Project management to do lists
There is a disease in project management called to do listing and the infection is spread by micromanagers and sponsors who think the project management is nothing more than making a list of everything that everybody should do. This focus on activities leads to team members who mindlessly follow the nitpicking project manager's lists, even if all the steps are not necessary. It also creates team members who have no stake in the project and no interest in active problem-solving or overcoming obstacles. They just follow the to do list.
Our newest article, managing with achievements not activities highlights the difference in techniques used by project managers who are consistently successful and those who just have long to do lists.
Best regards
Dick
Dick Billows, PMP, GCA
President 4pm.com
posted by Dick Billows, PMP, GCA @ 7:00 AM
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While I basically agree with your comment, I do believe that too many project managers do NOT manage the tasks for their projects and therefore their projects go off the rails. It's a balance that too many people can't master. Once you are able to take care of the "little things" then you can manage the big things.
I have to admit I have been a very successfull with micro-managed program director for two years in the past. I always understood the detail my Project Managers were given me and knew what was going on. But I am beginning to see the life I could gain with thinking about achievement driving project managment. I have actually started one of my current projects down this path. My sponsor really understands what I am trying to do for her. My CEO really understands what affect this has for the Company. I did have one downside though, the developer I am setting up for the Work package can not divorce herself from the old days of project lifecycle management.
For example I gave her one package "Add a website GUI for an Energy Assistant Agency to pledge money real time on behalf of customers that are having challanges paying their gas bills." She says this is great, but where do you want me to change the design, unit test, and integration test time to?
I guess like all changes this will take some time to build this competency from the development team.
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