Much is spoken about the "principles" of Agile Project Management. Although I don't think these Agile Project Management principles are mature yet in terms of the "actionable outcomes" I'm used to working with - but that's a personal problem I now realize.
Here's a list of project management principles (not always in the spirit of agile and confusing project management with software development) that have served me well:
- Mission Success - the focus on "mission" changes the project management paradigm from a provider of labor and services to a customer focus. Mission success is the first consideration when assessing risk, technical and programmatic trade offs. All aspects of the program or project must be driven by "mission success."
- Accountability - each and every member of the project or program is accountable for his or her actions. The Program or Project Manager must be accountable for their actions and have the authority to accomplish the objectives and meet the customer needs.
- Agility - the project should reduce the decision cycle time through short, clear lines of authority with decision making and project execution at the lowest levels possible.
- Inclusive - advice and information must be actively sought from all parties. A supportive, forthright relationship among all project members is the goal.
- Flexible - any process should tailored to properly fit the circumstances of the project.
- Stable - all members of the project should work to assure stable budgets, stable requirements, and stable management direction. This does not mean requirements, budgets and management direction do not change. It means they change for the right reasons. On on agile project this makes the huge assumptions and therefore requirement that the customer is capable of providing stable requirements, budget and management direction.
- Disciplined - all members of the project team must exercise the discipline necessary to achieve the project goals.
- Credible - the project team must deliver with it promises on-performance, on-schedule, and within budget.
- Cost Realism - cost estimates must be validated by some independent means.
