Conclusion: The Human Touch
In Section 6.2, “A Caution on Automated Project Management Tools,” we said that “A fool with a tool is a faster fool.” It’s important to bear in mind, though, that the theory we covered is also insufficient.
The theories referenced serve as generalized best practices for what should work most of the time, under ideal conditions; however, the most common adjective used to describe projects is “unique.” There’s a reason why project management is done by humans and not by automated robots; it takes an experienced, nuanced human touch to combine the theory and the technology and apply them (or don’t, as they see fit) to the unique needs of every project.
The other essentially human qualities that organizations require from their project managers are healthy dose of leadership and judgment. A project manager’s grasp of theory can be tested and proven through exams that result in hard-earned certifications, such as PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP). However, when project managers meet resistance, the theory can be put to the test, often to the point of triggering project failure.
Project management is the art and science of continuously re-synching the plan to the new realities in the face of these points of resistance. Project leadership and judgment are the keys to success in the battle to save projects in the real-life situations where there’s a strong refusal to accept bad news, organizational politics that are set up for failure, and challenges with an embedded culture that’s threatening to send a project off the rails.
This book only covered how to put your project in the best position to succeed, but good project leaders embrace the reality that some projects will fail. Project managers often use this realistic foresight to uncover trouble sooner and take proactive measures to get the project on plan or close enough to plan to save it from failure. However, sometimes it is best for project managers to come to terms with the fact that the project realities have been so far separated from what was initially planned that it’s time for the project to “fail faster.”
So as comprehensive as this text is in guiding you to use Microsoft Project 2019 to manage your projects, know that much of the skills transcend what was discussed here. And also know that sometimes even the best of efforts are futile, and the best thing a project manager can do for a project destined to fail is to “face the music” and move on.
Happy trails on your project management journey!