John Mauremootoo's Blog - InSpiral Pathways

Humble Project Management Toolkit Part 1: Introduction

1/9/2015

In the first of an eight part series of YouTube presentations on the 'humble project management toolkit' - a set of tools, approaches and philosophies which help us to effectively manage projects in the face of uncertainty, I introduce the toolkit, which contains many approaches to project planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation which can improve a project's efficiency and effectiveness. The toolkit's six 'compartments' are:
1. Hesitate to encourage reflection;
2. Understand the project's ecosystem;
3. Manage in alignment with the project's ecosystem;
4. Bring in diverse perspectives;
5. Learn constantly; and
6. Embrace uncertainty

The Humble Project Management Toolkit Part 2: The Planning Fallacy

1/9/2015

In the second of an eight part series on the humble project management toolkit for better results in an uncertain world, I introduce the ‘Planning Fallacy’ – Why projects go over budget, over time, and fail to deliver according to specification… over and over again.

The Humble Project Management Toolkit Part 3: Bounded Rationality

1/9/2015

In the third of an eight part series on the humble project management toolkit for better results in an uncertain world, I describe our cognitive biases or “thinking errors” - one of two major causes of the ‘Planning Fallacy’ (why projects go over budget, over time, and fail to deliver according to specification… over and over again), and the project management implications of the fact that we often think more like Homer Simpson of the Simpsons than Mr Spock of Star Trek (the old version).

The Humble Project Management Toolkit Part 4: Complexity

1/9/2015

In the fourth of an eight part series on the humble project management toolkit for better results in an uncertain world, I describe the second of two major causes of the ‘Planning Fallacy’ (why projects go over budget, over time, and fail to deliver according to specification… over and over again): - Complexity. Complexity concepts are explained using Ricardo Wilson-Grau’s ‘Fish Soup Development Story’ – why one plus one does not always equal two, and the implications of this for project management.

The Humble Project Management Toolkit Part 5: Hesitate to encourage reflection

1/9/2015

In the fifth of an eight part series on the humble project management toolkit for better results in an uncertain world, I describe the first of the toolkit’s ‘compartments’ – “Hesitate to Encourage Reflection” in which I outline the importance of developing systematic reflective practices to facilitate resourceful responses in place of knee-jerk reactions.

The Humble Project Management Toolkit Part 6: Manage in line with the project’s ecosystem

1/9/2015

In the sixth of an eight part series on the humble project management toolkit for better results in an uncertain world, I describe the second and third of the toolkit’s ‘compartments’ – “Understand the Project’s Ecosystem” and “Manage in Alignment with the Project’s Ecosystem” in which I outline the importance of developing adaptive management systems that take account of: the landscape in which the project is embedded; the project’s objectives and the processes implemented to contribute to these objectives; and organizational practices.

The Humble Project Management Toolkit Part 7: Bring in diverse perspectives

1/9/2015

In the seventh of an eight part series on the humble project management toolkit for better results in an uncertain world, I describe the fourth of the toolkit’s ‘compartments’ – “Bring in Diverse Perspectives” in which I introduce ways of integrating the viewpoints of a range of stakeholders into project processes.

The Humble Project Management Toolkit Part 8: Learn Constantly and Embrace Uncertainty

1/9/2015

In the eighth and final part of the series on the humble project management toolkit for better results in an uncertain world, I describe the fifth and sixth of the toolkit’s ‘compartments’ – “learn constantly” and “embrace uncertainty.” In the section on learning I outline four learning modes and emphasise the value of learning by doing and learning by teaching. In the section on embracing uncertainty I give examples of the positive consequences of developing a mindset that sees silver linings in the clouds of failure, and I outline some key components of a “navigation system” that helps us overcome the fear associated with uncertainty.