Project Management in all shapes and sizes

Posted by PM Majik

November 17, 2008

Most people associate Project Management with big business. Major corporations and Fortune 500, 20 and 5 companies already know the values of project management and have offices in place to support managers and processes. Small businesses usually over-look this critical detail. So should a small business invest in project management? Let’s find out…

The reasons many small businesses don’t fully embrace project management may be cost of over-head and the pre-concieved notion that project management is time consuming and a sunken cost. It is difficult to convince some smaller companies that there is benefit to putting that structure into place and proving value. It is sometimes easier for them to jot the plan down on a post it note and keep it simple. Offices may be small, people in-reach and no real fear of failing a process step. Failing a project deliverable is the concern and where the focus is. Failure is where project management and specific processes start to emerge. Many companies, even without a PMO, know how to “learn a lesson.”

Another trigger to implementing project management could be an increase in funding. As the small business starts to be successful and profits come in, the company may start to invest in processes, or wonder why ‘fix something that is not broken.’ However, in my experience, I have learned that if it is working, now is the time to break it! No comfort zones, no surprises!

There is no question that project management offices, with all their bureaucracies, come with a larger up front price tag. However, this ‘formality’ can be attrative because they can provide those predictable outcomes that executives love so much! Holding people accountable, enhanced communication and ultimately more success can make them start drooling!
All company culture is the same, as long as there are people working for them. People are naturally resistant to change, but it also stimulates growth. Break it and they will come! This is another form of “creative destruction” (see our previous post).

I recommend that all companies implement project management in some form or another. What is important is how you proceed. So, let’s start with small wins:

Problem solving – project management processes, templates, offices, tools – these can all be seen as solving a problem and an attempt to make their every day lives better and more efficient.
Natural talent – there are natural leaders already in your staff. Find them or let them come to you. Don’t insult your team by hiring external unless absolutely necessary
Start small – try running a full process in one department; Or start with one group of people that will play a specific role. The Big Bang has never worked!
Constant Communication – the idea is only as important as the attention and example you give.
Small wins – make sure that ideas and people are always recognized for making even the smallest effort. As processes start to prove their value on paper, share this information with your staff
Celebrate – Acknowledge the success!

The return on your investment? Small businesses have more to lose without scheduling to very tight guidelines. In order to achieve goals and achieve them quickly, you need to know your impacts before they happen and have complete control. Attention to deliverables and quality can have huge pay offs. Everything should be measured. As a small company, assuming that every single project came in on time, on schedule and on budget, is certainly different when you can say you can prove it!

One of favorite project management process inputs is Risk Management. I can’t imagine a world without it! No matter what size company you are, a little risk management can save a lot of fan cleaning, the only difference may be the size of the fan!

Project Management Office