Introduction
IT project managers need a new mindset and new management practices to accommodate new corporate expectations that seek to align project objectives with strategic business benefits.
Research Methods
We interviewed 57 experienced and successful project managers from Canada, U.S., U.K. and New Zealand to understand their mindsets and distil that information into key personal qualities and principles of thought for advancing IT management practices.
Findings
There are nine principles that are shaping the development of practice among thought-leading project managers.
These are:
- Focus on ultimate value
- Identify at a deep personal level with project goals
- Invest in trust
- Devolve responsibility to the team
- Adapt continually
- Develop people
- Orient the project to learning
- Develop creativity and innovation
- Take a pro-active view
Recommendations
- These nine principles can be used in recruiting and selecting forward-thinking project managers
- The nine principles are also a valuable foundation for designing training and development programs that can enhance personal qualities that are under-developed.
