It is a risky strategy to design critical enterprise solutions around people, including solutions for project management. The complexity and size of many enterprise level projects will almost certainly ensure that there will be training issues no matter what qualification people have. This can be overcome with a clear and logical setup that goes beyond personnel specific know-how.  

Even more so, if you involve multiple technical systems like SAP-PS and Primavera or MS Project people will be experts in the use of these tools but not necessarily in the overall process. Terminology may be used inconsistently, processes break, reconciliations take time, and so on.

What is important is to set up a technical and organizational system that incorporates technical aspects and business processes in a consistent manner, crossing all business functions of project management. To achieve that the overall solution needs to cover all functional areas (e.g., structure, costs, schedule, resources) and layers (enterprise, project, contractor). Terminology needs to be defined clearly, the data flow needs to be described, and reports and analysis procedures should be standardized.  

It should not be left open to the individual project management professionals how they build their project structures, what tool they use for what function, or what reports look like that are the basis for status or progress analyses. Defining each aspect of the process clearly and in detail will ensure that company and process-specific "best practice" standards can be introduced and constantly improved upon, and process know-how is being built in the system itself and not just with individuals.

Comprehensiveness and attention to detail is key. There may be a misperception that such an approach will take something away from the value of the contribution of project management professionals and team members. It is the opposite, though.

Once the overall picture is clear and debates over technical systems, functional aspects and processes are over, the focus can be on properly analyzing and interpreting data. Reconciliations and status updates will be more meaningful, and thinking, experience and intellectual capabilities will be helping to make the correct business decisions and drive project-centric organizations forward.

Copyright © 2007 Competitive Edge International, Inc.