How Great Project Management Pays for Itself

By Steve Bloom, Owner/CEO, Pragmatek

I often meet with executives regarding implementation projects of various flavors — some technology based, others more process or operationally based. There is one common theme to these discussions — it’s the main reason implementation projects of any sort are successful or not. In addition to needing executive support, the number one factor is a qualified, FULL-TIME project manager.

4 Project Failure Scenarios

It is best to have a full-time, outside project manager teamed with a mainly full-time internal project manager. So many times, organizations make the mistake of not following this crucial advice. Key reasons:

1. They want to reduce the cost of the project so they ask for a half-time, outside PM.
   
2. The internal candidate also has a day job, and they do not want to take that person out of this crucial role.
   
3. They don’t feel as if a full-time PM is needed, as the project isn’t that complex in their minds.
   
4. They want to put a junior, less experienced external and/or internal candidate on the project for some or all of the reasons above.

4 Short-Term Thinking Results

Organizations consistently fail to realize that even though it might be more expensive in the short term to do it “the right way,” in the long run the project fails. The result?

1. The project comes in WAY over planned budget.
   
2. It takes much, much longer to complete.
   
3. The scope of the project is never clearly defined and it continues to grow and is always nebulous.
   
4. The organization gets exhausted and people will do everything they can to distance themselves from any accountability.

4 Right-Way Keys to Success

Sound familiar? So how can organizations do it the “right way”? Pretty straightforward actually:

1. Make sure you have executive sponsorship/buy in from the top, and they are actively involved in the outcomes.
   
2. Find your best and brightest in the business. Pull them out of their day jobs, and backfill them with an up and comer.
   
3. Partner this person with the best and brightest outside PM who has “been there, done that.”
   
4. Don’t skimp due to cost. So what if it costs you an additional $50K? It is better that the scenarios above that will ultimately cost your organization potentially MILLIONS, including the inability to ship product and LOSE CUSTOMERS.

Great project management pays for itself in spades if you make the investment. Do it the “right way.”