The Next Paradigm in Project Management

The Next Paradigm in Project Management

Who Am I?Who Am I? • A Business Leadership CoachA Business Leadership Coach

• 25 years of global business experience managing projects in the 25 years of global business experience managing projects in the Software Industry. Software Industry.

• Technology doesn’t matter as much as coordinating the efforts Technology doesn’t matter as much as coordinating the efforts of the people or the teams.of the people or the teams.

• What I do: Help businesses improve their business results What I do: Help businesses improve their business results through learning, process optimization, and technology.through learning, process optimization, and technology.

• Concentration:Concentration:• Attitudes and BehaviorsAttitudes and Behaviors• Organization DevelopmentOrganization Development• Individual Development (Coaching)Individual Development (Coaching)• Process OptimizationProcess Optimization

Who Are You?Who Are You?

• NameName

• What do you do?What do you do?

• What changes do you see going on in the field of What changes do you see going on in the field of Project Management?Project Management?

• What issues are you having with Project Management What issues are you having with Project Management that you would like to see addressed?that you would like to see addressed?

What is Project Management?What is Project Management?

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Major Forces Affecting Project ManagementMajor Forces Affecting Project Management

1.1. Accelerating ChangeAccelerating Change• Requirements change faster than we can complete the work.Requirements change faster than we can complete the work.

2.2. Rising ComplexityRising Complexity• The work we do is more complex with increased interdependencies.The work we do is more complex with increased interdependencies.

3.3. Distributed WorkforcesDistributed Workforces• Work teams are scattered across the globe.Work teams are scattered across the globe.

4.4. Need to Increase ResponsivenessNeed to Increase Responsiveness• Increased choices mean we need to respond faster to earn the loyalty of Increased choices mean we need to respond faster to earn the loyalty of

our customers.our customers.

Similar to Software Engineering in 1990’sSimilar to Software Engineering in 1990’s

• Software Shifted from Structured ProgrammingSoftware Shifted from Structured Programming• Top-down, hierarchical, and functional breakdown of work to be done.Top-down, hierarchical, and functional breakdown of work to be done.

• Coordination through function calls – commands for tasks to be done.Coordination through function calls – commands for tasks to be done.

• To Object-Oriented ProgrammingTo Object-Oriented Programming• Personification, encapsulation, inheritance, re-usePersonification, encapsulation, inheritance, re-use

• Coordination through published methods – protocol where we make Coordination through published methods – protocol where we make requests of an object to take responsibility for action upon itself.requests of an object to take responsibility for action upon itself.

Project Manager: The Paradigm ShiftProject Manager: The Paradigm Shift

• From the Sheep-dog keeping everyone on the From the Sheep-dog keeping everyone on the “Happy Path.”“Happy Path.”

• Nipping at everyone’s heels to keep them on time.Nipping at everyone’s heels to keep them on time.

• Need to know the details of everyone’s work to pull it all together.Need to know the details of everyone’s work to pull it all together.

• To a Manager of Commitments (Promises).To a Manager of Commitments (Promises).• Conversations for ActionConversations for Action

• More responsibility is distributed the Performers to satisfy the More responsibility is distributed the Performers to satisfy the Customer.Customer.

• More emphasis on responsibility, integrity, trustworthiness.More emphasis on responsibility, integrity, trustworthiness.

Conversations For ActionConversations For Action

From: Understanding Computers and Cognition, Terry Winograd & Fernando Flores

Customer Performer

Reque

st

Negotiate

RequirementsConditions of Satisfaction

P

erfo

rm W

ork

Test Custom

er

Satisfaction

Satisfies Conditions of Satisfaction?

Acknowledge

Declare Complete

CommitmentComplete

Two Ways of Moving a Project ForwardTwo Ways of Moving a Project Forward

VisionProject

The Impact of this Paradigm ShiftThe Impact of this Paradigm Shift

• In addition to all of the same technical skills – In addition to all of the same technical skills – successful project management will require:successful project management will require:

• development of additional leadership skills.development of additional leadership skills.

• development of additional people skills.development of additional people skills.

A Great Leader is:A Great Leader is:

• • • • • • • •

A Leadership Development Crisis:A Leadership Development Crisis:

• How do we develop the leadership behavior How do we develop the leadership behavior we need to meet the demands of this new era?we need to meet the demands of this new era?

• Can’t be learned from a book – leadership is Can’t be learned from a book – leadership is learned through practice over time and learned through practice over time and receiving feedback.receiving feedback.

• It isn’t currently taught in traditional forms of It isn’t currently taught in traditional forms of education.education.