Lesson 4: Project Management Methodologies
Developing Your Own Methodology
Part of the real fun of being a Project Manager is that, with experience and education, you can start to develop your own methodology for managing projects. This is something like a tradesperson who, while meeting quality standard worthy of her/his profession, has a certain approach to their work that they enjoy and have used with success. If a customer, or sponsor, has their own methodology that they want you to use (if you do any work with the government, expect this sort of thing), then that's fine, you can adopt any methodlogy that is competent.
However, you will find situations where you will have a chance to advocate a certain methodology, and this is where you can really enjoy applying what you know and helping shape the project that you are managing.
There is no rulebook to follow for developing your own project management methodology. Simply keep a journal or workbook of your experiences, and add to it throughout your career. Perhaps you discovered that in some fields, the concept phase tended to be more eventful than others, or that for projects in matrix organizations, it can be helpful to set up a Project Management Office to help coordinate communications. And so on.
Developing your own methodology (or enhancing an existing one) is truly one of the best things about being a Project Manager; it makes every experience worthwhile, because you are adding to your understanding of your craft.
In the next lesson, we will embark on a simple 10-step general project management methodology which is based on the Lewis Method by James P. Lewis. This will be a nice, simple, illustrative 10-step methodology. Remember, you can use any methodology that your team wishes and that your project will benefit from, including the Lewis Method (just please remember to give Dr. Lewis credit where it is due, as I am).
