NewYork2008:PM Principles - Software and Database Development

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

Base Camp

Book about Project Management, by Project Management

Additions to framework

Testing is a big part of the monitoring

Possible rsearch 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