Project Manager Success

Hello and welcome to my blog—PMGT 611- Anatomy of Project Organizations. As part of my Master’s coursework at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, I am tasked to analysis different project management lessons and/or scenarios. Each time I learn valuable lessons while gaining a little insight into myself.

This leads us into this week’s discussion topic: Project Manager Success.  In particular, the assignment is to locate an article or publication that speaks about the leadership knowledge and skills requirements necessary for the success of project managers in the next ten years.

When thinking of leadership knowledge and skills requirements, one current event stands out: President Barack Obama Signs the Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act. Geared towards the federal government, this important act stands out for project managers and the industry in many ways.

Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act (PMIAA)

PMIAA enhances the accountability and best practices in project and program management throughout the federal government. The PMIAA reforms federal program management policy in four important ways (Project Management Institute, 2016):

-          Creating a formal job series and career path for program managers in the federal government.

-          Developing a standards-based program management policy across the federal government.

-          Recognizing the essential role of executive sponsorship and engagement by designating a senior executive in federal agencies to be responsible for program management policy and strategy.

-          Sharing knowledge of successful approaches to program management through an interagency council on program management.

This press release demonstrates the importance of leadership and accountability. Leadership “is the influencing process of leaders and followers to achieve organizational objectives through change” (Lussier & Achua, 2013 pg. 6). Often times, project success is balanced in the performance of the project manager. In the government, project success is an issue. PMI completed a report that identified “only 64 percent of government strategic initiatives ever meet their goals and business intent — and that government entities waste $101 million for every $1 billion spent on project and programs” (Project Management Institute, 2016). This is tax payer money that is being wasted!

PMIAA sets to address and reverse this trend. Accountability is the goal! Sharing knowledge is important! “The reforms outlined in the PMIAA are consistent with PMI member input and research that shows that organizations that invest in program management talent and standards improve outcomes, accountability and efficiency” (Project Management Institute, 2016).

“Reducing or eliminating duplication, overlap, or fragmentation could save billions of dollars each year and help federal agencies improve their overall efficiency” (Green, 2011). One way to do this is to set standards and in program management and enforce accountability.

“For program and project management professionals, they must assist their agency leadership in identifying major management challenges that are agency wide, or government wide, and determine appropriate approaches to address such challenges” (Green, 2011).

This is Leadership 101!

The report prepared by PMI for PMIAA “shows that these best practices result in improved efficiency and less money being wasted” (Project Management Institute, 2016). “Most importantly, organizations see more projects delivering expected value to stakeholders on time and within budget” (Project Management Institute, 2016).

Leadership accountability and best practices…necessary skills and applications for the success of project managers in the government and across all industries!

Damien

References

Green, B. (2011). Class dismissed-- now how do we execute? A strategy for improving individual accountability and organizational performance. 2011 PMI Global Congress Proceedings – Dallas, TX, Dalla, Tx.

Lussier, R. N., & Achua, C. F. (2013). Leadership: Theory, application, & skill development (5th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage/Thomson South-Western.

Project Management Institute. (2016). President barack obama signs the program management improvement and accountability act [press release]. Retrieved from http://www.pmi.org/about/press-media/press-releases/president-barack-obama-signs-the-program-management-improvement-and-accountability-act