Why is the Quality of PMs so low?

[Hawkeye]

4b (and this is the worst offence) Estimating on behalf of the developers, then getting pissed off when deadlines are not met.

That is a real common issue. I have found that once you go back to higher management and get it in the neck for your timelines they end up pushing you to tighten the deadlines so much it is impossible to deliver. You know deep down that the timelines they want are unachievable but you can only fight it to a certain extent.

[BlackenedBiker]

Be a diplomat, coordinate stakeholders, know something about the technology within the project they are managing (contrary to popular belief this is ESSENTIAL). Shut up and listen. Understand. Focus on the essentials.

And most of all stop bull-tulipting.

OMG - I agree with SAD Grunt, I am off to shoot myself

[Zippy]

That is a real common issue. I have found that once you go back to higher management and get it in the neck for your timelines they end up pushing you to tighten the deadlines so much it is impossible to deliver. You know deep down that the timelines they want are unachievable but you can only fight it to a certain extent.

Yep - I know. Always fighting ...

[original PM]

So it seems a good Pm

1) Keeps the team together and working towards the goal.

2) Have a basic understanding of the technology involved in the project (assuming it is a technology based project)

3) Listens to the project team and creates plans and timeline estimates, budgets etc etc based on their information.

4) Supplies this information to senior management/stakeholders and gets them to agree to the timelines/budgets etc. Also pushes back when Senior management try to squeeze timescales and/or budget to try and make themselves look important and in control.

All well and good

a) Whats missing?
b) What is the best course of action of the PM should the workstreams start to over run?

[Zippy]

All well and good

a) Whats missing?
b) What is the best course of action of the PM should the workstreams start to over run?

Find out why
Find out how much it is overrunning by
Communicate it up the food chain ASAP

[mace]

So it seems a good Pm

1) Keeps the team together and working towards the goal.

2) Have a basic understanding of the technology involved in the project (assuming it is a technology based project)

3) Listens to the project team and creates plans and timeline estimates, budgets etc etc based on their information.

4) Supplies this information to senior management/stakeholders and gets them to agree to the timelines/budgets etc. Also pushes back when Senior management try to squeeze timescales and/or budget to try and make themselves look important and in control.

All well and good

a) Whats missing?
b) What is the best course of action of the PM should the workstreams start to over run?

Buy donuts.

[sasguru]

So it seems a good Pm

1) Keeps the team together and working towards the goal.

2) Have a basic understanding of the technology involved in the project (assuming it is a technology based project)

3) Listens to the project team and creates plans and timeline estimates, budgets etc etc based on their information.

4) Supplies this information to senior management/stakeholders and gets them to agree to the timelines/budgets etc. Also pushes back when Senior management try to squeeze timescales and/or budget to try and make themselves look important and in control.

All well and good

a) Whats missing?
b) What is the best course of action of the PM should the workstreams start to over run?

Bloody hell do we have here a PM who wants to learn?

[sasguru]

OMG - I agree with SAD Grunt, I am off to shoot myself

Everyone ends up agreeing with me. Its because I'm usually right.

[original PM]

Find out why
Find out how much it is overrunning by
Communicate it up the food chain ASAP

Interesting - as a PM you are expected to manage that so it does not overrun.

You can comms up the food chain make sure you have the documentation to cover the azz but the question still remains.

"The team have given you their deadlines which they have committed to achieving - they are not delivering what do you do to get things back on track?"

apparently Donuts appears to be one answer not sure how much effect that will have but will file it away under possibles!

[original PM]

Bloody hell do we have here a PM who wants to learn?

always!