Project Management versus Operation Management

 Sometimes I think I say that Project Managers can do anything and sometimes the lines between project management and operations management is blurred.  This is probably because many of the skills in operations management and project management are complimentary.  I have done both functions in this world as a Program Manager.  As a Program Manager, you have to be able to manage and mentor Project Managers, but you also have to be able to manage the operations of a business.  Project Managers need to understand how a business operates and be willing to jump in a learn about how to make operations more lean and efficient for the business.

Thinking about the Future

I have been thinking about the future. There are many technologies and projects going on that will have a huge impact on our future society.  Many of these technologies are breaking the rules as we know them and many of the tasks that we do today may not be the tasks that we do tomorrow.

I have been reading a lot and thinking about what technologies are going to have this big impact.  Something small that I think is already here is voice activated technologies.  Although I use my Amazon Echo almost everyday to hear music, the news, and weather, but it is getting better.  There may be a day that the keyboard is a thing of the past.  We already have voice activated typing, it is a little clumsy, but it is getting better.

Another area related the the first is the internet of things or IoT. IoT is already here, it is possible to connect many of the common devices we already use.  It is important to understand IoT because there are huge security implications involved in connecting all these devices.  The secret is the interfaces.  If you pair voice activated with IoT, it creates a huge convenience with a huge security concern.

One technology that helps with the security concern is blockchain technology.  When people think of blockchain, they think of cryptocurrencies. Cyptocurrencies are really just the tip of the blockchain iceberg.  This is a technology in which I am researching much more.

Other technologies that are here and getting better include robots, automation, artificial intelligence, deep learning, and many more.

The point of this post is that the future is coming and people really need to be prepared to continue to learn new skills on a continual basis.  It will be important to learn these skills not just for work, but also to just basically live in a more connected world.

***Remember help me out with the survey about Program Manager Critical Skills***

Teaching Entrepreneurship

On this rainy Saturday I am working on some proposals and other business development activities. I was thinking about entrepreneurship and how to teach this to children.  It is obvious that they probably do not learn it just by watching, although I think kids do pick up things like this from the environment.

Entrepreneurship is going to be one of those critical skills for workers of the future.  I see so many children and young people today who have the desire to do something, but because their parents or the community can't see the value they opt for safe careers.  It is easy to have a risky business or a creative business when you have nothing to loose.  There is something to say about starting from those humble beginnings.

For a while now I have been thinking about how to teach or at least coach young people on starting something.  I tell those around me that they need to start something.  I don't care what that something is, but starting is what is important.  Getting over that initial inertia is what is important.

There is an advantage to not knowing what you don't know.  Mentors, coaches, teachers and family can help to fill those gaps.

Anyways, don't forget to help me out with the survey about Program Manager Critical Skills

Thanks,
Kevin

Critical Skills for Program Managers Survey

In the interest to find out what the critical skills that Program Manager's need today and in the future,  I have created a survey to asks those questions.

If you have a minute or two to answer a few questions, I would appreciate it.

If you want the raw data from the survey, leave your email at the end and I will send it to you.

Critical Skills for Program Managers Survey

Share this with friends and coworkers who might be interested.

Thanks,
Kevin

Question: Critical Skills for Program Managers?

One thing I want to do is try and figure out want the critical skills are for Program Managers across the various industries and employers.  One thing that I have found out is that almost everyone has a different understanding of what a Program Manager actually is and what a Program Manager actually does.

My goal in all my jobs and in my personal life is to find the area in which I provide the most value.  Bringing the value equation to the table is important.  Many people are stuck in jobs in which they add no value.  More importantly the jobs themselves bring no value to them.  In other words, they do not learn new skills, or meet new customers and contacts, or even a chance to look out a window.

My question is what are the critical skills that today's and tomorrow's Program Managers need to be successful?

Lead From Where You Are

Project managers and leaders have a lot in common.  I would argue that being a project manager is a tough leadership challenge, even for seasoned leaders.  Many times the project manager must influence stakeholders in the organization or they may not have direct reports assigned to the project and have to work with the managers of other departments.

Another area that the project manager may face is when they are not in charge and have to manage the project through a subordinate role.  I have found myself in the situation several times in my career and it does make getting things done hard. I do know how to handle it though.

Leaders lead from where they are. Leaders know that where ever their position there is an opportunity to lead.  A simple definition of leadership is the art of influencing people to complete a mission.  A leader or project manager in a subordinate role must use their influence to get the job done.  This sometimes creates obstacles.  Sure it is easy to get things done when you are in charge, but it is a real art to get things done when you are not in charge.

I view these roles as a chance to spread my leadership wings and to learn a new skill.  It is tough, but it is a lesson in dealing with people that is not soon forgotten.

When Projects Fail

Most organizations do not take on projects unless there is a business imperative that makes the success of the project critical.  Unfortunately most projects fail.  They fail for a variety of reasons.

One of the reasons that projects fail is that the project does not really have the support of senior management. Anther reason is that the organization does not have the skills to actually do the project or that the organization will not dedicate the resources to project success.

Regardless of the reason, when projects start to go bad, the project manager will ultimately take the blame.  When they go bad, then the organization brings in a new project manager, but if the root cause isn't addressed then the project will continue in the downward spiral.

I have taken over many a failing projects over the years. It isn't a pleasant thing to take over a failing project.  Sometimes you have to let people go, fire a sub-contractor, convince management to properly resource a project, or anything or everything to get the project done.  It isn't pleasant to sit in a project status meeting getting beat up because the project is over budget, behind schedule, or looks like no product will be delivered. As they say, "success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan." I just know that by making this project a success, people are going to be mad or upset or feel threatened. I will forge ahead, people are destined to feel the way they feel.

Some projects can't be saved due to the structural issues outlined above or nobody wanted the project in the first place. It is gratifying when the project succeeds in the end. It takes a fighter to fight through all the opposition and pull that project out of the jaws of failure.

The To Do List Two

If you haven't figured out by now, I really think the to-do list is a powerful tool for project managers. Today, I was looking at my to-do list and thinking about how many of these lists that I have made over the last thirty years. I have tried to modify the to-do list based on the advice of some self help guru, but I always go back to the tried and true to-do list.

Today, these to-do lists came in handy.  I looked back to the beginning of the month, as I am compiling my end of the month report.  This report, for my client, recounts all deliverables that I delivered and all the products that I worked on over the last month.  My to-do list shows the deliverable and how it was QC checked and when it was delivered.  It is a good thing that I have those to-do lists with details, because last month I was audited.

Another time that the to-do list came in handy was as evidence during an audit.  Commonly, especially if the project team is off site, there will be questions about timekeeping for the the project team.  The to-do list will help to alleviate those questions by showing what the project team accomplished and when.

I commonly use the to-do list as a historical record and review them at the end of the year.  Generally, the end of the year is when I want to develop my personal development plan. I will see what I am working on and where the gaps in my skills might be or areas that I feel that I might need to know more about.  I will design my individual development plan (IDP) to address those or to address a new technology that I want to know more about.

Yes, I find the to-do list very handy.  It is a powerful tool for the project manager and the rest of the project team.

Continuously Improve Yourself

Project managers need to have a plan to continuously improve themselves.  Technology is changing at a rapid pace.  This rapid pace means the projects we work on change, the means and tools which we use to get work done change, and the people and organizations we serve become more technologically advanced.  Project managers need to have the skills to keep up with this fast pace change.

We all know those people and organizations who have refused to change and update their technical skills and those people and organizations have found themselves left out of the new economy.  I have learned that learning new skills opens up many more opportunities for me as a project manager.  This is important if the project manager is contemplating a job change or industry change.

The good news about this is that many organizations require a certain number of PDUs (Professional Development Units) for a person to maintain their certifications.  I have several certifications (PMP, CM, and SMC) and I am continually on the look out for PDUs that I can use to not only continue my certification, but to upgrade my skills.  Even after multiple decades and hundreds of projects, my skills still need to be upgraded and refreshed.  Anyone who thinks they are done learning, I will tell them they are wrong.

Being a project manager means continually learning and continually upgrading the skills that a project manager needs to face the challenges of the future.

Future Proof Yourself

The last couple weeks I have been seeing a few stories about tech leaders, most notably Bill Gates and Elon Musk, talking about how robots are going to take the jobs of most Americans.  This is probably going to happen and those Americans are going to have to learn new skills to survive and thrive in a new economy.

How do you future proof yourself as a project manager in the new economy?  That is a good question.  I always find that it is important for human beings to be in a continual state of reinvention. This reinvention may include learning new skills or rearranging those skills into a new configuration. It could mean bringing those skills into a new industry or into a new endeavor.  I find that as a project manager, I have many skills and have many more skills to learn.

Additionally, there is an area in which project manager skills absolutely have a place and that area is in the creative field and innovation.  Humans are made for creative endeavors and creating new things, this is the kind of stuff that project managers already do.

Anyways, here is an interesting podcast by Mike Dillard's "Self Made Man" about the rise of robots...sounds scary, but with the right skills and learning mindset project managers will survive,

 https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/self-made-man/id982006298?mt=2&i=1000382378517

So I suggest you find a new skill to learn today and start to future proof yourself.  If robots don't take your job, somebody else with skills will.