Everyone knows that a Project Manager must simultaneously manage the three basic ele-ments of a project: resources, time, and scope. All these elements are interrelated. But the missing element is corporate politics. All must be managed together if the project, and the project manager, is to complete the project successfully.
Cost include contingencies, profit
Time Task durations, dependencies, critical path
Scope Project size, goals, requirements
Politics
Although each are inter-related, the cost portion of Resources, however can affect all four is truly the most important. We all are following the oil spill problem in the gulf. Politics has dictated that BP will “make it right” no matter the cost. BP has capped the well and resources are now being diverted to the other tasks. The major concern now of this project is the COST for the cleanup. Political pressure is being applied by the government, but, in the end it will be COST that will drive the cleanup effort. How do we know this? Exxon still has not cleaned up all the spill form the Valdez disaster. The politics of the project is about how to control the scope and how the project will be viewed by management for resources and sponsor support. Make Cost your primary concern, when man-agement is assured that cost control is para-mount in your project, the politics will follow. If you have properly justified the cost and benefits of the project, have the necessary controls on scope while at the same time COMMUNICATING these elements politics will be in control. Who can play the political game when you are communicating the success and the control of your project? Com-munication and cost go hand in hand. Poor communications and cost will rise due to resources being removed or changed, and out-side influences (politics) trying to communicate for you. Just ask Tony Haywood (former president of BP) if this is true!
In summary watch out for the four elements of a successful project, cost being paramount in these trying times.
-Al
Please send comments to agubiotti@theprojectsolvers.com
Filed under: Cost Management, PSA News and Updates
