006WHA~1

Summary

The 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

00:00

📈 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.

05:01

🛠️ 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.

Keywords

💡Project

A project is defined as a temporary initiative that is planned and executed to achieve a specific goal. In the context of the video, it's the main focus of the project manager's responsibilities. The script mentions that a project is selected by the board of directors and must be completed within agreed time and budget constraints.

💡Project Manager

The project manager is likened to the CEO of the project, being the central figure accountable for the project's success. The script emphasizes that the project manager must work within the constraints of time, budget, and scope, and is responsible for assessing the feasibility of these constraints and negotiating if necessary.

💡Triple Constraint

The project management triple constraint refers to the three primary factors that must be balanced in a project: time, cost, and scope. The script explains that everything needs to fit into this 'triangle,' illustrating the delicate balance that a project manager must maintain to ensure project success.

💡Accountability

Accountability in the script is defined as a commitment to achieve a certain result and then delivering on that commitment. It is a central theme, with the project manager being accountable not only for their tasks but also for the tasks of others involved in the project. The example of U.S. President Harry Truman and the phrase 'the buck stops here' is used to illustrate the concept of not passing on responsibility.

💡Constraints

Constraints are the limitations or boundaries set for a project, such as time and budget. The script discusses the importance of these being realistic and the project manager's duty to assess and negotiate these constraints to ensure the project's feasibility.

💡Stakeholders

Stakeholders are individuals or groups with an interest or concern in the project's outcome. The script mentions that the project manager is accountable for the tasks of all stakeholders, including team members, support functions, managers, vendors, and others.

💡Control and Visibility

Control and visibility refer to the project manager's need to have oversight and management over all project-related work. The script states that the project manager must be able to identify issues and take immediate action to help the team overcome barriers and stay motivated.

💡Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise

These are the tools that project managers use to make decisions and guide the project in the right direction. The script suggests that the project manager's skills, knowledge, and expertise are crucial in navigating the challenges of project management.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility in the script is associated with the concept of 'passing the buck,' which means not avoiding or delegating one's duties. The project manager is expected to take on the responsibility for the project's success, as exemplified by the story of President Truman.

💡Negotiation

Negotiation is the process of discussing and coming to an agreement, especially in the context of adjusting project constraints. The script highlights the project manager's role in negotiating for additional time, resources, or adjustments to the project goal if the initial constraints are deemed impractical.

💡Motivation

Motivation is the drive or desire to take action toward achieving a goal. The script describes the project manager's role in keeping the team motivated, especially when overcoming barriers or addressing issues that arise during the project.

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