"Hands-On Project Management"

Whenever I read job posts for Project Manager, there is a wide variation or misuse of this term. Would you hire a Project Manager without appropriate credentials, skills, and experience? Why do I keep seeing postings for Project Managers with 1 - 3 years experience? How much of a budget will you entrust to such a junior level person? In actual fact, the hiring manager is recruiting a "Task Manager" at best, who will not have budget authority, hire/fire responsibilities, who will not manager people, but more likely will coordinate tasks, go for coffee and doughnuts, etc. Can you imagine a Project Manager with 3 years experience leading a project such as the Petronas Towers? This is one of my favorite all-time great projects which had 2 extremely experienced Project Managers (one for each tower!).

I recently spoke with the C-level of a firm that feels happy enough to use the term "global" in its corporate appellation, as well as its search for a "Global" Project Manager. During our talk about my credentials, skills and experience I was bombarded with what seemed to be a accusation, "I don't see where you have been "hands-on" anywhere in your resume. While he never gave his definition of "hands-on," I spent about 10 minutes trying to determine what he meant before I decided I was talking to a box of rocks and hung up. I suppose he was speaking about some depth of technical experience but failed to communicate that when using jargon.

"Hands-on" as a project manager? What did he mean?

1. "Hands-on" as a member of the Project Management Office?

2. "Hands-on" as a member of some part of the organization the PMO had a service level agreement (SLA) with?

3. "Hands-on" as any number of technical staff from telecom engineer, software developer, network engineer, tester, QA manager, release manager, and so it goes. I think this generally is what he meant in between his personal insults (a great management tactic used by drill sergeants on unsuspecting recruits everywhere!)

Asking if I was "hands-on" is a really poor way of trying to communicate. It shows more of what a person does not know, while expecting the listener to "fill in the blanks" or "connect the dots." This kind of double speak reminds of the very funny FedEx advertising campaign a few years back. "Run it up the flag pole to Rizzo!"

Solution #1 - Our communication in Project Management must be clear, concise and technical where appropriate.

There are several problems when a Project Manager role is "underfilled" by someone who is "hands-on":

1. Title does not match the actual years of experience/accomplishments

2. Years of experience does not match problem to be solved

3. Role as defined does not match an equitable salary

4. Credentials do not match those needed for the role

5. Required project results do not match the planned-for level of project effort

Risk #1 - If being "hands-on" means having a Project Manager serve other roles and do tasks more properly assigned to other roles on a project, there will be a true lack of project management capability and project maturity. That means the organization is not ready to undertake the project at all.

Risk #2 - If the expectation of the C-level is to use a Project Manager as "hands-on" in #3 above, then C-level does not have an adequate understanding of Project Management and will not enjoy project success. So at the "end of the day" time, money, people are wasted. Then the "re-work" must be done. Again, more time, money, and people are wasted. Expensive project indeed!

Solution #2 - Aligning and optimizing the Project Manager's credentials, skills and experience is key to project success. Afterwards the Project Manager must do the same task in recruiting the PMO team, and project teams.

Here is a link to an article you may enjoy about the 4 types of Project Managers/Projects:

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9182234_ITM

In the long run, I think the C-level was trying to tell me his projects are all in complete disarray and total chaos. And, that he wanted someone to fix it all overnight, for the salary he would pay a person with 3 years experience. I wish him good luck finding that person!