I will take golf as example. On paper, the strategy is quite simple.
1. You use the driver for driving
2. You make approaches with the appropriate iron
3. You finish on the green with the potter

While the strategy is simple, in Golf, the execution is the real challenge. It takes years of practice, reading, lessons and hard work to be just good.

Similarly event if the strategy in PM is simple, the real challenge in getting end-user involvement where the goal is to ensure proper user’s requirements is the execution. Getting the exact user’s requirement, takes years of practice, training and hard work in human factors. In human factors (cognitive ergonomics), the main techniques to get proper use requirement ( the putter) is the task analysis. My new staff with proper training (usually PH.D) become good at it after 10 years of practice and coaching.

By the way, most people in the (IT) industry are not aware of cognitive ergonomics. They plan for a high degree of uncertainties in user’s requirements.

Getting clear business objectives is event a bigger challenge. What is the competitive environment, what is the internal current situation, what are the business goals. It takes in my view a minimum of 10 to 15 years of consulting practice and many skills. An even bigger challenge is how to communicate those findings.

An son on. I think I will have to write a complete post on the key success factors.

Francois

Good article…

I often see this kind of situations… Project management is still in many organizations an “accidental” profession/discipline… I’m pretty sure this PM never followed a practical PM course… It’s very common.

Here are the key success factors (by priority) in project management:
1- End-user involvement
2- Top Management support/buy-in
3- Clear business objectives (ouchhhh)
4- Proper planning
5- Realistic expectations (t/$)
6- Competent team/PM