Comments on: Microsoft Project Does Not Make a Project Manager

By: soni

soni — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:44:33 +0000

If this is the case PM does not know what needs to be managed and what tools are there to facilitate let’s make him CEO of company!!

Seriously even a startup PM has to manage Time Cost Scope along with day to day monitoring and control and MS Project is such a nice tool (if you have planned your tracking well (indicators, color change conditions) that as PM you need to do nothing much. He can pay attention to things which are of priority!

soni
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By: Tadek

Tadek — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:02:05 +0000

I agree. People usually mixing tools and methods. In organisations which are want to be more Project oriented there is no clear view : what really can help us ?
Just see http://rutube.ru/tracks/1273294.html?v=270f3bbc525c9bdcc189a8a36c9a4925

By: Jessica Perry

Jessica Perry — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:03:30 +0000

Really nice post, I agree with you. Apart from having best project management software like ms project 2010, you should know how to use it effectively. New Microsoft project 2010 site offers many videos and demos of project management. It’s important to understand different features, tools of such software and how to use it efficiently.

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:12:14 +0000

Microsoft Project is simply a tool. Having a hammer and a saw does not make you a carpenter.

Great article!

By: Ayman

Ayman — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:47:18 +0000

I agree with you Kareem, although i can not believe that there are project managers who don’t know what a critical path is ???!!!.
Anyway I believe that PM is an art not just a lot of principals or even thousands of tools.

By: Kareem

Kareem — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:04:53 +0000

Hello Khalil, it’s not about what tool the project manager is using, there’s been no project management tools in the ancient world when great buildings have been built, these buildings that still stand tall teach a great example about quality and that a tool doesn’t ensure a successful project

Thank you.

By: International Institute of Project Management Coaching

International Institute of Project Management Coaching — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:09:33 +0000

Excellent post Kareem. Microsoft #Project is a tool used by project managers, not unlike a white board is used by a teacher or a professional during a presentation. Using it doesn’t make you a PM, nor does using a white board making you a teacher. However, it can be a valuable tool to help the PM organize and communicate.

By: Khalil Aleker

Khalil Aleker — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:13:54 +0000

Well written and true indeed. 7 Years in Project Management, I have experienced different kinds of Project Managers.

Managing the software properly, does NOT mean you a good PM. I know a PM using just an Excel spreadsheet, however an excellent PM.

Thanks for this reminder.

By: Mohammed Al-Taee

Mohammed Al-Taee — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:55:58 +0000

Agree with your message. FOCUS on people, not technology. PM softwares will not make a PM, period.

By: Mohamed Gad

Mohamed Gad — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:08:20 +0000

Kareem, this is related to the culture, yes, I have seen the same, and I have seen people struggling with MS Project just to do a simple plan just to prove that they are PMs .

MS Project and MS Project Servers are just tools to aid PMs doing their work correctly and in the same time helps in book-keeping, historical tracking and in the same time MS Project Server helps on keeping everybody (Stakeholders) up to date.

PMI states that PMIS (Project Management Information System) – like MS Project Server – is one of the Enterprise Environmental Factors, and a tool in Configuration Management Plans used from initiating till closing.

So, basically, I agree with you, PM needs a lot more to be a PM.

Regards,

MAG