The role of IT professionals is to help users get the most value from their systems. If IT systems aren’t working efficiently or correctly, it isn’t just an “IT Problem” and the nice folks in IT can’t solve it effectively without user participation.
Payson Hall is a consulting project manager for Catalysis Group, Inc. in Sacramento, California. Payson consults on project management issues and teaches project management. Email Payson at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter at @paysonhall.
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IT managers often begin their careers as engineers, problem solvers, and innovators. If you are a technical person who aspires to a management role you must learn to embrace and work with budget and priority constraints.
Many people resist writing and are out of practice, but small improvements can make a big difference. If you would rather go to the dentist than write a one-page report, these tips are for you.
Make sure that your change management process is clearly outlined at the beginning of a project and use it when there are unforced errors to get concessions from a vendor when the fault is clearly on their side.
Because of vendor firm expertise at blame management, clients need to be vigilant and proactive about managing systems integration efforts.
If you are aware of your vendor’s motivations it helps you understand their behavior and can be a real asset when you negotiate with them.
When a project manager is confused, sometimes the problem is the situation and not the PM.