It's a cold but sunny day here in northern Colorado. I've been giving some thought to the issues of PM 2.0 and the method of "push" of technology onto projects. Not as a replacement for PM 1.0 as I'm now hearing the proponents say. But as an alternative approach.
I'm looking at the Toyota Way on the bookshelf and the 14 principles developed at Toyota. One stands out in this context.
Use only reliable, thoroughly tested technology that serves your people and processes.
Now the key here is both the people and the processes. The people are complex adaptive systems and can pretty much make use of anything that isn't completely lame. And sometimes even lame things can be put to work.
But it's the process that is critical in the Toyota process. Not more critical than the people, but this purpose of this discussion it is more important. The leading voices of PM2.0 have for the most part skipped over the processes of project management. And replaced those processes with self-centered process. Personal communication, personal fulfillment, personal interest. As we mention to our young college students "It's not about you."
In fact it's about the project and the processes that enable the project to proceed on its planned course.
So next time you hear a statement about PM 2.0 or any technology for that matter. Ask yourself...
How does this technology serve the project's processes and the people that use that process? But it's the process first.
