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December 06, 2006
How far down the rabbits hole will you go to solve a problem Alice?
Tonight I was continuing my research on Project Managment, more specifically on Critical Chain Project Management. I still don't quite get it so I'm finding alternate explanations online. Everything I read though is geared toward overall project management. Most schemes deal with resources, like a person who works on an aspect of a project, in one way or another by plugging that resource in and trying to demand-load. But I'm wondering now how a resource itself can apply project management techniques to manage all of the multiple projects they are assigned to. Basically this means I have to break down the more simplistic overall-project schedule with major deadlines into a more detailed critical chain for just the individual resource's tasks that have to be done.
When I first took this new job, I was basically under the impression that there was a lack of experience using the software that we use, causing missed deadlines and projects running over budget. Once I started looking into it, I discovered that software skills are not really the problem. We could throw endless training at this and it would not resolve the problems. I'm still tasked with solving the problems, and I want to succeed, so I started researching Time and Project managment. It's not something I anticipated learning or even desired to learn, but now I do. I have become a team leader in a new job and have been discovering all kinds of things I did not see before I took the job. How can we ever truly see things clearly until we are 'inside.' In a nightmarish-like state, I try to shake off the fears and worrys and make a plan, work the plan and revise the plan, just to survive my new job. How far do I have to go to do my job? New duties require new skills, like Project Management. So I will go at least that far down the hole to see what's next.
Posted by carl1236 at December 6, 2006 12:11 AM | PM
Comments
Carl - It shouldn't be up to the resources to set their priorities. If you leave it up to them, they might not choose to work on what the organization needs them to. The "mult-project management" extension of "critical chain" addresses this to assure that the system (and the individual resources) are not overloaded with too much stuff in their in-box.
I've got an article on the subject at - http://www.focusedperformance.com/articles/multipm.html
Also, a while back, I did a series on my blog - http://www.focusedperformance.com/2004/09/september-was-multi-project-management.html
They may, or may not, help, but might be worth checking out.
Posted by: frank patrick at December 7, 2006 12:06 PM
Thank you Frank! I'm checking it out now. I appreciate the help!
Posted by: John at December 26, 2006 10:41 PM