In Capable Hands

Home
[ Login/Subscribe ] 
Features Departments PPM Tools Executive Report Resources About Us

Home  >  Departments  >  Methods & Means
In Capable Hands
Glen B. Alleman   (August 16, 2007)





Simply controlling and measuring the expenditure of project resources — score-keeping — provides little value to the business in the inevitable presence of change and uncertainty. This is why capability-based planning is a helpful alternative to linear, or waterfall, project management methods. Here’s an introduction.

Over the years the success rate of traditional project management methods applied to software development projects has been underwhelming. These traditional methods are based on a retrospective approach that measures variance against plan rather than providing a performance–forecast that can be used to guide projects in a chaotic environment. There are a number of programmatic control issues associated with IT projects that suggest a better approach is needed.
 
In using a linear project planning process — sometimes known as waterfall, but often derived from PMBOK-style planning processes — little attention is given to the forces that negatively impact the project. These project risks have no means of evaluation other than to acknowledge their presence, define mitigations and track the results. The impact on the business value of the capabilities of the system is not part of the project management process.
 
In this approach, avoiding or controlling change becomes the primary activity of project management.



Please login/register to read the entire article.





Sponsored Announcements and Special Offers
Project Management Software That Breaks the Mold - Is your team is struggling under the weight of outdated schedules, multiple spreadsheets, and mountains of email? Get organized, get visibility, and save up to 3 hours a day with LiquidPlanner. Scheduling has never been easier with drag-n-drop prioritization that fits the way YOUR team works. Free for 30 days.

Resource Planning Summit, Sept. 19-21, 2010, La Jolla, CA - Resource Planning is HOT today! Opening Keynoter Mike Hanford, Research Director at Gartner, will describe why, and what firms must do about it. Nine industry speakers will describe the startling results they have achieved. If you have anything to do with resource management, register NOW!

ProjectWorld® & World Congress for Business Analysts® is the premier conference for advancing collaboration through practice. The high level content cannot be found at any other industry event because it stretches far beyond the fundamentals to provide leadership, strategy and enterprise wide information - exactly what you need to be more valuable to yourself and your organization.

Are you ready to gain the highest recognition for a BA and apply the best practices defined in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge®? Let us help you prepare for Certified Business Analysis Professional® certification with our CBAP® Exam Prep Course. We also provide CBAP® Application Workshops (free webinars) to help you successfully get approved for the CBAP® application.

Are your Business Analysis Skills Current? Business analysis is not just about IT requirements anymore. Organizations are looking for a new breed of professionals to bridge the business and technology gap with value-centric solutions. Develop the fundamental skills and best practices you need to stay ahead of changes in your field with our business analysis training offerings.




@task
BAM! BA Newsletter
BAMentor
IIL
Keller Graduate School
LiquidPlanner
Management Concepts
Microsoft
PM War Stories
PPM Executive Newsletter
Resource Plan Summit '10
RMC Project Mgmt
Stanford University
Walden University

September 2010:

What are the main reasons that projects fall behind schedule?



Copyright © 2010 projects@work  All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy    Contact Us    User Agreement