Comments on: How Many Projects Are You Managing? http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html Management, especially good management, is hard to do. This blog is for people who want to think about how they manage people, projects, and risk. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:25:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Glen B. Alleman http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html#comment-21686 Glen B. Alleman Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:25:15 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html#comment-21686 One of the issues with anecdotes of course is they need a context and a business domain. A typical NASA program manager "manages" a program that has several 100 projects within it. Some projects are large subcontracts ($1B each) and some are inhouse activities. The number of projects a project manager can manage is completly dependent on several things: 1. Project and program architecture 2. Tools and process 3. Skill, experience, staff support 4. .... The management of multiple projects is called Program Management. It's a separate discipline from Project Management. The number is projects alone is likely irrelevant to a certain level. Joint Strike Fighter was "managed" by Adm. Craig Steidle, http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/Steidle_biography.html with relative success. maybe the PM you saw at the meeting was in a different position in his ability to cope with multiple projects. Adm. Steidle's MS in Systems Management is where may of us learned this trade in the mid-80's. One of the issues with anecdotes of course is they need a context and a business domain. A typical NASA program manager “manages” a program that has several 100 projects within it. Some projects are large subcontracts ($1B each) and some are inhouse activities.
The number of projects a project manager can manage is completly dependent on several things:
1. Project and program architecture
2. Tools and process
3. Skill, experience, staff support
4. ….
The management of multiple projects is called Program Management. It’s a separate discipline from Project Management. The number is projects alone is likely irrelevant to a certain level. Joint Strike Fighter was “managed” by Adm. Craig Steidle, http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/Steidle_biography.html with relative success. maybe the PM you saw at the meeting was in a different position in his ability to cope with multiple projects.
Adm. Steidle’s MS in Systems Management is where may of us learned this trade in the mid-80’s.

]]> By: Michael Henk http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html#comment-6145 Michael Henk Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:28:24 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html#comment-6145 With regards to "how many projects", can be worked on, I agree with the others before me in that it does depend how large and complex the projects are. It does reinforce to me the importance of resource assessment for project managers and project team members. Even when additional resources are not available, the opportunity to prioritize and que projects presents itself when an assessment of resources is done. If all projects are taken on without any regard to resource requirements, we get our focus divided among several projects and this creates a a very bad situtation. This situation can be and should be avoided where possible. There, all in one breath. With regards to “how many projects”, can be worked on, I agree with the others before me in that it does depend how large and complex the projects are. It does reinforce to me the importance of resource assessment for project managers and project team members. Even when additional resources are not available, the opportunity to prioritize and que projects presents itself when an assessment of resources is done. If all projects are taken on without any regard to resource requirements, we get our focus divided among several projects and this creates a a very bad situtation. This situation can be and should be avoided where possible.

There, all in one breath.

]]> By: Sameer Shaikh http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html#comment-6025 Sameer Shaikh Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:37:23 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html#comment-6025 I Agree... things that are not said simple are not understood at times.. so Yes the moment you have multiple projects to be managed you mitigate one project risks and you add up to another project, you are more worried about the projects running in crunch and you screw the projects running in target.. Whoaa... One thing at a time or all you get is a Dime!!!! regards Sameer Shaikh I Agree… things that are not said simple are not understood at times.. so Yes the moment you have multiple projects to be managed you mitigate one project risks and you add up to another project, you are more worried about the projects running in crunch and you screw the projects running in target.. Whoaa… One thing at a time or all you get is a Dime!!!!

regards
Sameer Shaikh

]]> By: Jim Ward http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html#comment-6021 Jim Ward Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:38:11 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html#comment-6021 Usually multi-project assignments are not limited to the project manager, the staff is assigned across several projects as well. This also is most common in functional or weak matrix organizations, where the project manager is expected to be little more than an expeditor, coordinator or administrator. As far as project work goes, you get what you pay for, which isn't much in these environments. Usually multi-project assignments are not limited to the project manager, the staff is assigned across several projects as well. This also is most common in functional or weak matrix organizations, where the project manager is expected to be little more than an expeditor, coordinator or administrator. As far as project work goes, you get what you pay for, which isn’t much in these environments.

]]> By: Jurgen Appelo http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html#comment-6004 Jurgen Appelo Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:48:02 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2008/03/how-many-projects-are-you-managing.html#comment-6004 I rather think that this view, though valuable, is a little too simplistic. Can a project manager manage only one project where the project consists of only one software developer? I don't think so. Can a project manager manage two of these projects? Yes, I think she can. Can she manage three of them? Maybe, maybe not. I think manageability is some (complicated) function of the number of projects and the average number of people working on them. Each of my project managers has responsibility for managing the work of *at most* eight software developers. These eight people may be working on two projects at the same time, or on five. But the amount of work completed in a week by a team, regardless of the number of projects, is always the same. I rather think that this view, though valuable, is a little too simplistic.

Can a project manager manage only one project where the project consists of only one software developer? I don’t think so.

Can a project manager manage two of these projects? Yes, I think she can.

Can she manage three of them? Maybe, maybe not.

I think manageability is some (complicated) function of the number of projects and the average number of people working on them.

Each of my project managers has responsibility for managing the work of *at most* eight software developers. These eight people may be working on two projects at the same time, or on five. But the amount of work completed in a week by a team, regardless of the number of projects, is always the same.

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