by Josh
Run Away! by Cirofono via Flickr
I am passionate about project management in general, and helping people new to the field more specifically.
But let’s be honest. We’re all nuts.
Not Everyone Should Be a Project Manager
There is a specific form of gluttony for punishment that comes with the territory (some consider it a clinical condition). The decision to head down the project manager career path should not be taken lightly.
When I started out, there was a specific resonance I felt as I learned more about the role of a project manager. Everything I had really enjoyed about my previous positions seemed to be a part of this crazy thing called project management.
“You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?” – Dirty Harry (1971)
Hmmmm….actually I’m going to ask 2 questions instead. And maybe some sub-questions…what the heck. Being a contrarian is just part of my personality… though, it’s not a “desired skill” for project managers. Especially not when you are contradicting a quote you picked yourself like I just did. See what project manager employment does to you after awhile? Koo Koo…Koo Koo
Do You Fit In?
Those shiny, flashy careers in project management may seem inviting, but do you really have a passion for this kind of work? Does your personality lend itself to the type of work?
Do you like working with people? I don’t mean like social work, (although I might have something there) I mean being able to relay technical concepts to business people and get geeks excited about what upper management wants. You need to understand “Projects are about humans,” as the Project Shrink says. The importance of communication in project management has become a cliché, but nonetheless, it’s true. You need to do it effectively and fearlessly.
Are you passionate about this stuff? I really enjoy the process of creating something that never existed before. Even if it is not a tangible, physical product it is very rewarding for me to be able to think about what we did as a team. I love process improvement and change. That’s one reason why out of the various project management careers out there (project manager, business analyst, project controller, program manager, etc.) I chose to be a project manager.
Do You Like Challenge? (Glutton for Punishment Helps)
One of the great things about project management is that at least once a week someone starts running around the place wildly yelling “My hair is on fire! My hair is on fire! My hair is on fire!”
Seriously though, I can’t even smell burnt hair anymore.
Do you like thinking about a project from every possible angle? Because that is what you will need to do in order to be effective. The customer, the team, the sponsor, external stakeholders…they all have to be happy. You need to be able to change shoes every 10 minutes or so. The nature of projects is changing requirements and approaches as you go, so there will always be situations where you are the hostage negotiator that has to make everyone come out alive and feeling happy.
Do you thrive on change? The idea that a project plan is finalized and then very little changes from there is a fantasy… a theoretical construct that only lives in the pages of your project management textbook.
This doesn’t mean you throw your hands up in the air and let chaos rule… but it does mean that effective change management needs to be a key strength. Uncertainty and change happen, and it is all in how you deal with it (and anticipate it) that makes the difference.
What other questions should someone ask themselves before jumping into the alligator pit?
30 Comments
Josh Nankivel June 25 2009 10:18 am
Thanks! I've been working on my writing skills lately, so hopefully my posts will start getting progressively better.
I bet everyone would be very keen to see a post from you about the behavioral profile!
Could you send it my way? JoshNankivel@pmStudent.com
Soma_b (Soma_b)June 25, 2009 1:49 am
#PMOT @pmstudent Advice For A Career in Project..is this really for you? Management [link to post]
Soma_b (Soma_b)June 25, 2009 1:50 am
#PMOT @pmstudent Advice For A Career in Project..is this really for you? [link to post]
PMINMC (Len O’Neal)June 25, 2009 2:03 am
PM Student: Run Away! (And Other Helpful Advice For A Career in Project Management) [link to post]
franciscojsaez (Francisco Sáez)June 25, 2009 2:54 am
RT @projectshrink Shared: Run Away! (And Other Helpful Advice For A Career in Project Management) [link to post] #pmot
DenisJune 25, 2009 2:55 am
Good post! I would say that a key requirement is being comfortable working in a changing environment with uncertain information. This is one of the biggest barries to people who move from a technicians role into project management in my opinion.
Denis
Josh Nankivel June 25 2009 10:20 am
An excellent point Denis! You caused me to go back into the part about change and specifically call out uncertainty. Risk Management and dealing with uncertainty is a key component to what we do as project managers!
Securitatis (Christian Tolkmitt)June 25, 2009 3:05 am
RT @projectshrink Shared: Run Away! (And Other Helpful Advice For A Career in Project Management) [link to post]
Nyoman M JayaJune 25, 2009 3:32 am
Salute to Dr. Paul D. Giammalvo!!!
I am Nyoman M Jaya, originally comes from Bali. Currently studying research in the UK. I read your profile in the pmstudent site created by Josh (success for Josh!!). My understanding that as your life long project manager has widely experienced in project management areas in both academics and practices.
Your article about activity based costing ‘ABC’ in construction is very interested and in line with my idea to study research on application of ABC in Indonesia Construction Industry. Do you suggest that sophisticated ABC could be adopted and fitted or critics into Indonesian standards of construction project estimating system. Would you mind to update me with books and articles in journals were published best for referencing? My hopes in yours. I thank you very much in advance for your assists.
Best Wishes,
Nyoman.
Travis Anderson June 27 2009 09:29 am
Nyoman,
*Activity Based Costing (ABC) - Discussion
It is important to note that in traditional costing the assumption is that products consume resources. ABC contrasts traditional costing by assuming that products consume activities and activities consume resources. Once the product or service activities are identified, costs are allocated to the product or service according to the amount incurred by those activities. This method of allocating costs provides a benefit for making decisions regarding different types of profitability and project accounting (Awasthi, 1994, pp 9-10).
There are two sets of costs related to the accuracy of ABC cost information, 1) cost of measurement and 2) cost of decision error. As the accuracy of measurement goes down the cost of decision error goes up. Detail is an important factor in the success of an ABC system, but the detail must be value add. It is important to control changes brought on by environmental factors (competition, volatility, profit margins, etc…) while still allowing for diversity throughout the life cycle of the product or service (Awasthi, 1994, p 11). So how can one ensure accuracy in measurements for better decision making? The key is to identify and analyze the most optimal cost drivers that trace the costs of the activities back to the product or service.
Ref:
Awasthi, V. (1994, July). ABC's of activity-based costing. Industrial Management, 36(4), 8. Retrieved January 24, 2009, from EBSCO MegaFILE database.
*Seven Principles of an EVMS
- Plan all work scope for the program to completion
- Break down the program work scope into finite pieces that can be assigned to a responsible person or organization for control of technical, schedule, and cost objectives
- Integrate program work scope, schedule, and cost objectives into a performance measurement baseline plan against which accomplishments may be measured. Control changes to the baseline
- Use actual cost incurred and recorded in accomplishing the work performed
- Objectively assess accomplishments at the work performance level
- Analyze significant variances from the plan, forecast impacts, and prepare an Estimate at Completion (EAC) based on performance-to-date and work-to-be-performed
- Use EVMS information in the company’s management processes
Ref:
ANSI/EIA-748-A-1998 (R2002), EVMS Standard
ABC/EVMS Conclusion
To quote Dale Gilliam, an EVMS industry expert, “EVMS is not a separate, unique way of doing things, but rather a system that encompasses and builds upon proven project and risk management techniques that are already being used on your program to some extent.” ABC is absolutely applicable in the context of project management as a best practice and technique for integrating program management. Tracing cost to the product/service/project element gives managers an advantage to make informed decision for process improvement. This is at the very heart of what an EVMS tries to accomplishes.
Good luck with your studies. Please post some of your findings on the PM Student as I am very interested to read your research. As you can tell, I am an ABC, EVM, and PM enthusiast.
Josh Nankivel June 25 2009 10:22 am
Nyoman, activity based costing has been written about on this site before, by Dr. PDG, Travis Anderson, and others.
Here's a link to some search results for pmStudent.com, check out the first few posts for sure.
Activity Based Costing on pmStudent.com
Thanks!
Dr. Paul D. GiammalvoJune 25, 2009 6:42 am
Hi Nyoman,
Rest easy…… Activity Based Costing is alive and well in Indonesia. Two weeks ago I made a 2 hour presentation to some 40 leading business(wo)men and government officials in Jakarta on exactly that topic, and I have been invited to expand it into a 2 day seminar.
Email me privately pauldgphd@gmail.com and I will provide you with a recommended reading list.
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta
http://www.getpmcertified.com
Nyoman M Jaya June 30 2009 03:03 am
Dr. Paul DG.
Jakarta.
I highly appreciate for receiving valuable information of ABC and guidance from direct experts and resources. Congratulation for your presentations and invitation in ABC seminar. I hope ABC application will have been grown up popular in Indonesia.
Best Wishes,
Nyoman
Raj MenonJune 25, 2009 8:28 am
Interesting post, Josh. Here are some more questions to a PM-wannabe to reflect on:
Do you own your teams failures and give credit to your team when you succeed?
Can you function effectively under chaos and stress?
Can you play politics and when you do, do you know which side to take?
Do you build relationships easily and are able to keep it professional at all times?
and last but not least, Can you be Dirty Harry when you want to be?
Josh Nankivel June 25 2009 10:24 am
Awesome points Raj! I especially like the part about being Dirty Harry when you want to be!
Travis AndersonJune 27, 2009 8:51 am
Josh,
I would like to hear from Dr. Paul and others on their perceptions of these two different PM dichotomies.
1)Are you a contractor/PM or employee/PM?
2)Do you understand the contextual differences of the two environments?
3) Which one best fits your PM ambition?
Often the customer does not necessarily know exactly what they want. As a contractor/project manager, it is your job to educate the customer on what it is they really want. I believe you and Dr. Paul fits this category. The same is true for internal projects except now the employee/project manager has to solicit the other core functions of the organization. As a contractor, the PM can use legal buffers, such as FAR, contract mods, and a dedicated team to help the project progress. Depending on the organizational project structure (functional, weak matrix, strong matrix, projectized, etc) the internal project manager may have to fight tooth and nail to progress the project by soliciting resources from all facets depending on the organizations support of the discipline of project management as a practice.
Dr_Paul June 28 2009 19:53 pm
Hi Travis,
Actually, I characterise those two sets of actors slightly differently than you do.
I split those two categories of "project manager" into people who make money (PROFIT) from planning, executing, controlling and closing projects (contractors or sellers) from those for whom project management is an EXPENSE- a cash outflow. (Owners or buyers) For that category of project managers, doing a project is an INVESTMENT and that category of project manager is not so interested in the project itself, but in the PRODUCT of the project. The end result.
Obviously enough, these two sets of stakeholders have very different needs, wants and expectations.
Having been in project management a long time (40+ years) traditionally, Owners tend not to be very good at project management. They make their money from operations- i.e. manufacturing; oil or gas processing; mining; telecommunications; Which is why Construction Management, Design Build and a host of other contract types has evolved to address the fact that operational type organizations are generally not good at project management.
On the other hand, contractors (sellers) MUST be good at project management, otherwise, they are soon out of business. The major difference being, as contractors, rarely are we very much concerned with the PRODUCT of the project. We are VERY concerned about time, cost and quality, and managing risks, but in the end, if the project does or does not meet the needs it was undertaken in the first place is of relatively little relevance to us. (Unless of course it was a design-build, CM or incentive type of contract)
This aspect is not a topic that is explored in much detail. If you want, maybe we can collaborate on putting together an article that highlights the differences in perspective between the two categories of project manager? And better yet, how to structure contracts in a way that aligns their objectives?
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta
http://www.getpmcertified.com
Dr_PaulJune 28, 2009 9:52 pm
Josh and Travis,
This discussion also relates back to my upcoming article on the behavioral profiles of “successful” project managers.
My original pilot study did NOT differentiate between owners or contractors project managers. It was a mix between the two.
One of the more advanced studies I would like to do is do a separate study on owners PM’s and contractors PM’s to see if the attributes or traits are the same and are they in the same order.
So many intersting topics and so little time or money!!!
BR,
PDG, Jakarta
norma aranaMay 24, 2010 7:21 pm
Hi Josh,
I appreciate your post, thank you for taking the time in giving us your insight about project management. So, on to me…I hold a CCNA, CCDA and currently pursuing a CCNP (all cisco certifications) my experience has been as a post and pre sales engineer. I plan to finish my CCNP and further my career in project management in IT. My question to you is, in this field which certifications are most respected when it comes to project management? I've read about a certification offered at PMI (http://www.pmi.org).
Your opinion is highly appreciated.
pmStudentMay 25, 2010 5:56 pm
Thanks for the question Norma. Depending on where in the world you are, certifications will vary in their relative value. ITIL may be one to pursue after your CCNP, and after you have managed projects for a few years you may want to look into IPMA certifications, PMP, PRINCE2, or others depending on your region. If you reply and let me know where you are from I can get more specific.
pmStudentMay 25, 2010 11:56 pm
Thanks for the question Norma. Depending on where in the world you are, certifications will vary in their relative value. ITIL may be one to pursue after your CCNP, and after you have managed projects for a few years you may want to look into IPMA certifications, PMP, PRINCE2, or others depending on your region. If you reply and let me know where you are from I can get more specific.
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Dr. Paul D. GiammalvoJune 24, 2009 10:38 pm
Wonderfully written, Josh!!
As a life long project manager, (45+ years) this is still “what I want to be when I grow up”.
Not sure if you are aware, but I’ve been working with Dr. Dan Harrison, and John Suermondt, from Harrison Assessments http://www.harrisonassessments.com and we have developed a BEHAVIORAL profile of SUCCESSFUL project managers.
If anyone is interested, email me privately, pauldgphd@gmail.com and I will send you the results…..
(Ya, I know Josh, I should post them here as an article…..) Maybe over the weekend…
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta