IT project managers need a new mindset and new management practices to accommodate new corporate expectations that seek to align project objectives with strategic business benefits.
Research Methods
We interviewed 57 experienced and successful project managers from Canada, U.S., U.K. and New Zealand to understand their mindsets and distil that information into key personal qualities and principles of thought for advancing IT management practices.
Findings
There are nine principles that are shaping the development of practice among thought-leading project managers.
These are:
Focus on ultimate value
Identify at a deep personal level with project goals
Invest in trust
Devolve responsibility to the team
Adapt continually
Develop people
Orient the project to learning
Develop creativity and innovation
Take a pro-active view
Recommendations
These nine principles can be used in recruiting and selecting forward-thinking project managers
The nine principles are also a valuable foundation for designing training and development programs that can enhance personal qualities that are under-developed.
Is the mindset we describe just for exceptional programmes of high strategic importance or is it appropriate for everyday projects?
In your experience, how common is it for project managers to exhibit this kind of mindset?
Do you think some dispositions matter more than others? Which ones?
Are there dispositions or principles that we have overlooked?
