Is project management a real job?

You can hear regularly companies saying that project manager is not a real job. If you want to work, you need to know the techniques, the business, or both. I guess this is not very true. A good project manager can find around him the right resources, he is not obliged himself to know everything and to become an expert.

Nobody worries when the CEO of an telecom company moves to the same job in a car production company. A developper can easily change company, so can a commercial.

Why is this not true for project managers? Is the project manager the only job where expertise is requested in another subject?

I work in a bank, I am not a banker, I am a manager!

The closure of a project is the opportunity to release resources from the project, write a closure report and pull lessons learned.
It is also the opportunity to thank the resources having worked for your project.
Thanking resources after a project will probably make you sympathetic of course but it will before everything increase your visibility and ensure a commitment of the resources during your next project.

• Thank your direct team.
• Thank external resources having participated.
• Plan clearly a celebration party as soon as you plan the project.

Thank for the past. Think of the future.

Meeting - The purpose of the agenda

What is more irritating than an invitation to a meeting without a clear description of the purpose? It even happens that resources clearly refuse invitation without included agendas.
Actually an easy way to do the agenda is to include in the invitation the pre-filled template of the meeting minutes.

• For the invitees, this template will inform them immediately of the various discussion points and their respective owner.

• For the organiser, the purpose of the meeting is communicated and he is quite sure of going through all his agenda points to ease the redaction of his minutes.

Project plan - The link with resources.

When working with resources, the project plan defines clearly the roles and responsibilities of the resources allocated in the project.

An approval of the plan by the concerned resources and /or by their hierarchy, transforms the plan into a formal contract between the resource and the project.

An acceptation of the plan represent a real commitment to the project.

How to recognise a good project manager?

He usually is able to answer these 2 easy questions:

• What do you include in an integrated project plan?
• Why do you write an integrated project plan?
  

Welcome to OTOBOS

OTOBOS means On Time On Budget On Scope.

This the motto for a successful project and a successful project manager.
This blog's purpose will be to share experience on Project Management and to present tips and techniques on how to become a better Project Manager and to make projects happen.