TRANSFORMATION IS A FOUR LETTER WORD...HARD pt5

Success Factor #4 - Project Leadership

To help ensure success, it is critical to install the correct people, planning, processes, procedures, and governance. Project leaders need all the tools above plus the skill sets for patience, consensus building, conflict resolution, and adherence to process.

No one would let a doctor perform dentistry on them. The military requires training and experience before it will let anyone fly a million dollar plane. Yet businesses regularly assign leadership roles in project management to operational managers while giving them no training or support.

Recommendations:

1. Identify an appropriate project leader as early as possible, preferably before the project charter is written.

2. Before starting any project, develop a charter, project plan, estimate a budget and identify the stakeholders. (The detail and formality of these can depend on the size and scope.)

3. Use a Project Management Office (PMO), even if very small and informal. Depending upon the circumstances it can either play a supporting role or oversee the management of the project.

4. Arm the project with a disciplined process, procedure and monitoring regime.