Two Approaches to Solving Project Problems | Video

I had an interesting conversation last week, with an experienced Project Manager. I remembered a similar discussion with another PM, at the end of last year. And it left me comparing the approaches the two of them had taken to solving project problems.

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Two Types of Project Manager: Two Approaches to Solving Project Problems

Part of your job as a Project Manager is problem-solving. So any edge you can get will be valuable.

Tony

The first PM (we’ll call him Tony) had a rigorous approach. As soon as the problem emerged, he cleared his desk, gathered all the relevant information, and started making calls. He quickly figured out what the problem was, and proposed a solution. Everyone was happy.

Tina

The second PM (let’s call her Tina) also responded immediately to her problem. She picked up the phone, apologized that she couldn’t do anything that afternoon, but promised to go to see the people concerned the next day. Up early, she made the 2½ hour drive and was on-site to meet the local team. Surveying the situation together, they quickly resolved the problem.

Two Textbook Approaches to Solving Project Problems

And one produced a quicker result, without a half-day diversion. Except that, two weeks later, when Tony’s project went live…

Outcomes of Two Approaches to Solving Project Problems

It turns out that the problem wasn’t quite what he’d thought it was. And his solution didn’t quite fix it. Although there was no disaster, go-live for Tony was messy, interrupted, and needed a lot of extra work, at the last minute. Tina’s project went live with immaculate precision, and was enviably friction-free.

The Difference…

The difference between our two types of PM is not that one likes to roll-up their sleeves and get stuck-in, while the other avoids issues. That’s the difference between a project manager and a problem avoider. It’s about process. And, crucially, where the Project Manager addresses the issue.

The Gemba, The Ground Truth

It’s known as the ‘Gemba’ in Japanese manufacturing. And as the ‘ground truth’ in military circles. There is a special value in going to the actual place where the problem sits, and observing it directly. Maps, data, and third-party accounts rarely do the reality justice. And there is something that focuses your mind about just being there.

Recommended Videos

Carefully curated video recommendations for you:

• What is the Gemba …and Going to the Gemba?
• What is Design Thinking? Human-centered Problem-solving
• Measure Twice, Cut Once | Bite Sized Project Management Thought from My Father
• The History of Innovation: A Recipe for Breakthroughs

What Kit does a Project Manager Need?

I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. I added my own. 

Check out the Kit a Project Manager needs

Note that the links are affiliated.

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