Comments on: Methodology Doesn’t Matter http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/ Moving Beyond Management Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:34:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Does methodology matter for Cottage PM? « CottagePM.com http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-235 Does methodology matter for Cottage PM? « CottagePM.com Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:49:20 +0000 http://www.jessefewell.com/?p=388#comment-235 [...] (“Why Methodology Doesn’t Matter,” p. 27; view it at PMI.org here or on his blog here). I like his conclusion: The most effective approach is tailoring established best practices to fit [...] [...] (“Why Methodology Doesn’t Matter,” p. 27; view it at PMI.org here or on his blog here). I like his conclusion: The most effective approach is tailoring established best practices to fit [...]

]]> By: Does methology matter for Cottage PM? « CottagePM.com http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-234 Does methology matter for Cottage PM? « CottagePM.com Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:46:21 +0000 http://www.jessefewell.com/?p=388#comment-234 [...] (“Why Methodology Doesn’t Matter,” p. 27; view it at PMI.org here or on his blog here). I like his conclusion: The most effective approach is tailoring established best practices to fit [...] [...] (“Why Methodology Doesn’t Matter,” p. 27; view it at PMI.org here or on his blog here). I like his conclusion: The most effective approach is tailoring established best practices to fit [...]

]]> By: Jesse Fewell http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Jesse Fewell Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:33:34 +0000 http://www.jessefewell.com/?p=388#comment-196 James, ditto on your excerpt! I would add the problem isn't solely with vendors or consultants advancing their productized set of practices. Instead, I would lay equal blame to project managers who adopt these methodology products towards blind compliance. To your point, the reason we take refuge in the rules of a given methodology is that we are afraid to lead. If a stakeholder complains about our deliverable, we believe for some reason that being process-compliant will bail us out. It took me a few failed projects to realize that myself. I wonder how we can help other PMs learn it an easier way. James, ditto on your excerpt! I would add the problem isn’t solely with vendors or consultants advancing their productized set of practices. Instead, I would lay equal blame to project managers who adopt these methodology products towards blind compliance. To your point, the reason we take refuge in the rules of a given methodology is that we are afraid to lead. If a stakeholder complains about our deliverable, we believe for some reason that being process-compliant will bail us out. It took me a few failed projects to realize that myself. I wonder how we can help other PMs learn it an easier way.

]]> By: James Brown http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-191 James Brown Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:32:47 +0000 http://www.jessefewell.com/?p=388#comment-191 I wrote an article about this in 08. Below is an excerpt and the full article can be viewed here http://sebasolutions.com/dev/newsletter/?id=16&PHPSESSID=c6eed6e50132f74c6edacaf81a1bc4c6 One of the greatest debates in project management is what is the best project management methodology? There are numerous articles and books touting particular methodologies. Each usually talks about the deficiencies of other methodologies and uses some version of the high failure rate of projects to meet cost, schedule and scope targets to prove their point. Some methodologies are overtly or covertly backed by vendors and consultants selling software and/or services related to the methodology. I have come across no credible proof of one methodology outperforming another methodology. I hope the following isn't a news flash... The methodology isn't the primary factor of success. It is the leadership! I wrote an article about this in 08. Below is an excerpt and the full article can be viewed here http://sebasolutions.com/dev/newsletter/?id=16&PHPSESSID=c6eed6e50132f74c6edacaf81a1bc4c6

One of the greatest debates in project management is what is the best project management methodology? There are numerous articles and books touting particular methodologies. Each usually talks about the deficiencies of other methodologies and uses some version of the high failure rate of projects to meet cost, schedule and scope targets to prove their point. Some methodologies are overtly or covertly backed by vendors and consultants selling software and/or services related to the methodology. I have come across no credible proof of one methodology outperforming another methodology. I hope the following isn’t a news flash…

The methodology isn’t the primary factor of success. It is the leadership!

]]> By: 4 Simple Steps For Tailoring Your Methodology http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-180 4 Simple Steps For Tailoring Your Methodology Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:39:03 +0000 http://www.jessefewell.com/?p=388#comment-180 [...] on an upcoming column I wrote for PM Network magazine. In those posts, we discovered that methodology doesn’t matter, but that doesn’t stop us from engaging in the methodology wars. In particular, the [...] [...] on an upcoming column I wrote for PM Network magazine. In those posts, we discovered that methodology doesn’t matter, but that doesn’t stop us from engaging in the methodology wars. In particular, the [...]

]]> By: Jesse Fewell http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Jesse Fewell Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:46:22 +0000 http://www.jessefewell.com/?p=388#comment-179 Ian, this post is focused on the uselessness of debating method A over method B. However, I do agree with the point you're making. At some point, you need to start with something. Even if it's just the 5 questions that Glen offers in his post below, a project team needs some common set of expectations to start with. Specifically, my next post will reveal my own take on the debate between consistency and flexibility. Stay tuned... Ian, this post is focused on the uselessness of debating method A over method B. However, I do agree with the point you’re making. At some point, you need to start with something. Even if it’s just the 5 questions that Glen offers in his post below, a project team needs some common set of expectations to start with. Specifically, my next post will reveal my own take on the debate between consistency and flexibility. Stay tuned…

]]> By: Jesse Fewell http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Jesse Fewell Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:43:00 +0000 http://www.jessefewell.com/?p=388#comment-178 Glen, thanks for the follow-up post. Your 5 questions help us draw up some common-sense, real-world definitions for cost, schedule, scope, and risk. Good stuff. Glen, thanks for the follow-up post. Your 5 questions help us draw up some common-sense, real-world definitions for cost, schedule, scope, and risk. Good stuff.

]]> By: Ian Tindale http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-175 Ian Tindale Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:10:42 +0000 http://www.jessefewell.com/?p=388#comment-175 But hang on… the one (possibly the only) outstanding advantage of using a methodology is that of interchangeability. If your party and other parties on a project are all participating in a particular methodology, then you have an element of interchangeability as a platform - or a language - with which to understand the motions and actions and things that you do, between you and the other parties. It's simply a means - a handy externalised procedural vocabulary - to get all your ducks singing from the same hymn-sheet. Other than that, the more one sticks to methodologies rigidly, the less they'll ever evolve into more suitable methodologies, and hopefully, more transparent and invisible methodologies. But hang on… the one (possibly the only) outstanding advantage of using a methodology is that of interchangeability. If your party and other parties on a project are all participating in a particular methodology, then you have an element of interchangeability as a platform – or a language – with which to understand the motions and actions and things that you do, between you and the other parties. It’s simply a means – a handy externalised procedural vocabulary – to get all your ducks singing from the same hymn-sheet. Other than that, the more one sticks to methodologies rigidly, the less they’ll ever evolve into more suitable methodologies, and hopefully, more transparent and invisible methodologies.

]]> By: Glen B Alleman http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-174 Glen B Alleman Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:33:19 +0000 http://www.jessefewell.com/?p=388#comment-174 Jesse, Thanks for the thought stimulation. I've come to understand over recent years that the notion of starting with a method is seriously flawed. Here's an idea I've started to champion http://herdingcats.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/01/does-methodology-matter.html Jesse,
Thanks for the thought stimulation. I’ve come to understand over recent years that the notion of starting with a method is seriously flawed.
Here’s an idea I’ve started to champion
http://herdingcats.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/01/does-methodology-matter.html

]]> By: The Real Reasons Behind the Methodology Wars http://www.jessefewell.com/2009/12/20/methodology-doesnt-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-173 The Real Reasons Behind the Methodology Wars Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:14:51 +0000 http://www.jessefewell.com/?p=388#comment-173 [...] my previous post, I laid out 3 Reasons Why Methodology Doesn’t Matter. But the question remains: If it doesn’t matter, why do management experts fuss over those [...] [...] my previous post, I laid out 3 Reasons Why Methodology Doesn’t Matter. But the question remains: If it doesn’t matter, why do management experts fuss over those [...]

]]>