Evaluating work of a project manager is usually quite easy. A project is either finished or not. Final acceptance protocol is signed or not. Budget and time has been significantly overrun or not.
Some project managers strive for success, as it was described above, by any means. They exploit everything what has been written down, expect that the other side (client) will complete all their tasks at dates agreed in project plan. They do their job, but also strictly expect everyone else do theirs. If project management was the race, they’d be the first on the finish line. Does that mean they’re the best role models for newbie project managers?
I wouldn’t be so quick. Things they lost, somewhere on the road to achieve the success, are relations. Relations considered both internally and externally. This kind of people definitely isn’t the most liked one. They use to say: “I don’t need to be liked by everybody. I’m here to do the job.” And they harm (usually not so much, but still) the chemistry in the team. You can no longer say one for all, all for one.
However relations with clients can be harmed more. In bigger projects even after final acceptance there will be change requests, new features, bug submissions etc. There will be a lot of discussion how to address different issues. Should the bug only be mended with some bubble gum and some string or rather full-blown patch should be delivered? Can’t we just forget this little, unused feature which was added to the agreement by some absent-minded person? Oh, maybe we can adjust support agreement terms a bit? You’ll need good relations in those situations. You’ll need them much more when you plan to sell another solution to the same customer. Maybe having one project a bit more “successful” isn’t worth a risk?
For me successful project management is the one, which (of course) brings the work to its finish, but also leaves the atmosphere where everyone wants to make another project with you, your team and your company.
Subscribe RSS feed
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe by email
