 As a certified Project Management Professional, what I'm about to say is considered sacrilege: I do not find the PMBOK to be relevant. It is supposed to be our project management canon with five phases of a project, ten knowledge areas, 49 process groups, and numerous formulas to unlock the secret to an on time and under budget project.. What I've found in practice is the PMBOK is general a guide for what not to do. Sure, for companies who are very process oriented the PMBOK provides the tools that will allow you check all the boxes and deliver documented proof that you executed the project using a standardized process. For most other projects, the PMBOK prescribed model is overbearing and can actually lead to project failure if followed blindly. I do see the value in studying the PMBOK if you are completely new to the field in order to get a baseline understanding of project management in general. I would like to see the information updated to be more relevant to a larger range of environments and projects. So many new professionals see this as "the way it has to be done" they miss out on how to actually add value in their current project context. I would love to see more information on how to apply the principles of the PMBOK in non-waterfall environments. What process groups provide the most bang for your buck? What can be combined? Are there tools that implement the framework to take some of the manual labor out of the process? I'm happy to see the PMBOK 6 is bringing in the concepts of agile in a section titled "Approaches for Agile, Iterative and Adaptive Environments". It looks like PMBOK 7 is going to take a huge step in the right direction by focusing on principle based standards rather than process based standards. As our profession evolves, so should the canon of knowledge guiding us. It is our responsibility to evaluate that canon to determine what is not only relevant, but beneficial to the task at hand and leave behind activities that are detrimental. I look forward to participating in the evolution of the field.
 As a freelancer I exclusively work from home (or wherever I may happen to be). I am used to maintaining a schedule and managing my time and environment to reduce distractions and stay productive. With major employers implementing mandatory work from home restrictions to help slow the spread of COVID-19, many people are finding themselves in unfamiliar territory. Isolation can lead to lack information sharing and reduced productivity if not managed properly. Here are some ways to cope when everyone is WFH.
Schedule Wisely Understand when people may be most likely to be distracted by pets, children, roommates, partners, etc., and schedule meetings during quiet times. It is OK to ask someone "when is a good time for you when you'd have the fewest number of distractions?" Create Virtual Spaces to Collaborate Most people use chat or some sort of collaboration tool on a regular basis but organic conversations are still valuable. When everyone is remote you lose the opportunity to drop in on an overheard conversation or may inadvertently leave out someone of a discussion. Set up virtual channels for topic discussions where everyone can participate. Pin decisions and action items or use tools to maintain tasks and updates. Find virtual ways to recreate physical boards or have one person maintain them and use video conferencing to update. Share Tips and Tricks If you work remotely frequently, chances are you have some tricks up your sleeve to get the most out of virtual collaboration. Post short tutorials sharing your experience. It is possible a team member has never dialed into a conference call themselves and are unfamiliar with the tool. Help Others Help You As we all adapt to 100% WFH for the time being, be patient. Set realistic expectations about what you need to be successful. If someone is struggling ask them what you can do to help get them back on track. Be clear and concise in your written communication and do not be afraid to pick up the phone if needed. The coronavirus is a trending topic right now, and for good reason. Unfortunately there is a firehose of information circulating and it can be difficult to sort out what's valid. Valid information can become distorted as it is passed along even if it originated from a trusted source and not everyone has the time and/or inclination to actively engage with those trusted sources to stay informed. Lack of clear communication can result in either panic or apathy, both of which we are seeing in the public response. I started to think about what went wrong with communication around COVID-19 and what lessons I could take away.
Be Real Be transparent and admit there is a problem. Present the impact in appropriate terms; do not downplay the issue, but do not exaggerate it either, find an appropriate level. It is OK to admit you do not have a solution right now, but communicate what steps are being taken toward a solution. KISS Keep the message simple. Convey details that are immediately relevant to the scope or impact of the situation or actions to be taken by your audience. Use quantitative data if available, but avoid creating another firehose that will dilute your message. Update Regularly Update your audience regularly and make it easy for them to identify and understand what changed. Explicitly state what is new or updated and how that impacts the situation or your audience. Call to Action Let your audience know what they can do. People are more receptive to information if they feel in control of their surroundings. Provide clear instructions for steps people can take to impact the situation and ensure those actions are achievable. Above all, stay calm. Your message will be more likely to be received and understood which is the overall goal. |