Date post: | 11-Jul-2015 |
Category: |
Business |
Upload: | igor-kokcharov |
View: | 155 times |
Download: | 6 times |
PROJECT MANAGER’S COMMON PITFALLS STS RESEARCH REPORT 2014
Igor Kokcharov, PhD, PMP
About this report
The purpose of the report is to highlight the domains where project managers have more difficulties and lack of professional skills.
The difficulty of scientific analysis in project management is linked to the diversity that exists in the project management profes-
sion. Most defining characteristics of complexity in projects are multiple stakeholders (57%), ambiguity of project features (48%),
significant authority influence (35%), unknown project features (33%) and others [1].
Data mining tools
Effective analysis can be done through data mining of project simulations. The advantage of a simulation is the possibility to repeat
critical situations quickly and without incurring financial losses and develop skills via collaboration. Modern project simulations
Albasim, Cayenne, Cesim, Fissure, PM Simulation, Prendo, Sharkworld, Simventure, Simultrain®, SMG, Topsim and others [2] are
widely used for corporate professional training. Project manager’s decisions are analysed by studying the chosen options and pro-
ject performance in the business game SimulTrain® [3]. The result is based on the analysis of 2054 simulations (8000+ attendees);
75% from Germany, France, and Switzerland; 50% are corporate training and 50% are business school classes; on average 483
interactions per simulation (1 interaction per minute).
Results of PMP® Simulation tests are analysed by studying the percentage of wrong answers. The tests were made by 500 project
managers in Europe in 2013 and first half of 2014 [4].
Project Managers Common Pitfalls
The results of project simulations show the differences between participants’ choices and experts’ opinions. The analysis highlights
the major shortcomings of project delivery, decision making, and risk reaction and lists the common mistakes made by managers
[6]. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the managers’ proactive behaviour and risk prevention attitudes, as well as investing into
communication and team development result in better project performance.
Number of decisions, its frequency does not affect the overall project performance index; however it is an important factor for risk
management performance.
SEVEN MISSING MANAGERIAL SKILLS
• Proactive use of communication; • Adapting to different stakeholder requests;• Honestly informing the team about project;• Spending money to prevent risks; • Involving the team in decision making;• Investing into team development;• Avoiding micro-management.
RISK MANAGEMENT PITFALLS LACK OF
• Regular project plan updates;• Involvement of external expertise;• Planning/preparation of alternative technical solutions;• Team development to avoid missing qualifications.
THE MOST DIFFICULT PMP® EXAM QUESTIONS ARE
Knowledge areas:• Quality Management
• Integration Management• Time Management
Process group:• Planning
PMP® Examination common mistakes
Results of PMP® Simulation tests are analysed by studying the percentage of wrong answers. The tests were made by 500
project managers in Europe in 2013 and first half of 2014 [4]. The participants used exam simulator X-AM [4] that includes 1035
questions similar to PMP examination questions [5]. There are more visits for Stakeholder Management questions compared to
other topics. The analysis highlights the weak areas of exam preparation: Quality Management, Integration Management, Time
Management, and Planning process group [4]. For example, people respond wrong on 17% of Quality Management questions,
even after several attempts.
Overall Performance, % index vs. Number of decisions Risk Management Index, % vs Number of decisions
020406080
100120140160180200
0 50 100 150 200 250
Risk Management Index vs. Decisions
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Average Score vs. Decisions
The percentage of Knowledge Areas (A) and Process Groups (B) questions among 100 questions with the lowest success rate.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Planning
Monitoring & Control
Executing
Closing
Initiating
A) 0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Time ManagementIntegration Management
Quality ManagementProcurement Management
Human Resources ManagementCummunication Management
Scope ManagementFramework
Cost ManagementRisk Management
Stakeholder Management
B)
Literature
1. PMI’s Pulse of the Profession in-Depth Report: Navigating Complexity. September 2013.
2. List of Project Management Simulations http://pmgames.tuxfamily.org
3. SimulTrain® http://www.simultrain.com
4. A. Gontran, G. Zumbrunnen, I. Kokcharov, STS Internal Report, July 2014.
5. PMP® exam simulator X-AM http://www.sts.ch/en/products/certification/x-am-pmp-capm
6. I. Kokcharov Using Business Simulation to Analyze Project Management Decision Making. Proceeding of 45th
International Simulation and Game Association Conference, Dornbirn, Austria, 2014, p.313-318. ISBN: 978-3-7639-5420-9
COPYRIGHT STS 2014PMI AND PMP ARE REGISTERED MARKS OF THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE, INC.
STS SAUTER TRAINING & SIMULATION SA
Avenue de la Gare 101003 Lausanne
Switzerland
Phone: +41 21 510 11 50Fax: +41 21 351 86 83Email: [email protected]: www.sts.ch