According to the PMI definition :- ‘Project Manager – The person assigned by the performing organization to achieve the project objective’
So what makes a good project manager. According to PMI good project managers are:-
1) Task Focused
2) Able to manage deadlines
3) Politically aware
4) Able to compromise pragmatically
5) Good communicators
6) Able to inspire and motivate others.
We wouldn’t argue with any of the above but what do you think ?
chris@projectsguru.co.uk
In July 2009 Sun Danyong comitted suicide by throwing himself from his 12th flloor apartment. Sun’s apartment had been ransacked and he claimed in a text, immediately before his death, that he had been badly beaten.
Sun worked for the massive Taiwanese CEM Foxconn (Turnover |$10 billion) which manufactures Apples iconic iphone. He was rumoured to have been suspected in the theft of an iphone prototype. The incident sparked an Audit by Apple but to date no visible action has been taken.
This incident highlights the ethical dilemmas posed in Subcontracting. How do we deal with massive corporations which often dwarf our own ? How do we balance the need to reduce manufacturing cost with the need to deal with undemocratic regimes with questionable human rights records ?
Do we do business at any price ?
Like most dilemmas the answer lies with the consumer. Western consumers are increasingly conscious of the ethical and environmental impact of their actions, where does that food come from, what is involved in it’s manufacture ? Who benefits and who gets hurt ?
This conciousness will extend to all areas of consumption including electronic products and it is those companies which pursue an active, ethical and evironmental policy which will ultimately benefit.
chris@projectsguru.co.uk
The outsourcing market is a large, diversified and complex model but it is still possible to discern some notable trends:-
1) The manufacturing industry in the West looks likely to continue to shrink, according to Electronics Times the U.S semiconductor industry lost 107,000 jobs between 2001 to 2009 and some predictions estimate a further loss of 146,000 jobs from 2008 – 2018 – Scary stuff.
2) The latest Labour Market Outllook report from CIPD suggests that 10% of all UK companies intend to outsource some work in 2010 with 41% of I.T companies planning to outsource key activities.
3) According to the Bangkok Post the Outsourcing market was worth $24.9 billion at the end of Q4 2009 up 8% on the previous year.
4) An interesting observation is that Chinese & Indian companies are looking at Outsourcing within their own National boundaries. This is perfectly understandable given both countries vast size and untapped resource. We may see a gradual migration of economic activity from coastal areas inwards.
All of the above highlights the need for Western companies to accellerate Innovation to stay ahead of the value curve.
It also suggests that Western governments need to look very carefully at their strategy for Manufacturing and Innovation if they want to preserve what remains of the High Technology sector to provide skilled employment in the future.
As per usual Cash is King.
chris@projectsguru.co.uk
Another form of commumnication is Feedback, and we all need it.
When leading a team it is incredibly important to give team members feedback, both positive and negative. This may be done in a formal review setting or, more frequently, as part of a one to one chat. We would suggest the following:-
When things go well always give positive feedback. “well done” “good job” are always well received but do it sincerely. If you only give positive feedback it may be seen as insincere especially if it is over the top. We don’t need an Oscars speech with tears for completing a relatively straightforward task 🙂
If things don’t go entirely to plan, negative feedback is required.
Don’t say “that was a lousy job Bill, have you considered a career change” but try ” that job could have gone better Bill, what do you think you could change to improve it next time ? ”
Always leave the recipient with a positive goal.
chris@projectsguru.co.uk
Continuing our theme of communication, today we are discussing email. There is no doubt about it – email is a fabulous tool which enables us to communicate effectively and efficiently across vast distances. This has revolutionized the world of International business and allowed the development of communication across continents to unprecedented degree.
It has also generated a massive amount of unsolicited garbage.
Here are our suggestions for effective email – you probably have more so please share.
1) Keep messages clear, concise and to the point.
2) Don’t copy the whole world, it really isn’t neccessary. The CEO will not be impressed.
3) When replying to messages don’t copy all. – Arrrrrgggggghhhhhh ! How many completely irrelevant, boring emails do you get.
4) Don’t send emails to someone sitting next to you ! Yes it’s happened to me many times, use your mouth, that’s what its for.
5) Don’t get into email wars. Yes, I’ve done it myself but it never pays. If things begin to escalate get on the phone.
6) Don’t abdicate your responsibilities by forwarding every request to someone else. Its not effective delegation its being a Dick.
7) If you are Managing an office ban email for one day and see what happens 🙂
chris@projectsguru.co.uk
Written communication is incredibly important and is generally used to 
convey your message when face to face is not available, or because you have to convey a more complex message. It also provides an important record.
For succesful written communication:-
1) Be precise and to the point.
2) Be as brief as possible.
3) If handwritten make sure your script is legible.
4) Emphasise important points by underlining, capitilisation or the use of colour.
5) Include diagrams or drawings if this helps.
6) Phone recipents to make sure your message has been understood.
7) Put your phone number on the message.
8) As in all forms of communication, seek feedback and NEVER ASSUME anything.
More on email communication later.
chris@projectsguru.co.uk
www.projectsguru.co.uk
Communication is an important part of any job but as a Project Manager clear concise and accurate communication is essential. Here are some tips:-
Verbal – when we communicate verbally only part of what we are trying to say is transmitted by the words we are saying. In face to face communication a large portion of the message is contained in our facial expression, tone of voice, body language etc. Face to face communication is undoubtedly the most effective form as it allows us to get our message across a number of channels silmultaneously. We need to be clear, concise and accurate.
Feedback is incredibly important and allows us to assess whether the message has been understood ; by asking appropriate questions we can ascertain whether the message has been undestood.
Close the conversation by repeating the key points and getting confirmation that the message has been understood.
More on written communication later.
chris@projectsguru.co.uk
Perhaps not, but the news that Scientists have developed a Quantum Clock which only loses (or gains) 1 second every 3.7 billion years has interesting implications.
Currently the accuracy of GPS positioning systems is limited by the accuracy of the clock used to measure the signal and is currently around 10 metres.
The Quantum clock will allow a positional accuracy of less than 1 metre.
“So what” you may say, but consider this – vehicles could be tracked and controlled automatically, maximizing throughput and minimizing congestion, particularly in highly congested areas.
Human beings with implants could be pinpointed to within 1 metre leading to more effective control of criminal and deviant elements.
Probably the greatest application will be military, smart bombs could be developed to target the enemy more accurately and minimize collateral damage.
The day will be further subdivided into smaller and smaller fragments to increase productivity and make us more productive.
We will strive to make best use of every Giga second.
Our lifespans will be measured and recorded to the infinitesimally smallest fraction.
In the meantime we will continue to waste hours and days and weeks saturating our brains with electronic noise from all directions.
chris@projectsguru.co.uk
www.projectsguru.co.uk
February 14th sees the start of the Chinese New Year festivities and the biggest mass movement of people on the planet.
From the factories of Shenzen, Shuzhou and Chengdu millions of people will travel to their traditional family homes to be with friends and family and to join the celebrations.
From the glittering glass and metal towers of Shanghai, from the ancient palaces of Beijing a vast tide of humanity is on the move, many travelling not only across land and sea but across time itself, back through centuries to villages which have never seen an electric light.
All across the globe, at key times and dates, we repeat the rituals which have bound us together for centuries.
We travel to celebrate with family and friends.
Thats what makes us human.
chris@projectsguru.co.uk
Are your products taking to long to develop and adversely affecting your revenue stream ? Time to Market is absolutely critical in determining product revenue and payback. With product lifecycles becoming ever shorter as new, better, faster models are introduced the development timescale is critical to success. Every day lost in development is a day lost in sales. This is because the overall lifecycle of the product is reduced the longer the development takes.
This may, at first, seem counterintuitive as the product is deemed to have, say, a 12 month sales life following release to the market but this takes no account of the competition which may already have a better model in development. Consequently each day of lost sales is gone forever and never recovered.
If you want to stay ahead of the competition and maximize payback for your developments you need to minimize product development timescales.
No one should pretend that this is easy. There is a fine balance to be struck between developing a quality product which meets the customers requirements as well as any in-house and external Quality approvals. The product development process needs to be robust and well defined.
Often the best way to reduce time to market is to have your product development process reviewed by a fresh pair of eyes.
chris@projectsguru.co.uk