Don’t ask me what “Zen” is.
I am not qualified to answer such a question. All I can say is that anyone who studies Zen applies it to their daily lives and work.
As a project manager I apply Zen in the following ways:-
1) When constructing a project plan I think of the plan as a river flowing to the sea. It never goes uphill and avoids major obstructions. It has a natural rythym to it with everything happening in the right order. I check it once, twice, thrice then I get the Team to review it.
2) When allocating timescales I ask the person who is actually doing the task. I might push them to do it quicker but I need timescales which are aggressive but realistic. I need that person’s commitment.
3) I never lie to the customer. I always keep them appraised of progress even if its bad news. Once trust is lost it’s gone forever.
4) I always offer the customer options. If my timescale has slipped I offer alternative solutions.
5) I am neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic.
6) I tell Senior Management the bad news. They dislike obfuscation even more.
7) I never allow myself to be bullied into giving unrealistic timescales. What’s the point, I will only look stupid when we can’t meet them.
8) I am open & honest with my team and expect the same in return.
9) “Best laid plans of mice & men gang aft agley” – say no more!
10) Calmness in the eye of the storm is either a sign of great leadership or incredible stupidity.
* Recommended reading: Robert M Pirsig – Zen & the art of motorcycle maintenance.
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Operating as an Interim 
Earned Value is a term which allows us to determine where we are in a project in terms of progress against plan. If we talk about expended cost at a particular moment of time we have no idea whether we are ahead or behind the plan unless we measure the amount of work done and the time expended doing it.
How does your Organization treat the people it employs ?
