NewYork2008:PM Principles - Software and Database Development

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Software and Database Development
Session consisted of mostly people who work for non-profits, although a few people that also work for companies that consult for non-profits and some that consult independently. There was a wide range of project management and software project management experiences in the group.

Question: Why does it seem that people are moving more towards software development projects?
- People want to use software to resolve issues but would like to leave the project management to others
- Industry is buying into software, but pre-packaged programs don't exist for that industry


Pain points:

  • Interface between project and IT departments
  • Feeling responsible for the growth of the whole field
  • Figuring out what people actually want (needs assessment)
  • Different types of personalities on the team
  • Politics interfering with the management of the project
  • Corporate refugees adjusting to the culture of non-profit
  • The many hats one project manager has to wear
  • Not enough systems thinking
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Scope changes in the middle of the project - how to prevent? & -how do deal?
  • Competing interests
  • The accidental PM
  • Split between techies and non-techies
  • Immediate demands vs. best practices
  • Rationale for variation
  • The initiate to plan phase is where most of these come up



Interests:

  • Collaborating with others
  • Solutions for dealing with non-profit culture
  • Some high-level technology training for the upper management



Tools:

  • Magic 8-Ball
  • Basecamp
  • Book about Project Management, by Project Management



Additions to framework

  • Testing is a big part of the monitoring
  • Possible research between initiate plan



Things that help:

  • Communication
  • Managing expectation
  • Defining ownership
  • Empathy
  • Customer Service
  • Assume that there is going to be a crisis. The test is how you handle it.
  • Anything is possible