Question: What is the most useful methodology for managing projects? Is the PMBOK the best approach on all projects?

Answer:  Success is the basic metric against which to compare the value of any particular project management methodology. If the project is a success then the methodology used to manage that project must have been successful. Since every organization deals with different variables, different people, different circumstances and different goals, every organization needs to find the methodology that works best for it. 

The strict application of any particular methodology will likely do more harm than good. Its like asking the world to fit a text book, rather than using the knowledge in the textbook to accomplish something in the real world.

The Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) contains a wealth of information on techniques and tools, theory and experience on managing projects. However, projects managed with the PMBOK don’t seem to automatically have a higher success ratio than other projects.  Success in a project depends on the application of knowledge, a clear understanding of current circumstances and visibility into a project as it progresses. In the end, success depends on the skills of the manager more than any methodology, degree or project management training.

Success in a project can be defined in many, many ways. There are empirical measures such as the delivery of stated goals, adherence to a schedule or operating within a budget. Then there less object measures such as team morale, individual job satisfaction and corporate reputation -was the project done the way the company wanted it to get done -did the process reflect the company’s culture.  Each organization values each measure or success criteria differently.

It is important for a project manager to work towards the same goals as the overall organization when aiming for a successful project. Otherwise, conflict will inevitabley arise between upper management, project managers and team members, even when deliverables are being delivered on-time and on-budget. And the project, though completed on-schedule and on-budget, may not be rated a success.  Process can reflect corporate culture as much as a logo or website.

Vertabase Pro is built to be flexible so that each organization and manager can use the methodology that works best for them.

Question: What are some key features to look for in a project management tool to help Executives made strategic decisions?

Answer:  Data integrity is the building block for strategic decision making. If data on a project or portfolio is not accurate or up to date, the value of the decision will suffer. Executives will be more likely to make the wrong call since the information they’re relying on is wrong. When looking at project management software, its therefore critical to make sure that it gathers and generates accurate and up to date information on projects or portfolios. 

Further, the data collected should be useful for strategic decision making. Executives require a larger scale picture so they can identify and guage the performance of longer term trends in the business. An executive is often matching the success of current operations against a set of longer-term strategic goals.  Having aggregate data on projects, portfolios, budgets and resources makes it possible for them to see if the ship is heading in the right direction, as it were, and how to best direct money and people to keep it on course.

Third, the data should be presented in a relevant and meaningful way.  Different people respond better to data presented in different ways. Some executives can pull usefull information from tables and text.  Others prefer graphs and charts.  However an executive prefers their information, it is important the format provides a clear picture and is not overly cluttered with data for data’s sake. At some point, aggregrate data can lose its relevance or utility by being too multidimensional, include too many items, or try to paint too broad a picture. 

An effective project management tool for executives will strike a careful balance between the breadth of a single report  and the easy accessibility and range of reports that can show other aspects of the business -without cramming too much on a page.

Vertabase Pro is built with these concepts in mind.