pmStudent

My boss read in a magazine that developers using "___" programming language are twice as productive, so he bought us a copy and cut our schedule in half

A classic case of implementing change without gaining buy-in from the stakeholders of the change.

As project managers, most of us have to use informal authority and leadership to get things done.  A benefit of not having line management authority is that you are more likely to get people engaged and even leading change on your behalf.

The best way to get an improvement implemented is to make the team(s) impacted care.  Make it their idea.  Find someone who is influential on the team and get them excited about it.  Let the change start from within, and then your role is to help make things happen the way the team wants them to.

Perhaps this programming language can be twice as efficient, but a language is only as good as the developer writing it.  Software project management requires that your team is proficient with the language that is being used.  Springing a new one on them and expecting immediate results is foolish.

Also, change takes time when it is done right.  Flipping a switch is not the way to go.  Over time, expose the team to the benefits of this new programming language.  Get them to find the benefits themselves and become increasingly interested.  Buy them some books they can flip through and research for themselves.

The bottom line:  good project management requires good change management skills.  Help your project teams deal with change by turning it into a positive, motivating event.