[Proj Man] Exercise 3 - Project Management --> Implement Change
Is Project Management the best method of implementing change? @least 1000 words
Is Project Management the best method for implementing change?
Well, for me, it depends.
I say that it depends because when we talk about Project Management, it is considered a tool for creating organized work and quality outputs, but applying it to all areas will not be suitable, for me at least.
If we are talking about big projects, say, a company project, then it would be suitable. Projects at a large scale need to be organized, not only by an individual, but by many persons. Especially when there are many people or workers involved. We cannot say that it could be handled by one man only. So, in order for a project to be organized and well-executed, then the team should need a framework or a guide to perform the project accordingly. Thus the work of Project Management, which gives guide and frameworks for a project to be organized and properly controlled.
But, as we all know, big companies and businesses now use Project Management now as their main tool, because of course, the big guys want their subordinates to strictly follow what’s in the book and work accordingly by the rules and principles impost by the company, which, I believe, is with the accordance of the principles of Project Management. As far as I can notice, big companies have more or less been successful in achieving their goals using Project Management as their main tool.
But, we cannot say that their projects are successful as a whole, I mean in all aspects. Hidden piling up of debt? Unknown origin of resources? Overworked workers? We will never know. Behind those big smiles of a projects’ success lies the hidden minor “failures” from it.
Even if we reflect it to small projects that we do today, we can say that we wanted a “change” of pace. Teachers and other big bosses in our school tend to use books and let the students work “by the book”, which, in turn makes them weary and pessimistic in some way or another.
So, if we talk about “change”, I believe that it will not be good way for implementing change, because the term “management” interferes with some aspects of project utilization, especially the “manpower” aspect. Project management is a “static” set of rules and principles, as well as formats and techniques that needs to be applied in every aspect of a project, if a project team opted to use this tool. Project Management books and other related references for projects have more or less related contents, and if there have been changes or revisions, then maybe more or less has been changed through time. As I have stated on one or more of my past reflections, Project Management as a tool for projects has the capacity to “control” and “manipulate” resources, especially the people involved in the project. Yes, this tool could be used to create and implement projects that will make a change for a society, but if we wanted a projects’ outcome to be a breakthrough and the best, then, for me, it might be that this will not be the best tool for implementing a change, a change for the best.
But, if we are talking of a start-up company or businesses, or a business that doesn’t use any guide for implementing projects, then Project Management will be suited to create change not only in the inside of the company, but also for the target people that they will be offering their products and services. As novices of the technological and business world, it is important to have a something that will guide and show the way in order to implement change inside the company or business as well as to create change in the way their services and products are made. Project Management will be a good of a tool in order to create a change of status or let’s say of the way they do business and services to their customers.
But still, if we wanted a change of pace or make our business and companies better, then the term “Project Management” should be, or better yet, must be changed. As a student and an implementer of projects, I had my fair share of bad experiences of failure because I was being “controlled” and “manipulated” by external forces and as well as my colleagues inside the team, which should not be. Because we have been abiding by the book with its rules and principles, then, through the years, the process remained the same and did not change. Many conflicts arise and come up because of this issue. So, it should be “Leadership” instead of “Management”. To be lead is to be inspired, and vice versa.
To wrap up my talk, or writing, rather, here, I am not saying that Project Management as a tool for projects is a bad thing. I am just saying that it might not be a good thing for a change when we talk about the “Management and Leadership” issue. Because Project Management is a very static tool and its principles should be strictly followed and abided by the people involved in the project, no matter what his or her position is in the project or company. To create a change, one must consider the feeling and the humanly capacity of the people comprising the “manpower” aspect. Because if one continues to use Project Management, then his or her team will eventually be weary and tired because of the overflowing work and overwhelming pressure, and it might be the source of conflicts inside the team, and will eventually lead to the fall or failure of the project, or even the company. The change for the better lies within the keyword “leadership”, which is very vital in every aspect of a project. The “best change” can be achieved if we let the workers do their jobs as they please but, of course still inside the boundaries of the projects limits. Then, the result of this will become the “best” change ever, as compared to the projects that have been applied with Project Management before.
Is Project Management the best method for implementing change?
Well, for me, it depends.
I say that it depends because when we talk about Project Management, it is considered a tool for creating organized work and quality outputs, but applying it to all areas will not be suitable, for me at least.
If we are talking about big projects, say, a company project, then it would be suitable. Projects at a large scale need to be organized, not only by an individual, but by many persons. Especially when there are many people or workers involved. We cannot say that it could be handled by one man only. So, in order for a project to be organized and well-executed, then the team should need a framework or a guide to perform the project accordingly. Thus the work of Project Management, which gives guide and frameworks for a project to be organized and properly controlled.
But, as we all know, big companies and businesses now use Project Management now as their main tool, because of course, the big guys want their subordinates to strictly follow what’s in the book and work accordingly by the rules and principles impost by the company, which, I believe, is with the accordance of the principles of Project Management. As far as I can notice, big companies have more or less been successful in achieving their goals using Project Management as their main tool.
But, we cannot say that their projects are successful as a whole, I mean in all aspects. Hidden piling up of debt? Unknown origin of resources? Overworked workers? We will never know. Behind those big smiles of a projects’ success lies the hidden minor “failures” from it.
Even if we reflect it to small projects that we do today, we can say that we wanted a “change” of pace. Teachers and other big bosses in our school tend to use books and let the students work “by the book”, which, in turn makes them weary and pessimistic in some way or another.
So, if we talk about “change”, I believe that it will not be good way for implementing change, because the term “management” interferes with some aspects of project utilization, especially the “manpower” aspect. Project management is a “static” set of rules and principles, as well as formats and techniques that needs to be applied in every aspect of a project, if a project team opted to use this tool. Project Management books and other related references for projects have more or less related contents, and if there have been changes or revisions, then maybe more or less has been changed through time. As I have stated on one or more of my past reflections, Project Management as a tool for projects has the capacity to “control” and “manipulate” resources, especially the people involved in the project. Yes, this tool could be used to create and implement projects that will make a change for a society, but if we wanted a projects’ outcome to be a breakthrough and the best, then, for me, it might be that this will not be the best tool for implementing a change, a change for the best.
But, if we are talking of a start-up company or businesses, or a business that doesn’t use any guide for implementing projects, then Project Management will be suited to create change not only in the inside of the company, but also for the target people that they will be offering their products and services. As novices of the technological and business world, it is important to have a something that will guide and show the way in order to implement change inside the company or business as well as to create change in the way their services and products are made. Project Management will be a good of a tool in order to create a change of status or let’s say of the way they do business and services to their customers.
But still, if we wanted a change of pace or make our business and companies better, then the term “Project Management” should be, or better yet, must be changed. As a student and an implementer of projects, I had my fair share of bad experiences of failure because I was being “controlled” and “manipulated” by external forces and as well as my colleagues inside the team, which should not be. Because we have been abiding by the book with its rules and principles, then, through the years, the process remained the same and did not change. Many conflicts arise and come up because of this issue. So, it should be “Leadership” instead of “Management”. To be lead is to be inspired, and vice versa.
To wrap up my talk, or writing, rather, here, I am not saying that Project Management as a tool for projects is a bad thing. I am just saying that it might not be a good thing for a change when we talk about the “Management and Leadership” issue. Because Project Management is a very static tool and its principles should be strictly followed and abided by the people involved in the project, no matter what his or her position is in the project or company. To create a change, one must consider the feeling and the humanly capacity of the people comprising the “manpower” aspect. Because if one continues to use Project Management, then his or her team will eventually be weary and tired because of the overflowing work and overwhelming pressure, and it might be the source of conflicts inside the team, and will eventually lead to the fall or failure of the project, or even the company. The change for the better lies within the keyword “leadership”, which is very vital in every aspect of a project. The “best change” can be achieved if we let the workers do their jobs as they please but, of course still inside the boundaries of the projects limits. Then, the result of this will become the “best” change ever, as compared to the projects that have been applied with Project Management before.