I originally wrote this article for the PM Tips website.  The original posting appears here.

I am prompted to post this topic by a posting on AllPM that I read a couple of years ago and it came back to me recently.

What type of background, experience, skill set, etc. makes for a good IT Project Manager? Can an individual be say, a successful marketing person and step into the role of IT Project Manager? How about an HR person? An engineer? A customer service rep or manager?

All these positions require a few similar skills as ingredients to success. Communications skills, knowledge of the organization, some type of organization skills, the ability to relate well to individuals inside the company and hopefully outside such as customers. But will they likely be successful Project Managers in an IT organization or in an IT role in the long run? Not likely.

Any of us who have been application developers or work closely with developers (both, in my case) know that they are a different bunch. They must be reined in often. Their priorities are not necessarily your priorities (as the PM). They don’t report to you. You don’t give them their performance reviews or raises, though you may have a say in how they are rated.

You must gain their respect – or at least tolerance – in order to be successful in your role as the IT Project Manager. Without that, they will likely work on their priorities, ignore yours, miss deadlines and you will be cut off at the knees.

Recently, a friend of mine who was a Program/Project Manager for a company I used to work for informed me that he has been out of a job for awhile and is actively looking for PM opportunities. His concern with consulting in a PM role was that he has always been frustrated by a lack of control over the developers on his projects and felt that gave him no confidence in job stability – let alone success in a future consulting role. Well, guess what? He did not have a background in IT before moving into a Project Management role.

Another company I was at required PMs to present their projects to a Technology Council for review at a go/no-go decision point. The PMs with no real IT background before taking over the PM role were repeatedly sent back for more information – and repeatedly frustrated as well.

IMO, it is imperative for success as an IT Project Manager to have some level of IT background in their career path. It has definitely helped me be a more successful Project Manager as well as a better and more respected leader of technical resources on my teams. Developers see through the fluff….but when they realize that you come from a similar background and understand their needs and concerns from a project perspective you often instantly gain new respect and compliance from them.

Keep in mind I’m talking specifically about IT projects only, not all projects in general. Maybe this isn’t an issue at most companies, but it has been an issue in several companies I’ve been involved with. Many characteristics go into making a successful Project Manager beyond just technical knowledge. I’m also certain there have been IT PMs who have succeeded with no previous IT experience. However, as I’ve described above, I have witnessed PM frustrations first-hand at several organizations where the individual was trying desperately to manage technical resources without the development or even general IT background that helps them to better understand the issues being encountered by their technical team members.

One final thought on this subject which affects another critical area of PM responsibility – pricing and estimating. The IT Project Manager who has previously been a developer or played some other technical role will find it easier to ‘ballpark’ prices for customers and estimate change orders for new work required on projects. The first-hand knowledge from their earlier days will help the IT Project Manager estimate and price change orders and ‘sell’ that effort to the customer. I know it has helped me on nearly every project that I have led.



 
 
The August project management survey has been up for some time and has had good response - but we need as many responses as possible.  I'll leave the survey up through Monday, 8/30, but please take the five minutes or less that it will take for you to complete already done so.  The more responses I get, the better and more meaningful the data will be.

The survey is available at:
http://www.bradegeland.com/august-2010-survey.html

And don't forget to check PM Tips at http://www.pmtips.net/ on or after 8/31/10 for an analysis article and as always you can check http://www.bradegeland.com/past-survey-results.html for the detailed results of this and all past surveys.


Thank you!
 
 
This article was original written by me for the PM Tips website and published there on 8/13/10.  To view the original article, go here.

I was trying to wrap my head around this the other day.  The cloud.  THE cloud.  The Cloud.  What does that mean?  And more importantly, what does it mean for our projects?  Anything in the cloud is basically a software or service being used remotely meaning you’re not running that application or storing that data at your site.  You’re using a free or paid service via the internet and you’re saving yourself potentially storage space, cost, energy usage, staff, etc. 

There are concerns – yes, there are concerns.  Main concern – security.  Any time you let your data go to outer space there has to be that concern of who can access it and if I have a disaster how fast can I recover?  Really, both of these questions have to be directed at whatever service you’re utilizing as part of your cloud service provider.  And that needs to be spelled out up front.  Ask the tough questions – because no one cares about your needs or your data more than you.  If your third party cloud provider doesn’t have a good plan documented for your data’s security or how to get you back up and running quickly in the event of a disaster – run fast the other way and find another one.  Don’t wait for the disaster to  happen.

But back to my original question – what does the cloud mean right now for our projects?  What do we – as project managers – need to know?  What do we need to be offering in terms of cloud services to our clients?  We’re all interested, right?

Here’s the thing.  I sat at an Interop session a couple of months ago and listened to five executives from five different companies talk about their lessons learned and difficulties moving software and services to the cloud and a funny thing happened.  I realized that not one of them really had the same interpretation of what the cloud meant.  And they all had issues with their implementations – some issues that they were still reeling from and having issues with now months later.

My take is – unless you’re an independent consultant guiding a client toward a project solution that involves cloud services – then you really must rely on your own IT department.  If you’re hosting a customer solution then there may be some ways to utilize the cloud for data storage or software services.  Or you may see – after fully understanding the customer’s internal processes – ways you can help them utilize the cloud for their internal needs.  But cloud usage on projects you undertake must be guided by your own corporate IT mission and directives.  Because, in reality, what ‘using the cloud’ means can be different from organization to organization and obviously from executive to executive.  The concept of using the cloud as a solution in IT is still maturing and the concept what it means to everyone is still evolving and likely will be for some time to come.

Summary

As project managers, we can stay current and on top of the latest technology – that’s a good thing and we should do that.  However, we must rely on our IT departments to guide how we utilize available cloud services – if we utilize them at all.  On a basic level we can utilize web-based software to keep our projects in check – like Seavus’ Project Planner or Project Viewer.  Beyond that, take the issues to IT and work through them for the best benefit of your organization and your customer.

 
 
I was planning on attending the Better Software Conference & Agile Development Practices Conference today or tomorrow at Caesar's Palace here in Las Vegas.  However, a turn of events is making it unlikely that I will be able to make it.

What I'm looking for is feedback from developers and project personnel on the Agile development process, how many of you are part of an organization that enlists in that type of development process and how successful you've found it to be.  Particularly I'm interested in how it affects project management and whether those Agile projects are easier or more difficult to manage.

Please chime in here with feedback comments if you can, or you can send info through my contact link on the left or send me a direct email.  Thanks!
 
 
Remember when business cards were just your information - really just your name, position, company, phone number, and fax?  Remember.  Eventually email addresses and web URLs were added, but still, that's about it.  

Those days have changed - at least for me.  I've discovered Moo business cards.  You can check them out at www.moo.com or, preferrably by clicking on the link on the right side of this page.  If you do that, I think I get a kick back ... I'm not sure ...but either way you'll be happy, I promise.

What makes this cards different is hard to explain but when you see them and handle them you'll know.  They're easy to create from the Moo.com website and one option lets you upload up to 50 different pictures to put on the back of your 50 business cards.  Obviously they're great business cards for small businesses with multiple products to show off or for individual professionals such as photographers with a portfolio to display.

I've become fairly addicted and have ordered multiple varieties - check them out at www.moo.com or again, you can just click the Moo advertisement on the right.  Thanks.

 
 
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Ok, the book is underway - see proposed cover above.  But what was going to be one book is now two.

The first is tentatively entitled "RealPM: A Hybrid PM Methodology for Real Life IT Project Management."  This book will be intended as a step-by-step project management life cycle practice, or adoptable project management methodology, if you will.  Great for the consulting PM, the small startup organization, or the large IT shop that has yet to reach the point of repeatable, sound IT project management practices.  My processes can be easily adopted to fit your non-IT project management needs as well.

The book will be available as a PDF book available for purchase through PayPal.  Look for more information here and in the 'Books' section of my website and also on Twitter @begeland.

The second book, which I hope to have completed later in 2010 will be an all-encompassing project management book as opposed to a step-by-step process/methodology.  Both have their place, but I want to get this first one out initially.
 
 
Ok, I think I've finally decided to do it.  After realizing that I've written enough material and words for four full books over the past 18 months or so I think I'm going to finally put together a book of my thoughts and experiences and templates for real world project management.  


Now all I have to do is come up with a title, cover, table of contents and material.  Actually, I have the material....  Look for updates here if you're interested - I think the wisest thing I can do is actually manage the progress like a real project or I'll never finish.  My goal will likely to be done by August 2010.  The format will be a downloadable PDF available through this site.


If any of you have suggestions for contents of the book, etc., I'm happy to hear from you because that's the process I'm going through right now - coming up with a format, TOC, etc.  Thanks...
 
 
I've played both sides for many years - each.  The W2 situation is good, reliable, a paycheck you can count on (usually), and company provided -insurance.  Yes, insurance is good.


But many of those things don't exist in the real world anymore.  You can't count on your W2 job to be there in the morning.  You can't even count on your company to be there in the morning.  And I'm certain you can't count on your insurance to be there in the morning.


Freelancing, or consulting, is freeing.  The ability to market yourself, your skills and expertise, is empowering.  Sure, it can be terrifying at times - especially at first.  But the ability to choose what you want to work on and how you want to work with is definitely a nice change of pace.

For more information on working for yourself and an organization that can help you get there, go to mbopartners.com.
 
 
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I just received word that I have been approved for a full access Media Pass to Las Vegas Interop April 25-29 so I'm going to try to attend a few sessions plus the expo.  Let me know if some of you are going to be attending....
 
 
As part of what I'm unofficially calling "PMO Effectiveness" month, I'm conducting this month's (April) survey on the topic of PMO effectiveness. 

Go to the "April Survey" section to complete the survey.

If you've ever worked in a project management office (PMO) or you currently are - I'd appreciate hearing from you.  And please re-take the survey for each PMO you've worked in - it's completely confidential so please respond appropriately.  I don't request your name or any personal information - all I get are the results.  Later in April, be sure to check back here in the blog for a recap and in the "Past Survey Results" section of my site for full results.

Thanks!