If you?’ve been following the podcast for the month of April then you?’re aware that the theme has been on the topic Web project management.
I choose to focus on Project Management (PM) for the month of April because previous podcast reflected that Web professionals with PM experience we?’re highly sought after and also highly compensated. PM is also one of those topics that appear at least to be most often misunderstood and underutilized to its fullest potential.
As a result, many books have been written about the topic and their available online or at your local library. In fact, if you we?’re inclined it?’s enough of a science that a career opportunity exists within itself.
Either way, it?’s important for Web profession and we need to learn as much as we can about this topic. That said, we also need to put this topic into perspective.
By that I mean that we need to keep in mind not all Web professionals have the luxury of working within the team environment meaning that PM will ultimately mean different things to different people depending on the size of the organizations that you represent.
For today?’s podcast, I would like to highlight a few of the common threads that emerged from the PM interviews as well as share my own experience on the topic.
For example, if you?’re luck enough to be practicing within the enterprise here?’s a few fast facts:
•The majority of IT projects fail for one reason or the other
•PM has much to do about process and to succeed you?’ll need strong organizational and communication skills
•PM is about planning, organizing and directing
•PM is about timelines, scope and resources
•PM is about goals, reporting and budgeting
•PM is also about understanding technology tools and resources
Those topics may seem straight forward enough but If you?’re the 80% of the population that works for small business, many of the before mentioned apply but perhaps in a different context.
By that, I mean to succeed you?’ll need to understand the fundamentals of the issues but considering the fact that you lack the time and resources to plan projects with that level of detail you?’ll need to tailor your own strategy. For example, I think its worth to consider implementing the following:
•Master your people skills and practice good communication with your customers, your peers and your suppliers as well. Truth is, mastering your relationship with others including the stakeholders will serve you well regardless of what you do in life and regardless of where you live.
•Learn or improve upon your time management skills. Simply out, time is money and you need to protect it. Consider getting a time stamp and track each step of your day. You?’ll be amazed at the results and your customers will appreciate if you let them know the time you spent on their projects. This will also help you on those change orders that I am sure you?’ve implemented in every project.
•Master setting and managing expectations. Truth is, Web professionals are people pleasers and as such we have a tendency to over commit. As professionals we need to be real about what we can and cannot do and be up front about it.