Involvement of Project Manager in Planning

I think schedule ’ownership’ goes beyond just the function of the PM. All the team members must ’own’ the schedule; I believe it is one of the PM’s primary functions to ensure this happens. We can risk-analyse schedules untill the cows come home but lack of schedule ownership (ie commitment) surely is the greatest schedule risk of all.

Hi Andy,



I completely agree with you. Unless the Project Manager ’buys into’ the programme and uses it as a working tool to facilitate the delivery of the project, then he/she and everyone else connected with the project is wasting their time. A guy I once worked with described the situation as "a lorry-load of fertiliser heading at high speed towards a giant fan."



Chris Oggham

Very interesting subject indeed, the discussion reminded me of a paper I read once or twice and here is a particularly poignant extract from that paper;



The extract is from a table of behaviours and desires (Good & Bad)



Who ‘Owns’ the program? – The Planner or the Project Manager?

By Ian Hodgson (23rd May 2005)



Project Manager; Best avoided (Bad)



The (Original Contract) program is pinned on his/her office wall for all to see. He/She is off attending meetings and doing the project in his/her own way and set of timings.



Project Manager; Preferred (Good)



Uses the programme as a working tool, to assist the ‘orchestration’ of the project delivery. Regularly reviews status with the TEAM, and agrees corrective actions as necessary to deliver the project.



No I feel that the project manager needs to embrace the plan, schedule, programme, ETC. If we as planners are accepting anything less than the full involvement as required from the PM then we may as well be using PowerPoint or excel to generate the all too familiar “Project Plan” that is presented at all the meetings, which is based on nothing other than the constrained views of a minority of project members.



Engagement is the key, the project as we all know works best as a team and in an environment when there is an agreed plan that everyone can buy into, (Not necessarily agree too), that the project will perform. As the ‘Project Manger’ it should be this person who directs the planning effort to happen, The planner is the person who identifies the subject matter experts who can provide the missing information in the plan, and then throw it together with staples, sticky tape, tarzan’s grip, string and what ever else ca be used as a binding agent.





Andy

Hi Keir,



from Series of your conversation, i can imagine one thing your PM is "MUST SEE CHARACTER".

Very raraly you can see such PM on earth





cheers,

Abhi

I cant believe, how somebody can make a program, if project manager is not involving into the program. PM is sole responsible for accomplishment of dates set in the program. If PM is not involved, who gives, the constraints and assumptions, How RA Bills are linked to your program, What @ cash-flow. Does cash-flow and program are independent. What @ sequencing?



Gary France has written in one of his papers. THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE INTELLIGBLE and IDIOT-Proof. So, a program should be always checked and verified by PM and COST manager before being circulated. I believe, this is 100% true. Without PM’s consent/approval, program should never be submitted, even it doesn’t matter how close ur client is to you.



My advsie would be to quit the job and till you get it, keep the program on PM’s table for approval.



Cheers,



Ravi

Dear Dieter,

i am not as experianced as you are.

but I fully agree with u r openion, as u said, Discussion amongst planner n PM is the best way for sorting out all issues.



Cheers,

Abhi

Hi Abhijit

There was a misunderstanding. No need for a pm to do the plan by himself, but they must be able to understand it. The plan and schedule are created by planner and scheduler - can be one person. PM must be involved - experienced pm’s are involved.

Sometimes I don’t believe planners as well, but in such a case there will be a discussion.

Regards

Dieter

Hey Good luck Kier,



Do well.



Dear Dieter,

yeah u said correctly, experianced PM take a look at the schedule and wt u ahve planned or do the plan by thr own,

but still thr are experianced PM,s exists who dont belive planners like Kier said, and they dont want at all to involve in to the planning process.



cheers,

Abhi

Good luck!

Dieter



p.s. I sent you a private message.

Hi kier,

it seems that you are an independent consultant - no boss to consult. Then I would ask for a meeting with the pm’s superior to hand-over the resignation. I think you have no chance for a successful work. This project won’t increase your list of references.



Hi Abhijit

It’s not a question of age, but of experience. Any experienced project manager is aware of the importance of planning and controlling. They even learned to calculate a schedule without a software.



Regards

Dieter

Hi

kier,



can u imagine if ur project manager says, he does not understand planning at all, he did not defend me, everytime i had to call someone from head office to come and defend me, to argue with consultant.

finally i took other way, i made friendship with consultant and then started defending myself and approved the schedule, with some changes and discarding some changes asked by consultant.

but finally i have decided to call it quit.



cheers



mangesh

Hi kier,



you seems to be in a big mess.

your PM must involve in planning process, not necessryly while preparing the program but atleast during the time of review of the chedule wt u have prepared.



If u r PM is the man around his 50s or 60s then he must be alergic to planning engineer n the program u have prepared.



but if he is @ his 40s n still not involving in the planning process then u have think seriously.



cheers,

Abhi

Hi Kier

Is there a chance to contact your management and to leave the job? I assume they don’t want to be involved in such a project. If not, do everything in a written form - with a copy to your boss.

Is the PM a politician? What does he care for: business dinners, trips to beautiful destinations?

Be strong, it will be dangerous for you!

Good luck!

Dieter

You are working for the wrong guy.

His project will fail.

It will end up looking like it’s your fault.