Your post is very interesting and some of the comments have a lot to do with my situation now.

I have been working as a project manager of e-learning projects for the past 5 years. I don't have any technical background (I have a Law degree! haha), and I manage my projects based on the inputs I get from the leaders of the different teams say creation, flash designers, programmers, etc.

I wanted to achieve more technical knowledge because I feel like I don't belong anywhere. I'm working for a company in the UK now for the past year (since I moved to London) doing the same, but in this job I don't even get involved in anything from the creation process to the implementation, I'm just changing people's schedule all the time, earning a bad salary and I'm very tired of it and the outlook of the e-learning market in the UK (all e-learning development teams seem to be abroad!).

I wish I had more technical knowledge to be able to manage other type of software projects but I don't and I don't even know what to do. I can get PRINCE2 certified but then again, it's about management and not technical which is exactly whay I need, to be able to move into a different direction!

What do you think? Please any advice would be appreciated! :)

Kind regards,

Alessandra

However software projects are different from most of other disciplines because of high level of ambiguity. Developers miss their estimates. Clients change project scope. Scoper itself is defined unclearly and there’s a lot of place to different interpretations. There are no unequivocal quality criterias. And there’s higher than average rate of unexpected events.

I think that doesn’t make software projects more difficult. They’re just different. In infrastructure projects you have to deal with other problems which software project managers aren’t even aware of. It’s the matter of the specialization.

I’ve been a PM for a couple of years now and thought i’d gotten quite expert at the discipline. I manage alot of infrastructure work with servers and networks. A senior manager said to me the other day that I will only be a ‘Black Belt’ PM when i’ve managed a software development project. Is this a belief you would subscribe to? Is a software development/delivery project wildly different to an infrastructure project? Thanks for any advice you can offer.
http://theitprojectguy.blogspot.com/

Honestly I have been in this role for nearly 8 months and that’s why I wondered if I made the right decision or not.There are other contributing factors as well which are too many to list (I am trying to be as positive as I can). Anyway, I actually did have a chat with my manager y’day and told him that I need feedback and he has told me that he would get back to me soon. (I am not going to be negative, as this is not the 1st time)

In the mean time, I am making the best use of the time available by reading information to help me improve. I am considering this experience as a good learning experience (especially if I want to mange teams later)

I will keep reading your blog and pick up all the useful information you share.

Thanks

1. Lack of feedback from your manager about your work is a communication problem within your team. It may be the issue with your manager or it can be wider – general dysfunction of the organization. No matter where the source of the problem is you should try to talk with your boss about your feelings (lack of feedback, feeling lost) and ask him to help you to find the way out. It is quite possible the manager isn’t aware of the situation and as far as you don’t express it clearly it will las unchanged.

2. There is another possibility here. It might have been wrong decision to choose this job. However I wouldn’t be quick in labeling it as a dead end or a mistake. I don’t know how long you are on the BA position, but it’s usually hard to judge fairly the role after just a couple of months. If I were you I would ask myself if I could see me doing the job in the perspective of a year from now. If I could find enjoyment in everyday work. If I can label the job as the one which pushes me further. It is hard to suggest you the answer but with the information (definitely not sufficient) you’ve provided I’d say the chances are good that it isn’t the dead end.

Generally, I’d try to fix current situation (or die trying). It’s quite possible you’ll be able to achieve that. If that didn’t work I would consider the job (on the high level) in terms of a part of your career. Basing on the outcome I’d make a decision either to stay or to move along.

By the way: your approach to learn as a way to be the better in what you do is very valuable.

I am working as a Business Analyst but am finding it hard in my role (I would consider myself a newbie although I have done support roles previously). I am completely confused and am now wondering if I made the mistake of jumping into this role. Previously I used to assist Senior Business Analysts with the analysis (relating to the enhancements of the system we were supporting) and then they would take on things from there (as to writing up the documents).

Now I am involved in collecting the business requirements for a web interface (I do not deal with the technical aspects) The problem I am facing is that I am not getting much feedback from my manager about the documents I prepare. I am not a technical person and am only working with business users and documenting their business requirements (I am trying to document requirements based on existing websites)

I feel very overwhelmed am wondering if I am not efficient enough. I have always performed well in all my jobs and have been very good in my roles. This is my first job where I feel I am lost and don’t know where to go. I feel very lost and really feel like quitting.

I am reading books and sites about business analysis and system analysis and what I should do. I really like to learn new things constantly and feel I am not using my capabilities efficiently.

Thanks
A confused BA

I wish you every success and, with your mindset, I have no doubt but that you will achieve it.

u r my Career Mentor.
Steve Pavalina – my life mentor