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andy murray
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Joined: 10/April/2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4
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| Posted: 19/April/2007 at 10:25am | IP Logged
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There's no doubt that The Apprentice is a gripping programme and full of good business lessons.
But a few things are starting to annoy me.
The first is that they use the term 'project manager' for the team leader. Can a three day task which includes a one day 'event' really be a project?
The second was in last night's episode - (5) The Art of Selling - the candidates were tasked with making and selling sweets at London Zoo. The main criticism of the losing Project Manager was that he should have gone more hands-on. The PM (Adam) chose to wear a Lion's outfit to attract people to their stand and so that he could keep an eye on how the rest of his team were performing. A commendable strategy in my view.
But, Sir Alan Surgar, his aide, and the CEO of Woolworth's (Trevor Bish-Jones) were unanimous in their view that as the most qualified sales person in the team Adam should have spent less time in the lion's outfit and more time as part of the sales team. I find this strange. I bet Woolworth's shareholders would be less than impressed if Trevor Bish-Jones abandoned his management team and headed along to operate a till at one of his stores. Likewise, what separates Sir Alan from Clive Sinclair is that he governs his business rather than participating in the engineering activity of his company's products.
I was wondering what % of time do you think project managers should spend 'doing' some part of the project compared to 'managing'?
Is there a % that's too little or too high?
Regards
__________________
www.outperform.co.uk
"They don't see it as a risk until the bullet hits and kills them"
- Paul Daniels on When Magic Tricks Go Wrong
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David Shannon
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Joined: 25/January/2003
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 164
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| Posted: 14/June/2007 at 3:47pm | IP Logged
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Andy,
A good and topical point.
My view:
Management is getting things done through other people. Therefore by definition Project Management is managing others whether wearing a lion's uniform or not.
Time spent selling is a task within the project and therefore not project management, unless undertaken to improve motivation and communication or show leadership by example.
There should of course be a part of the Work Breakdown Structure that identifies the Project Management tasks.
Edited by David Shannon on 26/June/2007 at 2:51pm
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Regards
David Shannon
OPM
Tel: 020 7371 0344
david.shannon@oxfordprojectmanagement.com
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Governance of Project Management : Information
Topic: The Apprentice & Project Management
