Problems With Project Management

Sometimes I feel as if there is just something that needs to be put out there, even in the face of much opposition.  Companies nowadays are real big on project management and many include mine have a PMO so they can manage project managers.  Seems like a lot of overhead to me but that is not the real crux of its problem.

Where the real problem lies are with those who choose this vocation.  They tend to be more concerned with the forms and reports then they are with what these “tasks” are suppose to fulfill.  Now I cannot disagree that a properly instituted project process helps even out the field a tad.  Superstar employees will be shackled a bit and brought back down a tad and those who are not as adept will have the process force into them some discipline.  But is this really where we are looking to go?  Blindly filling out forms and useless processes are more the rule than the exception.  When running a project PM’s must realize the the forms etc. are merely tools or means to an end and not the end within themselves.  It is not how you communicate that matters, but how effectively communication is occurring.  It is not how pretty you format a report but more that the readers or audience get the message.  It is a difficult task to insure both adherence to process and results as many times they are in direct opposition.  I remember Jack Welch saying something along the lines of “Don’t celebrate the process, just the results.”  this is so true.  No one will remember who batted what in the series, but we can all tell you who won.

So my suggestion to all those out there looking to use PM process in the future to remember that these are merely tools and even as a PM you will be judge on the success of a project at a far greater scale then the adherence to the process…or at least you should be but I ramble