Evolving PM: from the Sin to the Virtue

1

Antonio Cobo @Mind_of_AC

21/11/2016

2

How many?

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Recruiters

• Developers

• Scrum masters

• Business analysts

• Project managers

3

Why this talk?

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

http://dilbert.com/strip/2000-04-29

4

What’s that accent?

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

5

Who am I?

Antonio Cobo - @Mind_of_ACAgile Delivery Consultant at OpenCredo

• Agile, Architecture, CI/CD, DevOps • Delivering business outcomes via the application of emerging technology

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

6

The 7 deadly sins of PM’s

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

7

Gluttony

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Say constantly “Yes” to the sponsors

• Say constantly “No” to the developers

• Missing the big picture

8

Greed

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Bend the acceptance criteria to add more features once the ticket is already in progress

• Add functionality out of scope into the project without amending the cost/time

• Put success of the project on the PM

9

Lust

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Focus on being on time on reporting and not on the content of the report (often with inaccurate information - colour reporting)

• Ask the team to stay late to compensate bad planning (often going home first!)

10

Envy

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Dictate what the project needs (even “copying” another PM’s project)

• Quantity first (so, that project has the X and Y features… my project too!)

11

Anger

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Point fingers to others blaming them

• Shout at the developers!

• Even shout at the sponsors!

12

Pride

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Unwilling to change (I’ve been doing this for more than 20 years, I don’t need to change!)

• Not listening to others

13

Sloth

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Not looking to find a solution

• Lack of transparency (I’ll change the actual numbers to keep my job safe! I don’t update the report from last week)

• Assume the project manager will be updated

• Avoid trying to understand the team

• Wait for deliverables

• NOT MOVING!

14

The 7 heavenly virtues PM’s need

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

15

Chastity

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Say “No” to the sponsors

• Willing to change and improve their way of managing the project

• Sponge of knowledge - no need to be an expert on every field, but understanding every team member is a key for success

16

Temperance

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Get the continuous improvement mindset within the team

• Don’t copy processes or behaviours from a different project/team to your current one.

• Be a servant leader removing impediments

17

Charity

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Ask the team what they need to work better/ be happier…

• and help them get it

• Keep morale high (small wins!)

18

Diligence

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Find the meaningful data for the sponsors

• Reports based on facts

• Understand the big picture

19

Patience

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Quality (value) over quantity!

• Ensure features released met the quality standards defined starting the project.

• Understand the risks raised by the team (don’t be afraid to ask several times)

20

Kindness

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Facilitate communication within the team

• Facilitate communication with other teams (build strong working relationships)

• Support & protect the team in bad moments

21

Humility

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

• Put yourself at the service of the team, making their day to day work easier

• Don’t take the credit for yourself!

• Accept feedback and improve with it

22

What should a project manager do?

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

23

What should a project manager do?

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

24

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

25

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

If you look after your staff,

they'll look after your customers.

It’s that Simple

the team

the sponsorsthe project

the sponsorsthe project

YOU!

26

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

Sound familiar?

• Vision

• Facilitator

• Servant Leader• Change advocate• Purpose• Coach

• Continuous Improvement

• Chastity

• Kindness

• Temperance• Charity• Diligence• Patience

• Humility

27

28

Thank you for listening!

Thanks to all the @OpenCredo team for allowing me to keep improving

Thanks to @BearmanCartoons for the Sins and Virtues!

29

Feedback wanted!

21/11/2016 @Mind_of_AC

@Mind_of_ACantonio.cobo@opencredo.com

www.opencredo.comWe are hiring!