This is the first of several postings on the issues and approaches that contribute to Project Thinking. It builds on the ideas in the “Think about it – 8 ways to enhance your thinking” posting. This issue has gathered a lot of attention as have some related postings:
Turning good ideas into effective action and
One small step – from good idea to effective action
So, I am publishing this material rather earlier than I intended.
There but for fortune …
Managing projects is not the same as managing production! Projects are not continuous; they have a start and [hopefully] an end. You only get one roll of the dice. This means that you can follow best practice, have a great team and do a good job of managing the project but still get a poor outcome. Your efforts influence your chances of success but you cannot rely on chance to even things out.
Conversely, sometimes the worst organised and managed projects will succeed.
The trick is not to be disheartened by the first case or fooled by the second!
It’s not personal, it’s business
Often project managers forget that their project, however important it is to them, is a means to an end, the owners do not want the project; they only want the outcome, asset or capability. This means that you need to maintain a focus on the business objectives as well as the project objectives. A project that meets its internal goals without meeting the business objectives cannot be a success – it may become a “White Elephant”.
All change!
We live in a highly dynamic world today and the business environment can change very quickly, so keep the business objectives under frequent review. Things will change dramatically over the lifetime of most significant projects.
As discussed in earlier postings, it is crucial that everyone involved is doing the same project. Without agreement on aims, objectives and scope there can be no concerted effort and factional pressures will hamper progress.
Don’t forget the process
Similarly, project managers are likely to focus on the content of the project: what is to be delivered or developed. To manage effectively, it is also necessary to focus some attention on the process and the context. In structured project management environments, the preferred methodology may set the process but a wise PM will keep this under review and keep evaluating whether the default approach remains appropriate in the light of developments.
Project Thinking First Steps
So, the first element of project thinking is:
- Think about risk and probability – there is no average
- Focus on objectives
- Project
- Business
- Bear in mind the rate of change in the business environment
- Think about
- Process
- Context and
- Content
Pivotal Thinking 
