If you’ve been thinking about getting serious when it comes to project delivery improvement, you might have found yourself considering whether you should adopt a specific project methodology.
Sound familiar?
Well, before you dive into the large and complex task of working out which methodology will be best for your projects (and then implementing it), I’m going to get you to think about the things you should consider first. The things that will help you improve on what you already have.
Because I’m betting that it’s not all bad. And you’d be surprised how much of a difference you can make to your projects with small, incremental changes that require small, incremental effort.
Too often we think that introducing something new, like a project methodology, means we need to replace all or most of what we already have.
Before you scrap any of your current project processes, or consider implementing any particular methodologies, it’s important to consider what’s working for you right now and why.
I have no doubt that there are plenty of things you’re already doing well. Even when your project outcomes aren’t optimal.
And these are things you should keep.
The questions you should ask to identify your project delivery strengths.
Once you know what you should keep, the next step is to discover the gaps.
The goal of this is to determine what’s obviously not working at all, what’s not been done well, or things that you haven’t even tried yet when it comes to project delivery.
You also need to consider what you want your ideal project delivery landscape to look like in the future. Make sure you’re clear on why these ideal aspects are important to you.
Key questions you should ask to help identify gaps in your project delivery include:
Think about things like their knowledge, dedication, accountability and stakeholder management capabilities.
Perhaps the reason is that they are better resourced and/or supported to take on these tasks.
Sometimes this can be an individual who provides strong support or leadership.
The questions you should ask to identify your project delivery gaps.
Once you know what you should keep, the next step is to discover the gaps.
The goal of this is to determine what’s obviously not working at all, what’s not been done well, or things that you haven’t even tried yet when it comes to project delivery.
You also need to consider what you want your ideal project delivery landscape to look like in the future. Make sure you’re clear on why these ideal aspects are important to you.
Key questions you should ask to help identify gaps in your project delivery include:
Would you have more or less people in the delivery team? Would your team be more, less or differently skilled? Would you have the same mix of skills or would you want some changes.
Examples might include ensuring that certain people are consulted at specific points during the project, that delivery needs to be faster (or perhaps meet a specific time target), realising improved return on investment, or achieving greater stakeholder uptake.
The questions you should ask to identify your project delivery gaps.
Once you identify what’s working, the gaps you have, and the future needs of your project delivery, it’s time to find a methodology.
The key to doing this successfully, is to remember that the goal of implementing any methodology is for it to complement and strengthen your project delivery landscape. And that to do this, you might need to consider more than one approach.
This is why I don’t personally prescribe or favour any one method.
All project methodologies have an area of focus.
While all methodologies exist to improve every part of a project’s lifecycle, they all have a particular area of focus.
Are there any specific areas you need more help on? Do you struggle more with the project planning and strategy phase over delivery or is your area of concern on structuring the delivery?
Some methodologies focus more on the planning phase while others hone in on improving the actual delivery.
This is why my advice is always to acknowledge what you do well and where you need help.
Become familiar with a few methodologies and draw on the one which emphasises what you already do well, while providing the support on areas where you struggle.
Do you even need to adopt a project delivery methodology?
There’s actually a lot to be said for “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
One of the most common things I hear from my clients when I’m reviewing their document templates is that they think it’s probably too basic.
But this assumes basic is bad. When actually, basic can be a very good thing – especially when other people need to understand it.
For example, a project plan should service the needs of the entire project team. This means that all the information it captures should be clearly understood by every member of the project. Even more importantly, it should be easily accessible. I’ve never seen the point of a project plan that only the Project Manager can access.
If your plan provides the whole team with visibility, accountability and progress; it sounds like it’s working for you and doesn’t need replacing.
Your project delivery approach should create powerful project delivery.
The project methodology you implement should always empower your team to deliver more powerful projects!
You might find that by answering the questions around strengths and gaps will help you make small, incremental changes that will have a big impact on your project delivery.
On the other hand, by answering the questions around strengths and gaps, you might discover the need to implement one or more methods of approaching project delivery to create the positive change you’re looking for.
Whatever you discover, you’ll be starting your journey to project improvement on the right foot.
Need help to choose a project methodology that’s right for your projects?
If you’re considering a new project methodology or having trouble making a decision on which methodology to adopt, I’m here to give you the unbiased, expert advice that will take away the stress and confusion.
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