Comments on: Project Management in the Real World

By: Gordon Alderson

Gordon Alderson — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 02:12:49 +0000

John, Great article.
My early training in Project Management and Kepner-Tregoe Decision Making came into its own when, as Recruitment Manager for a division of an Australian recruitment consultancy, I felt impelled to find a way to help clients define precisely what they need at assignment kick-off time. I wanted to stop the ‘throw mud (candidates) at the wall’ system. I also wanted to stop clients who were only interested in fishing expeditions (let’s see what you can find for us).
Help is on its way.
The spreadsheet platform I have been using for more than 10 years is being replaced. A 15 minute on-line process is under development in which Hiring Managers and Final Decision Makers plus any Subject Specialists privately (no stakeholder meetings) reveal their wisdom as to the importance of Attributes to be sought in Exemplary Candidates. Minimal stakeholder mathematics is required.
The process delivers to each stakeholder (real time) their ranked and weighted profile of Attributes.
When all stakeholders have completed the on-line process the system emails the consensus profile and the condensed profile of the Top Attributes to all contributing stakeholders and to recruitment. This can be translated to a spreadsheet, complete with weightings, for recruitment to proceed with certainty as to their clients’ needs. Recruitment now has a client-derived Selection Matrix into which candidate scores can be inserted to identify the relative overall credentials of preferred candidates.
When recruiters use software such as MS Project or Primavera to compile and stick to an assignment Gantt Chart, clients are amazed at how quickly quality candidates are presented for them to interview.
Fewer melt-downs, less need for trade-offs, quality, speed and assignment profitability.
Once we have bedded down the new development in Australia our intention is to make it available on a SaaS-platform.

By: John Vlastelica

John Vlastelica — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 15:12:45 +0000

@Michael – Thanks. And great advice. Start small (and build on what you’re doing from there sets you up for success)…really making sure you’re benefiting the business (always connect it to something the business cares about)…and engaging stakeholders early and often…all critical!

@Mike – Thank you. Google Labs is secretly working on a pause button.

By: Mike Grennier

Mike Grennier — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:53:41 +0000

One of the best articles I’ve read on ere in a while. Nicely done, John.

Best quote: “there is no pause button in HR”

Mike

By: Michael Goldberg

Michael Goldberg — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:00:28 +0000

John-

Excellent points. You are dead on regarding what it takes to be a great PM. It is a huge passion of mine and I can tell you that we don’t have a lot of funds to purchase all the bells and whistles in recruiting. If I could also add that by starting small and building upon the projects you are implementing has been the key to my team’s success. Don’t think that you need everything…you don’t!! Another key question we ask…How will the business benefit from the project we are thinking of doing. We engage our stakeholders to ensure our talent decisions are the best for our culture, teams, branches, etc. A well thought out decision is a successful decision for a PM, the Project Sponsors and your clients.

Thanks again for sharing John. As always your advice is always dead on!