The Alpha Project Managers: The Alpha Project Managers What the Top 2% Know That Everyone Else Does Not © 2006 Velociteach α


Slide2: Andy Crowe


Slide5: PMP Exam CAPM Exam Alpha PMs


Slide6: Project Management


Slide7: “It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.”


Slide8: “It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” Mark Twain


Slide10: Baggage Transport System


Slide11: 4,000 sections comprising 26 miles of track Laser and photo cells to track movement 300 individual computers $193,000,000 Recruited “top project manager”


Slide12: “It looks like a complex cake, but in the end, it’s just flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.”


Slide13: Baggage cars crashed Suitcases were ruined and lost Clothing strewn for miles Completely unusable And the impact on the new airport???


Slide14: DELAYED OVER ONE YEAR!


Slide15: DELAYED OVER ONE YEAR! Costing the Taxpayers $1,100,000 daily


Slide16: The world’s “most advanced” baggage system was terminated in September, 2005


Slide17: The world’s “most advanced” baggage system was terminated in September, 2005 Replaced with…


Slide18: The world’s “most advanced” baggage system was terminated in September, 2005 Replaced with people!


Slide19: Big Dig


Slide20: Big Dig Most expensive public works project in United States history


Slide21: Big Dig Most expensive public works project in United States history Leaks from the Charles River eroding the tunnel


Slide22: Big Dig Most expensive public works project in United States history Leaks from the Charles River eroding the tunnel Falling tiles causing death


Slide23: Big Dig Most expensive public works project in United States history Leaks from the Charles River eroding the tunnel Falling tiles causing death 6 years late


Slide24: Big Dig Most expensive public works project in United States history Leaks from the Charles River eroding the tunnel Falling tiles causing death 6 years late $7,000,000,000+ (and counting) over budget


Pop Quiz: Pop Quiz


Pop Quiz: Pop Quiz "Considering the dire circumstances that we have in New Orleans, virtually a city that has been destroyed, things are going relatively well."


Pop Quiz: Pop Quiz "Considering the dire circumstances that we have in New Orleans, virtually a city that has been destroyed, things are going relatively well." (Former) FEMA Director Brown


Slide28: FEMA receives an annual budget of over $6,600,000,000 (pre-September 11, 2001)


Slide29: FEMA receives an annual budget of over $6,600,000,000 (pre September 11, 2001) Every FEMA project manager is required to be PMP certified.


Slide30: Planning


Slide31: Planning Funding


Slide32: Planning Funding Support


Slide33: Planning Funding Support Project Management


Slide34: Planning Funding Support Project Management ALL FAILED


Slide35: But what about “everyday projects?”


Slide36: Price Waterhouse Coopers 2004 Study of 200 global companies large and small Study represented 10,640 projects worth $5.6 billion Price Waterhouse Coopers – September, 2004


Slide37: Price Waterhouse Coopers 2004 Study of 200 global companies large and small OVER 50% OF THESE PROJECTS FAILED TOO! Price Waterhouse Coopers – September, 2004


Slide38: Our tendency has been to focus on what is wrong.


Slide39: The Alpha Study asked…


Slide40: The Alpha Study asked… Who is doing it right?


Slide41: WHO GETS IT?


Slide42: Practice.


Slide43: Practice makes perfect.


Slide44: Practice does not make perfect.


Slide45: Practice does not make perfect. Bad practice only reinforces bad habits.


Slide46: Perfect practice makes perfect.


Slide47: The Alpha Study


Slide48: Identified through survey and interviews of 860 project managers Only top 2% of the field as ranked by team, customer, senior management, and qualifying interviews were grouped as Alphas Non-Alphas comprised remaining 98%


Slide49: What the stakeholders told us


Slide50: 8 Dimensions


Slide51: 8 Dimensions Attitude and belief


Slide52: 8 Dimensions Attitude and belief Communication


Slide53: 8 Dimensions Attitude and belief Communication Alignment


Slide54: 8 Dimensions Attitude and belief Communication Alignment Approach and organization


Slide55: 8 Dimensions Attitude and belief Communication Alignment Approach and organization Focus and prioritization


Slide56: 8 Dimensions Attitude and belief Communication Alignment Approach and organization Focus and prioritization Issue management


Slide57: 8 Dimensions Attitude and belief Communication Alignment Approach and organization Focus and prioritization Issue management Relationships and conflict


Slide58: 8 Dimensions Attitude and belief Communication Alignment Approach and organization Focus and prioritization Issue management Relationships and conflict Leadership


Slide59: Let’s look at 3 of these


Slide60: Attitude and Belief


Slide61: Alphas generally believe they have the “enough authority to manage a project”


Slide62: Alphas generally believe they have the “enough authority to manage a project”


Slide63: But what about senior management?


Slide64: Senior managers definitely believe their project managers have enough authority


Slide65: “Responsibility without authority!”


Slide66: “No one is given authority. You just have to take it!” Tom Peters


Slide67: Communication


Slide68: Alpha project managers do not assume when it comes to communication


Slide69: We asked 860 project managers “How effective are you at communication?”


Slide70: We asked 860 project managers “How effective are you at communication?”


Slide71: Then we asked their stakeholders…


Slide72: Then we asked their stakeholders…


Slide73: How do they do this?


Slide74: They ask!


Slide75: Alphas get to know their audiences and communicate appropriately.


Slide76: Alphas get to know their audiences and communicate appropriately. “Until the product is in the customer’s hands, communication is my deliverable.” Victor (Alpha)


Slide77: Alignment


Slide78: Alphas know how their project aligns to their company’s strategy


Slide81: 70% of Alphas can articulate their organization’s stated strategic goals when asked


Slide82: 70% of Alphas can articulate their organization’s stated strategic goals when asked Only 20% of non-Alphas can do the same


Slide83: 70% of Alphas can articulate their organization’s stated strategic goals when asked Only 20% of non-Alphas can do the same Alphas know how their project aligns and contributes to those strategic goals


Slide84: What does it take to be an Alpha Project Manager?


Slide85: Desire


Slide86: Desire Awareness of your gaps


Slide87: Desire Awareness of your gaps Knowledge of the right way


Slide88: Desire Awareness of your gaps Knowledge of the right way Deliberate, perfect practice


Slide89: Full details published in Alpha Project Managers: What the Top 2% Know That Everyone Else Does Not.


Slide90: Let’s Dialogue