| So, you've made the decision to become a | | | | Manager? Do you know what these are? |
| Project Manager. Have you ever asked yourself | | | | Well, that's where we come in. I have decided to |
| why? I know that the general consensus these | | | | approach this assessment in much the same way |
| days is that the Project Management profession is | | | | as we analyze any product that has proven |
| growing and that there is a tremendous need for | | | | successful. Let's use the metric known as "Fitness |
| experienced project managers. What an incredible | | | | for Use". |
| opportunity! | | | | Fitness for Use |
| Your choice to become a project manager may | | | | Most of you may be are familiar with the term |
| be quite logical based on your current career path. | | | | "Fitness for Use" when it is applied to software or |
| After all, you've been successful as a systems | | | | hardware analysis. Is the software or hardware |
| analyst, developer, or whatever else it is that you | | | | that we are recommending or developing going to |
| do - so why not move up the career ladder and | | | | fit the needs as specified by our clients? These |
| get a pay raise by becoming a Project Manager? | | | | requirements can be reviewed from both |
| After all, everyone knows that project managers | | | | qualitative or quantitative terms - it doesn't really |
| do make a lot of money for not really doing | | | | matter. The main purpose of this evaluation is to |
| anything, don't they? | | | | ensure that any component or system that is |
| Now obviously I'm being facetious. But you must | | | | recommended should be fit for use in the |
| recognize that there is this myth prevalent in the | | | | environment that it is being installed and under the |
| IT industry that project managers are not real | | | | constraints that may exist or that is specified by |
| workers. Why? Maybe it's because the work that | | | | our clients. |
| we do sometimes has a sense of "invisibility" - a | | | | So how does this apply to Project Management? |
| lot of it is intangible. In many cases, your clients | | | | Well, think of modifying the acronym |
| will not see any physical output except when the | | | | "F.I.Tâ„¢" to represent the three key |
| project is delivered successfully. | | | | characteristics that any successful project |
| To try to prevent this perception from | | | | manager should demonstrate: |
| materializing, some project managers respond by | | | | Focus Intensity Training |
| getting very involved in the detailed tasks - in an | | | | The Standish Group's Chaos Report recognized |
| effort to prove to their clients, their teams, and | | | | that part of the reasons for project failure could |
| maybe even themselves that they really are | | | | be attributed to the inexperience and lack of |
| working - that they are valuable to the project. | | | | training of the assigned Project Manager. In other |
| Sadly, because they often schedule themselves | | | | words, the Project Manager that was assigned |
| to complete critical tasks, the oversight and | | | | was not F.I.Tâ„¢ for the job. |
| control that they were supposed to be exerting | | | | We need to make sure that you are |
| as project managers does not get done and so | | | | F.I.Tâ„¢ for this position. This approach |
| the crises begin. | | | | may seem a bit radical, but believe me, it is what |
| So, take this time to assess yourself. Do you | | | | has helped me set the foundation for a successful |
| truly believe that you have the skills and | | | | career. I have no doubt that it will do the same |
| disposition to become a successful Project | | | | for you. |