18 thoughts about managing projects - this is for beginners only...

1. 18 random thoughts
about managing
projects.*
…for beginners…
Richard Adams

2. Being an Agile organisation
is DIFFERENT to using Agile
in project management. *
*Businesses often say “We’re an Agile business!”, as if
it means anything. Most business processes are by
necessity waterfall in nature, so be realistic, expect
Wagile.

3. Methodologies are NOT to be
used in full as per the 1000 page
book that you got on training
courses. *
*They should be scaled down to fit the jobs and
organisational culture

4. Avoid projects that aren't
defined.
Open-endedness is evil.*
*It looks great on paper to have an open ended project
but it always ends up with 16 different sets of
requirements and dissatisfied customers. Only take it
on if it’s clear what is wanted.

5. Never work to two
bosses.*
*Just don’t.

6. RACI*
*Some will and some won’t, but for me this is one of
the key elements of any project, making sure you and
everyone else, knows exactly what their involvement
level is.

7. Make sure everyone in every
team knows what you expect
from them.*
*All the time, especially as things often change.

8. Expecting people to use tools
that they never use themselves
normally is expecting a lot of
them.*
*Sometimes you have to use tools that they don’t use
but at least make using it part of the daily process.

9. Stay organised.*
*Write everything up, even in note form at the end of
the day, wherever possible.

10. Be nosy.*
*Ask questions of everybody. Find out what is out
there in the business. It may impact you.

11. Be open and show it.*
*No one minds you saying you got something wrong.
They will expect you to rectify it and work out how to
avoid it next time.

12. Creative teams are ‘ornery
critters. Get over it.*
*They always know best.

13. Dev teams can also be
buggers.*
*They always know best.

14. The business people
don’t care about you.*
*They always know best.

15. Clients?*
*OMG!!! Did I ever tell you about…

16. In the end, just stay
calm, it’s usually not
personal.*
*But it is irritating, whatever it is.

17. Escalate!*
*If you have any inkling that something is going wrong,
escalate and make people aware.

18. Go above.*
*If you need to go above someone in the chain then
do. The project is more important than hurting
someone's feelings. Put everything out in the open so
it doesn't look personal.

19. Be open with what is
happening, share and
share again.*
*Involve everyone so they know what is going on, this
engenders trust and belief that you are actually doing
something.

20. Of course, these are just
pointers for beginners…it gets
much more fun than this…
*Enjoy yourself. At the very least, it’s a great way to
meet people