the magical project manager
DESCRIPTION
The delivery of projects is often focussed around milestones to be hit, budgets to be kept to and scope to be delivered. During these discussions a basic, but often overlooked fact, is that it is people who deliver projects. Ultimately, without a well-motivated and dedicated team of people, no project would ever be completed. A slick project process with strong governance may make you feel good, but unless the people involved adhere to it, you won't get very far. People have feelings, get stressed and have other pressures which need to be understood to ensure project success. People also have limits, which if pushed beyond, can mean short term success is coupled with longer term problems. To continue to deliver projects, a sustainable project approach is needed, and core to this are the talented people who do the work.TRANSCRIPT
@Waterstonsltdwww.waterstons.com
The Magical Project Manager
Daniel HallidayJuly 2014
PRINCE 2Lean Project ManagementAgile Project Management
Frameworks
Managing RiskCommunication PlanningManaging a Business Case
Activities
Cross by Richard Schumann from The Noun Project
Back to Basics: What is a project?
Has a beginning and endBrings together people for a specific purpose
Has specific goalsUsually has time/cost limits
Our story begins with a project…..
…a nightmare projectScream by Uriel Sosa from The Noun Project
What type of nightmare?
ComplexNot enough time
Not enough people‘Must happen’
How to achieve the impossible?
A hero rises…
Icon by James Keuning from The Noun Project
Fear not!
Icon by James Keuning from The Noun Project Scream by Uriel Sosa from The Noun Project
The impossible achieved!
Icon by James Keuning from The Noun ProjectApplause by Hum from The Noun Project
How was it done
Question by P.J. Onori from The Noun Project
What do we know about magicians?
They don’t do magicThey perform tricks
The Project Team
Sad by Nadir Balcikli from The Noun Project
Tool of Choice
Magic Wand by John from The Noun ProjectWhip by Yevgeniy Osovets from The Noun Project
Mechanics of a trick: Back to Basics
Projects require work
People carry out work
To deliver a project you need enough people for the work
Mechanics of a trick: Back to Basics
Supply vs. Demand
Supply = People x Availability x Duration
Supply = People x Availability x Duration
Supply = People x Availability x Duration
Icon by James Keuning from The Noun Project
False Availability
“Just suck it up”“You’re not being a team player”
“We have no choice; we have to do it”“JFDI”
Impact: a vanishing trick
A few late nights….A few more….
Drop in quality….Unhappy staff….
No staff at all!
The Cost
People will have gained a lot of knowledge… on the business
… about the systemcan you afford to loose them?
Long term
Maybe your staff don’t leave…
They feel burntReluctant to take on the next project
Become cynical
It’s not a great trick
Anyone can do this
Magician or slave driver?
Icon by James Keuning from The Noun Project
There is always a bigger trick
“after you pull a blue whale from the hat… there’s this trick called sawing a lady in half”
What You Need to Know about Project Management p148ISBN: 978-0857081315
An Alternative
Sustainable Project Delivery
Tree by Humberto Pornaro from The Noun ProjectCross by Richard Schumann from The Noun Project
Sustainable Delivery Principles
1. We want to deliver projects today, tomorrow and beyond
2. We understand the value of people, their knowledge, skills and contribution to success
3. We want to build a long term culture of successful delivery
Staying Sustainable: Assessing Value
Assess value and cost for this project the next
the one after
Staying Sustainable: People
So don’t use a whip…Don’t ignore the signs
People can be eager to pleaseUnderstand your people
Help them to help the project
Staying Sustainable: Deal in facts
ComplexNot enough time
Not enough people‘Must happen’
Scream by Uriel Sosa from The Noun Project
ComplexNot enough time
Not enough people‘Must happen’
Staying Sustainable: Deal in facts
Triangle by Pierre TORET from The Noun Project
CostTime
Scope
Quality
Real Magic…
Icon by James Keuning from The Noun Project
Staying Sustainable: Deal in facts
No hat required
Join us….
GETTING THE BEST FOR YOUR BUSINESS: REAL WORLD SYSTEM SELECTION
Friday 18th July, 11:45am, Durham