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TBC Corporation

The Evolution of Project Management

Project management is used in all areas of business. Information Technology and construction projects have been long time beneficiaries of project management techniques. However, since all areas of business are now dependent upon IT, they too require the same project management techniques. For this reason project, managers must have an understanding of many areas of the business. Understanding business processes and how technology enables or hampers the flow of information, the decisions required, and the completion of transactions. An effective project manager cannot be a taskmaster with limited understanding of the business or processes. Issues and challenges will not be addressed efficiently if the business and information requirements are not understood or considered. Effective project managers can understand and relate to the challenges faced by the business stakeholders. They will facilitate interactions and solutions with creative third parties. Knowing and getting the right people to the table will pay huge dividends. All of our PM’s have a diverse background and can straddle and dabble in any area of the business for the benefit of the company.

The most under-appreciated requirement at many companies is change management–Not to be confused with change control. The latter being the control of changes into a production environment. Change Management (CM) is the art of planning, communication, adoption, and utilization of business processes and technology for the benefit of the organization. Every project requires some degree of CM. The challenge is how and when to introduce the often neglected requirement of CM. The earlier the better! Change also requires skills that are not easily taught or learned. I came across an interesting diagram describing the “Equation for Change” that intrigued me.

It depicts how certain requirements for change can create outcomes when missing or present in different combinations. See graph below.

Project management is used in all areas of business. Information Technology and construction projects have been long time beneficiaries of project management techniques. However, since all areas of business are now dependent upon IT, they too require the same project management techniques. For this reason project, managers must have an understanding of many areas of the business. Understanding business processes and how technology enables or hampers the flow of information, the decisions required, and the completion of transactions. An effective project manager cannot be a taskmaster with limited understanding of the business or processes. Issues and challenges will not be addressed efficiently if the business and information requirements are not understood or considered. Effective project managers can understand and relate to the challenges faced by the business stakeholders. They will facilitate interactions and solutions with creative third parties. Knowing and getting the right people to the table will pay huge dividends. All of our PM’s have a diverse background and can straddle and dabble in any area of the business for the benefit of the company.

The most under-appreciated requirement at many companies is change management–Not to be confused with change control. The latter being the control of changes into a production environment. Change Management (CM) is the art of planning, communication, adoption, and utilization of business processes and technology for the benefit of the organization. Every project requires some degree of CM. The challenge is how and when to introduce the often neglected requirement of CM. The earlier the better! Change also requires skills that are not easily taught or learned. I came across an interesting diagram describing the “Equation for Change” that intrigued me. It depicts how certain requirements for change can create outcomes when missing or present in different combinations. See graph below.

I found this diagram to be very representative of many of my past projects. In project management, we attempt to identify all five requirements for the specific initiative or requirement. The book “The Next Evolution – Enhancing and Unifying Project and Change Management,” by Thomas L. Jarocki, merges two natural disciplines into one form of de livery. I have found that the softer skills of change management are as important as the tools and methodologies offered up by traditional subject matter experts. A project manager is becoming a critical resource to the organization and can be very instrumental in delivering expected results.

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The articles from these contributors are based on their personal expertise and viewpoints, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of their employers or affiliated organizations.