LETTER TO THE EDITOR
10 September 2025
Ref: Kerzner, H., Zeitoun, A. (2025). The Need for Humor in Project Management, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue IX, September. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pmwj156-Sep2025-Kerzner-Zeitoun-the-Need-for-Humor-in-PM.pdf
Hi David,
In the late 1970s, I started doing research on project management humor for the books I planned on writing. Most of the proverbs and laws in the article Al and I wrote first appeared in the 2nd edition of my book, Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling, published by Van Nostrand Publishers in 1984. They appeared in several later editions of my book as well in the 1980s and 1990s, published by John Wiley and Sons when they bought out the rights to this book from Van Nostrand.
I have used humor when appropriate in my project management lectures worldwide for more than 45 years. Many of the humorous laws and proverbs were provided by seminar participants over several decades. I have always enjoyed sharing humor with colleagues and students.
Getting together with you and others to share jokes would be a pleasure.
Do you know which people make the worst project managers?
Answer: Vampires, because they refuse to work with stakeholders.
So much for this morning’s attempt at humor.
Best wishes,
Harold Kerzner
California, USA
