006WHA~1
Summary
TLDRThe script delves into the pivotal role of a project manager, who acts as the CEO of a project, ensuring its success within the constraints of time, budget, and scope. They are accountable for the project's goals and must assess and negotiate realistic parameters. Drawing inspiration from President Harry Truman, the script emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility and not shirking from tough situations. Project managers must oversee all tasks, support team members, and utilize their skills and expertise to navigate challenges and keep projects on track.
Takeaways
- 📈 A project is a temporary initiative with a specific goal, agreed upon, planned, and executed to achieve that goal.
- 👤 The project manager is akin to the CEO of the project, being the single point of accountability for its success.
- 🔑 Success is defined by achieving the project's specific goal within the agreed time and budget constraints, adhering to the project management triple constraint model.
- 🚫 The project manager must assess the feasibility of the project's constraints and negotiate for adjustments if they are deemed impractical.
- ❌ The project manager has the authority to refuse to lead a project if the constraints and expectations are too divergent to ensure success.
- 🤔 The term 'accountable' means to take responsibility for a work or situation without passing it to others, a commitment not to evade responsibility.
- 🏆 Accountability in project management extends to overseeing all tasks related to the project, including those performed by team members, vendors, and stakeholders.
- 👷 Project managers need to have full control and visibility over all project work, intervening to assist and motivate when progress is off track.
- 🛡️ Project managers are equipped with skills, knowledge, and expertise to make informed decisions and guide the project in the right direction.
- 💡 The concept of accountability is exemplified by U.S. President Harry Truman, who famously had a sign on his desk stating 'The buck stops here', symbolizing his commitment to responsibility.
- 🛠️ The project manager's role is to commit to achieving certain results and deliver on that commitment, which requires a significant level of dedication and action.
Q & A
What is a project as defined in the script?
-A project is a temporary initiative that is agreed upon, planned, and executed to achieve a specific goal.
Who is typically responsible for the successful execution of a project?
-The project manager is typically responsible for the successful execution of a project.
What is the project manager's role in relation to the project management triple constraint?
-The project manager is accountable for ensuring the project's success within the constraints of time, budget, and scope, fitting within the project management triple constraint.
What should a project manager do if the project constraints are deemed unrealistic?
-If the project constraints are deemed unrealistic, the project manager should demonstrate why to the proposer and negotiate for additional time, resources, or an adjustment to the goal.
What is the project manager's right if they feel the project's constraints and expectations are too far apart?
-The project manager has the right to refuse to head a project if they feel the difference between the set constraints and realistic expectations is too large.
What does the term 'accountable' mean in the context of project management?
-In the context of project management, being 'accountable' means committing to achieve a certain result and then delivering on that commitment.
What is the origin of the term 'accountable' as used in the script?
-The term 'accountable' originates from the game of poker, where a buckhorn-handled knife was passed to signify the next dealer, symbolizing the passing of responsibility.
Who is the person in the picture mentioned in the script, and what does the sign on his desk represent?
-The person in the picture is U.S. President Harry Truman, and the sign on his desk represents his promise not to run away from his responsibility.
What is the formal definition of accountability provided in the script?
-The formal definition of accountability is to commit to achieving a certain result and then deliver on that commitment.
How does the script describe the project manager's responsibility towards the project team and stakeholders?
-The project manager is accountable not only for their own tasks but also for all tasks that other parties must work on and complete, including team members, support functions, managers, vendors, and other stakeholders.
What skills, knowledge, and expertise does the script suggest a project manager should have?
-The script suggests that a project manager should have skills, knowledge, and expertise that will help them make the best decisions and direct work in the right direction.
Outlines
📈 The Role and Responsibility of a Project Manager
This paragraph introduces the critical role of a project manager as the CEO of a project, emphasizing their accountability for the project's success within the constraints of time, budget, and scope. It explains the project management triple constraint and the necessity for these constraints to be realistic for a project to be feasible. The project manager must assess the project's practicality and negotiate for necessary adjustments or resources. The paragraph also touches on the concept of accountability, using the example of U.S. President Harry Truman, to illustrate the commitment to face challenges and responsibilities head-on. The project manager's duties extend to overseeing all tasks related to the project, including those performed by team members, support functions, managers, vendors, and stakeholders, ensuring that all work progresses as planned and is completed successfully.
🛠️ Project Manager's Tools: Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise
In this paragraph, the focus shifts to the project manager's arsenal of skills, knowledge, and expertise that they utilize to make informed decisions and guide the project in the right direction. While the paragraph is brief, it sets the stage for a deeper dive into these competencies in the subsequent lessons. It suggests that the project manager's ability to leverage their professional capabilities is crucial for navigating the complexities of project management and achieving the project's objectives.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Project
💡Project Manager
💡Triple Constraint
💡Accountability
💡Constraints
💡Stakeholders
💡Control and Visibility
💡Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise
💡Responsibility
💡Negotiation
💡Motivation
Highlights
A project is a temporary initiative with specific goals, agreed upon, planned, and executed.
The project manager is like the CEO of the project, accountable for its success.
For a project to be successful, it must meet its specific goal within the agreed time and budget constraints.
The project management triple constraint (scope, time, cost) must be realistic and achievable.
The project manager must assess project constraints and negotiate for adjustments if needed.
A project manager can refuse to head a project if the constraints and expectations are not realistic.
Project managers are often accountable for multiple projects simultaneously.
Accountability means not passing responsibility to others and committing to deliver results.
The term 'accountability' originates from the game of poker and the practice of passing a buckhorn knife to mark the dealer.
U.S. President Harry Truman is an example of accountability, keeping a sign on his desk as a promise not to evade responsibility.
Accountability in project management involves committing to a result and delivering on that commitment.
Project managers are accountable for their tasks, team members' work, support functions, vendors, and stakeholders' contributions.
Project managers need full control and visibility over all project-related work to ensure successful completion.
Skills, knowledge, and expertise are essential for project managers to make the best decisions and direct work effectively.
Project managers must be proactive in identifying and addressing issues to keep the project on track.
Project managers play a crucial role in overcoming barriers, keeping team members motivated, and fulfilling their daily duties.
The transcript emphasizes the importance of the right attitude and commitment in project management.
Transcripts
great now we know what a project is
a temporary initiative that is agreed
planned and executed to achieve a
specific
goal so once we have our project
and that project has been selected by
the board of directors as the current
initiative
it's down to one person to make sure
that project's execution is successful
can you guess who that one person is the
project manager
that's who but what exactly is their
role
let's discuss the project manager is the
ceo
of the project they will be accountable
for the project's success
and for a project to be successful it
needs to accomplish the specific goal of
the project within the prior agreed time
and budget constraints
everything needs to fit neatly into the
project management triple constraint
triangle which we looked at in the first
lesson remember
in fact by assuming the project manager
position for a project
the project manager implicitly agrees to
work within these constraints and still
meet the goal
now that's a big responsibility what if
the time frame and budget are
insufficient
a project manager can't shoot themselves
in the foot and take on a project that
is unlikely to be successful
therefore when the project management
triple constraints are put in place they
must be realistic
it is the project manager's duty to
assess a project and deem the
constraints practical or otherwise
and if otherwise they must demonstrate
why to whoever proposed the project
and negotiate for additional time
resources or an adjustment to the goal
itself of course a project manager is
well within their rights to refuse to
head a project if they feel the
difference between the set constraints
and the realistic expectations is too
large
in real life however the time and
resources will usually
be just enough to complete the goal
the project manager's job then is to
best utilize them
and this is by no means an easy task and
often
project managers will be accountable for
multiple projects at the same time
okay so we've been throwing around the
term accountable
but never actually defined it what does
it mean to be
accountable let's start with an example
can you guess who the person in the
picture is
well we'll see in a minute let's focus
on the sign first
the box stops here the meaning of this
phrase
is that the responsibility for any given
work or situation will not be passed to
anyone else
it is a promise or commitment by the
primary person not to run away from
their responsibility
the metaphor comes from the game poker
in order to avoid cheating
players agree that a different person
will deal the cards between the games
to mark the next one in turn usually a
knife with a bunkhorn handle would be
passed from one player to another
and from there passing the back
this has later transformed into passing
the responsibility or
passing the blame to someone else
now the person in the picture proudly
keeping the sign on his desk as a
promise to the nation not to run away
from his responsibility
is the u.s president harry truman
the message is that i will not run away
from my responsibility and when hard
times come
i am the person you need to come to i
will face the difficult situations and
look for a way to overcome them
so although with a different job title
the 33rd u.s president can be an
inspiring example for all project
managers
for the right attitude they need to
practice toward their teams and
organizations
great let's go back to the question
what does it mean to be accountable
the formal definition would be to commit
to achieve a certain result
and then deliver this commitment simple
enough
but a lot easier said than done
let's shed light on the magnitude of
this commitment
project managers are accountable not
only for their own tasks
but also all the tasks that other
parties must work on and complete
this includes the project team members
support functions
managers vendors and other stakeholders
any work that is important for the
progress of the project
to achieve successful completion of the
project the manager needs to have full
control and visibility on all project
related work and take actions
immediately when identifying something
is not progressing on track
they will be on hand to help others
overcome their barriers and keep them
motivated
all on top of their personal daily
duties
wow who would be crazy or brave enough
to take on such accountability
your friendly neighborhood project
manager that's who
but they do have some weapons up their
sleeve their skills
knowledge and expertise these will help
them make the best decisions and direct
the work in the right direction
but more about that in the next lesson
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