OK - maybe the title is a bit harsh - but maybe not!  There is also the rather harsh saying - "A fool with a tool is still a fool".  I first heard this saying from a very enthusiastic process disciple called Sami Zahran when we worked together at Digital way back in 1990.  At the time we were working on process maturity with the SEI's CMM - Software Engineering Institute - Capability Maturity Model.

Let me put this more positively!  This week we worked with a customer who has a tough project management challenge.  They have a sponsor in the US.  The projects will be implemented in 5 different countries with people they have yet to meet.  The project manager has not yet joined the team though he is recruited. It is a 5 year set of projects.  There is no common way to manage projects in this organization - many excellent project managers - many superbly successful projects - but no common way to manage projects.  This is the first major project between this organization and the sponsor.  The sponsor knows what they are after and will pay for success - but not otherwise.  There are clear charter documents with the sponsor as a result.  The sponsor expects regular and accurate reports of progress or lack thereof.  The organization have selected BrightWork pmPoint as the collaborative project management platform for the projects.  An excellent choice of course, said he with as much humility as he could muster!  But pmPoint needs process defined!  So we have been working this week and last week and have just come up with a defined and yet simple process on paper that will be used to manage the projects.  Everyone seems very happy that we know how we will manage the project - so now we can build the first iteration of the pmPoint templates (using some of the existing ones as a starter of course).  Success is at hand.  We are on the right path from Day 1.

Contrast that with the organization who have no process - will spend no time thinking about how they want to manage projects - and then wonder why it is not working!  It is the process stupid!  Not very diplomatic!  Don't tell my boss about this little rant!

Process need not be difficult or complicated - it can be very easy.  Last week we ran a webcast that explained a simple approach.  See below for the webcast description and a video feed of the webcast itself.  Enjoy!

Webcast: Managing Projects Using SharePoint with a Process as Simple as 1-2-3

The Dilemma!

• The customers we meet are at pains to tell us that they do not have the time or the budget to train people in formal project management – but yet they need project management discipline.  They want an approach so simple that it is obvious. 

A Simple Solution

• Over the years we have been helping customers develop such a simple approach.  More recently we have been working on a process that can be described and always decomposed into three steps.  Why three steps every time?  Why not?  Three is an easy number to work with.  It is a bit quirky and fun.  It is easier to remember and manage.  It forces us all to be concise rather than long-winded.

This Webcast:

• Will present a simple 1-2-3 process that can be used for project management
• Show how this simple 1-2-3 process can be implemented on the SharePoint platform

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