The Project Completed On Time and On Budget. Why Aren’t They Happy?

For those desiring to learn about project management, there is no shortage of articles and materials on those items that comprise the tool belt of the project manager, such as estimating, creating schedules, the WBS, and managing stakeholders.

We often recognize project issues in the context of these tools or their effect on the project budget and schedule. While the tools and techniques of managing projects are important, they are no more project management than a wrench is a mechanic.

To understand this completely, we need to answer the question, "Why do we undertake projects or initiatives?"

A project is initiated because there is a belief that it will deliver some type of value (such as operational efficiency, security or safety, stability, or a reduction in costs) or that it will solve a problem and, in doing so, alleviate the pain associated with that problem. At its core, then, project management is almost always about the delivery of value and the alleviation of pain associated with problems.

A project can be completed on time and within budget, but if the expected value is not realized or the pain is not alleviated, it will be deemed a failure, even if there was excellent technical execution of project management techniques.

Project management is the delivery of value and the alleviation of pain associated with a problem.

It comes down to the definition of scope.?Scope is commonly referred to as both the features and functionality to be delivered by a project as well as the work that must be completed in order to deliver the product or service.?This definition falls short by itself and leaves a project vulnerable to failure.?Scope cannot be understood apart from the drivers of value realization and pain alleviation.?Scope, fully defined, is "100% of the work effort, as well as the features and functionality required to deliver the expected value or alleviate the pain being experienced, to the expectations of stakeholders and sponsors".?

A program or project manager's responsibility is to ensure that they and the project team understand WHY the project is being undertaken, what value is to be delivered, what pain needs to be alleviated, and what success means to the key stakeholders.

It is this focus that aligns the project team with the stakeholders in the most important way and creates a strong partnership that can take a PM from good to great.

The project is the result of the belief that it is the solution to a problem or will deliver a certain value. The project manager is the guardian of that value.

? 2018 Todd P Heath All Rights Reserved

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