leadership Tips From Jack Welch

I don't think I've seen a better list of tips anywhere than this list of 25 tips from Jack Welch.

Also, as an added bonus, here's a list of values, from Jack Welch's book, Winning. These same values can work on an organizational scale or when rolling out project management processes and methodologies (more on that later).

• Leaner is better
• Eliminate bureaucracy
• Cut waste relentlessly
• Operations should be fast and simple
• Value each other's time
• Invest in infrastructure
• We should know our business best. We don't need consultants to tell us what to do.

Very inspiring. In the project management world, waste can include any processes or forms that don't bring real value. As for infrastructure, that can be broadened to include any tools that will support our efforts to get where we need to get, including EPM (Enterprise Program/Portfolio Management) tools.

Now that we've seen his core values, here's the full list of Jack Welch's 25 tips for successful leadership ...

25 LESSONS from JACK WELCH - Business Leadership and New Management Secrets

Some Project Management Holiday Humor

I'm sure most of you have seen this a hundred times, but it wouldn't be the holidays without this version of 'Twas the Night Before Implementation.

Enjoy...

'Twas the Night Before Implementation

Project Status Reports; Simpler is Better

NEED THE INFO

There's a good article in Computerworld about project progress reports. The key lessons are to know your audience, including what they want to see, how they want to receive the information, and how frequently they want to see it. There's no "one size fits" all approach, and it can vary based on the audience, the type of project, and at what point in the project you are.

One thing that everyone seems to agree on is to keep it simple. The best progress reports are one page, with the option for people to ask for suppporting information if needed.

Here's the full article...

How to Write a Progress Report - Computerworld

Happy Holidays From PMThink!!!

Project Portfolio Management: Don't Forget to Kill ...

Enjoyed Richard Jones' post about exploiting internal resource management to drive innovation rates, which requires killing low potential projects. One of the first steps is to improve visibility to resource utilization (knowing what resources are doing) and to improve visibility to active projects (increasing opportunity to see project kill candidates). This visibility combined with effective governance of the project portfolio (the killer mindset) could move the bar in performance. ...

... "Companies can be outstanding at generating new ideas - I mean really world-class and yet they struggle. The simple reason is they don't have the resources to exploit them. " ...

Project Portfolio Management: Don't Forget to Kill: Via Innovation to Products to Ventures :: Dead project walking -why you have to kill projects to be successful

Agile Project Management Ecosystem: New Partners ...

Rally works to develop an agile project management ecosystem by adding new partners. ...

... "Rally actively partners with industry-leading companies to help customers acquire the development and project management skills needed to succeed with Agile, one of the world's fastest growing technology trends. Rally's Development and Coaching partners provide a comprehensive network of expert resources that offer a wide range of business, process and technology services related to planning, building and delivering software in small batches that provide immediate business value. " ...

Agile Project Management Ecosystem: New Partners: Via Rally Software: Rally Software Development Adds New Agile Partners ...

Based in Boulder, Colo., Rally Software Development offers the only on-demand, software development management solution that helps software organizations scale Agile development practices across the enterprise and around the globe. The company’s customers include leading software vendors, Internet companies and corporate development teams who are committed to responding faster to new opportunities and changing customer demands. With Rally, larger or distributed teams are able to define, develop and deliver high-value software in rapid iterations. Rally’s world-renown coaches and expert partners complement its on-demand tooling with training, mentoring and consulting services for creating the Agile organization.

Desk Stretches: Take a Break and Stretch

We here at PMThink! are pretty much desk-jockeys (and jockettes) when we are not running to and from meetings. Unfortunately, our bodies were more meant to sit on the beach with a good book about Project Management (like Napoleon on Project Management by Jerry Manas, for example) than to sit behind a computer. Sound familiar?

So as you are working hard, keeping those projects moving, don't forget that you need to move too! If you aren't healthy, you're project is going to be in trouble...

Here's a link to some downloadable stretching guides including copy machine stretches and stressed out stretches!

Print them out and put them in your cube. Share them with your team members and don't let them tell you that you never gave them anything to do but work.

Enjoy!
Link

Earned Value: Government EVMS Progress, Targets Raised ...

OMB provides status update for agency progress against electronic government targets. Metrics show modest progress in adoption of earned value management system, EVMS. 2006 targets raise the bar to drive further adoption. ...

... "As of September 30, 2005, 28% of agencies have fully implemented EVMS (7 out of 25) and on average are achieving at least 90% of their cost, schedule, and performance goals. Another 52% of agencies are using some level of EVMS (13 out of 25) to track the cost and schedule status of their major investments and do not have cost overruns or schedule delays exceeding 30%. Those agencies are taking the appropriate actions, including developing comprehensive agency policies and incorporating requirements into contracts for using EVMS, to bring the management of all of their major IT development efforts into full compliance with the industry standard for EVMS. Together these two groups of agencies account for over 75% of Federal agencies being able to measure progress toward milestones in an independently verifiable basis, in terms of cost, capability of the investment to meet specified requirements, timeliness, and quality. The remaining six agencies have a plan of action and milestones to incorporate the use of earned value management into their Capital Planning and Investment Control Process.

For FY 06, the goal is for at least 50% of the agencies managing their IT portfolio in accordance with the standard and averaging 10% of cost, schedule and performance. " ...

Earned Value: Government EVMS Progress, Targets Raised: Via OMB: Expanding E-Government: Improved Service Delivery for the American People Using Information Technology ...

Japan's Recovery - Internet Companies, Governance & More

This Time, Japan's Recovery Seems for Real

Like cherry blossoms that symbolize springtime and renewal in Japan, signs of an end to the nation's 15-year economic slump are beginning to emerge. Shares are trading at five-year highs, property values are ticking up and consumer price deflation appears to be ending -- all indications that the world's second-largest economy appears poised for recovery. At the same time, say Wharton faculty and outside observers, Japan continues to face challenges as it grapples with sluggish and outdated financial institutions, massive government debt and strained political relations with its fast-growing neighbor, China. In this special section, we offer an overview of Japan's economy, a report on the move to reform its massive postal savings system, and an analysis of the important role China plays in Japan's recovery. In addition, we describe the impact that two Japanese Internet companies are having on corporate governance, and look at the revival of Japan's retail sector, with its continued emphasis on customer service and demand for high-quality brands.

Summary is courtesy of Knowledge @ Wharton (Wharton is the University of Pennsylvania's business school - one of the top b-schools in the US)

Find out more: Link

ERP Project: Benefit Opportunity Analysis

Nice example of opportunity analysis used to define benefits of an ERP project, ahead of vendor selection. ...

... "Among other benefits, the opportunity analysis process resulted in a series of easily measured KPIs (key performance indicators). For example, building error-checking tools into the data entry system would increase accuracy from 95 percent to 99 percent, reducing billing mistakes. " ...

ERP Project: Benefit Opportunity Analysis: Via CIO Today: Proving Your Project's Worth - Infrastructure ...

Project Server 2003 Service Pack 2a (SP2a)

For anyone who got caught by the first release of Service Pack 2 for Microsoft Project 2003, your cries have been heard. As the release page for Service Pack 2a says, it includes stability improvements resulting from the Online Crash Analysis. They don't say whether the problems users had with Outline code value lists were also a cause for this new release but they are reported to have been fixed.
Download details: Project Server 2003 Service Pack 2a (SP2a)

CRM Project: Best Practices for Success ...

Colin Beasty synthesizes input from experts to identify best practices for successful CRM initiatives. One obvious situation to avoid, is a weak business case with emphasis on the technical aspects of CRM. ...

... "One strategy sure to cripple any CRM initiative, experts find, is leading with the technology and not a legitimate business case for implementing a CRM system. To achieve a 360-degree view of customers, CRM project leaders need to gain a 360-degree view of their own business first. " ...

Via destinationCRM.com: 11 Ways to Ensure CRM Success