Project Execution and Leadership by Derek Hendrikz

Project Execution & Leadership

Derek Hendrikzwww.derekhendrikz.com

http://www.derekhendrikz.com/

Copyright © 2014

Derek Hendrikz Consulting

www.derekhendrikz.com





Managing the Project Team



if you can’t m

easure it you cannot m

anage

it




Fundamentals of Human Performance




Ability / Motivation Ratio

Motivation

(Attitude)

Ability(Knowledge & Skill)

Team Player

Wrong Appointment

Hostage Taker

Super Star



basic performance continuum

1 5 10 10+

Wrong Appointment

Develop Reward

Motivate



Managing the Project



you'll Find the Problem here

• Structure;

• Systems; and

• Culture.




Qualities of a good Project Manager:

• Innovative and maintains stability.

• Sees the big picture whilst getting hands dirty.

• Encourages individuals, but stresses the team.

• Hands-off / hands-on (knows when to intervene and

when not to).

• Flexible but firm.

• Aligns team vs. organizational loyalties.www.derekhendrikz.com


Characteristics of a good Project Manager:

• Systems thinker.

• Personal integrity.

• Proactive.

• High tolerance towards stress.

• General business perspective.

• Good communicator.

• Effective time management.

• Skillful politician.

• Optimist. www.derekhendrikz.com


Project Control Involves…

1. Reporting the progress of the project against

the plan.

2. Analysing the reasons for variance between

progress & plan.

3. Taking action to eliminate variance.



Macro & Micro Monitoring:

Macro Monitoring:Includes overall business objectives, time, quality & budget.

Micro Monitoring:Includes tracking individual tasks; that they have been initiated, that they are running on track and that they are due to complete as planned.



Project Status Reports:

1. Completion of delegated tasks.2. Completion of key stages.3. Any work that is behind schedule & why.4. Any issues that need to be resolved.5. Any difficulties anticipated in the near

future.

To compile a project status report,

you will need the following information:



Important questions to ask when evaluating projects:

• Is the project on schedule?

• Is it within the allocated budget?

• Have the milestones been achieved?

• If not, what action has been taken to correct

the situation?



Monitoring Involves:

1. The time spent on project tasks.

2. The resources used (people, materials and

equipment).

3. Compliance with applicable quality

standards.



Possible actions that can be taken to rectify problems:

1. Split key stages to avoid each following another in sequence when there is no necessity to have one in place before the next.

2. Re-evaluate dependencies in your logic diagram.

3. Make use of slack time to speed up tasks.

4. Minimise duplication of effort.

5. Renegotiate lengthened time scales if an unanticipated problem caused delay that cannot be recovered.

6. Decrease staff to increase other resources.



Current problems with project performance...




2 Questions!!!

Do our cost calculations correctly reflect reality of the project?

Do our cost values effectively represent the effort which was spent to execute the project?




Problems in project cost measurement:

• There is no way to directly measure project costs.• Project cost measurement is always an indirect

process, sometimes very indirect.• Behind project cost measurement are human

beings who can make mistakes and misinterpret the rules.

• In worst cases, there could be humans who have an interest in distorting cost values.



Reducing

Project

Duration




Advantages of reducing project duration

• It saves cost (long term);

• It enhances organisational growth and expansion;

• It enables the organisation to move on with other

core business activities; and

• It enhances overall organisational effectiveness

and productivity.



One effective way to reduce project duration is to shorten the

dependency flow of project tasks.

Copyright © 2012: Derek Hendrikz Consultingwww.derekhendrikz.com


options to Accelerate Project completion:

• Adding of resources;• Outsourcing project work;• Scheduling overtime;• Establishment of a core project team;• Do it twice – Fast & Correctly;• Fast track dependencies and critical paths;• Brain-storm time savers;• Reduce the project scope;• Phase the project delivery; and• Compromise quality.



Project Leadership






Managing Project Change

Win support & agreement to proposed changes to the plan

Update the Plan

Collect monitoring information

Compare for variance

Identify causes, develop options, plan actions

Standard: The Project Plan
















Resistance to change – often caused by:

• Conflict of interest.

• Low tolerance to change.

• Differing assessments of the need for

change.

• Misunderstanding or lack of trust.



se7ven Laws of Redundancy

1. We’re different

2. We’re the same

3. Do what worked yesterday!

4. Mediocre is good enough

5. Mistakes = Failure

6. Goodness of sameness

7. We know our business…..www.derekhendrikz.com




Stay Relevant through Power Leading

1. Lead from the front…

2. If you take the fame…

you’ve gotta take the blame..

3. DO NOT… Major in Minors…





Effective Communication will insure that:

1. The project team responds to the changing

needs of the project and works to the best of

their ability.

2. You get the information you need to help you

monitor and control project tasks.

3. The stakeholders respond positively to the

progress of the project, and remain committed

to its success. www.derekhendrikz.com


Managing Conflict:

Treat conflict as a perceptual difference.

Place your own assumptions on ice.

‘First seek to understand – then to be

understood’.

Separate people from problems.

Go for win-win solutions.




Leadership & Management

Project Execution and Leadership by Derek Hendrikz