hw461
Note: Give brief answers -- these problems are designed to be thought- provoking. As with HW 1, do not spend large amounts of time on HW 2.
1. Paul is a project manager for an effort that requires twelve months. During the 7th, 8th, and 9th months he needs two individuals with special qualifications. The functional manager has promised that these individuals will be available two months before they are needed. If Paul does not assign them to his project at that time, they will be assigned elsewhere and he will have to do with whoever will be available later. What should Paul do? Do you have to make any assumptions in order to defend your answer?
Ans: In my view, there are three possibilities.
• As we know any project has its own requirements and those things might change in course of time. If those requirements change and Paul is willing to manage with his available resources he doesn’t need to assign them to his project.
• The second possibility, however if the functional manager is able to provide the resources in time, the PM can assign the individuals to the project.
• The third possibility, even if the PM doesn’t require those people, he can get one of those two individuals into his project and boost up the work and wrap it up sooner than expected.
I prefer the third possibility, as it is a win-win situation for the company and the PM.
2. In W.J. Taylor and T.F. Watling: Successful Project Management, Business Books, 1972, we read: (slightly abridged) It is often the case that the Project Manager is more noted for his/her management technique expertise, his/her ability to "get things done," and his/her ability to "get along with people" than for technical prowess. However, it can be dangerous to minimize technical prowess when choosing Project Managers, dependent on the project type and size. The Project Manager should preferably be an expert either in the field of the project task or a subject allied to it.
How does this apply
1. Paul is a project manager for an effort that requires twelve months. During the 7th, 8th, and 9th months he needs two individuals with special qualifications. The functional manager has promised that these individuals will be available two months before they are needed. If Paul does not assign them to his project at that time, they will be assigned elsewhere and he will have to do with whoever will be available later. What should Paul do? Do you have to make any assumptions in order to defend your answer?
Ans: In my view, there are three possibilities.
• As we know any project has its own requirements and those things might change in course of time. If those requirements change and Paul is willing to manage with his available resources he doesn’t need to assign them to his project.
• The second possibility, however if the functional manager is able to provide the resources in time, the PM can assign the individuals to the project.
• The third possibility, even if the PM doesn’t require those people, he can get one of those two individuals into his project and boost up the work and wrap it up sooner than expected.
I prefer the third possibility, as it is a win-win situation for the company and the PM.
2. In W.J. Taylor and T.F. Watling: Successful Project Management, Business Books, 1972, we read: (slightly abridged) It is often the case that the Project Manager is more noted for his/her management technique expertise, his/her ability to "get things done," and his/her ability to "get along with people" than for technical prowess. However, it can be dangerous to minimize technical prowess when choosing Project Managers, dependent on the project type and size. The Project Manager should preferably be an expert either in the field of the project task or a subject allied to it.
How does this apply