Try standardization
ADVISORY ARTICLE
By Manuel M. Ancizu Beramendi
Pamplona, Spain
Abstract
In this article, the author exposes different pain points affecting project management and identifies ten benefits that standardization can provide to develop projects that combine speed and a robust consistent approach.
Introduction
I must admit that I am an advocate of standards and their enormous potential in the field of projects, programs and portfolios management.
We’ve all been there, does any of these situations sound familiar to you?:
- You are leading several projects in parallel and each one is managed differently, team members prepare their own documents according to different criteria, use their own tools and methodologies… and you go crazy with reports.
- You have new team members and you have neither enough time to train them nor even have a manual to offer them; you have to explain everything in one-to-one sessions, with a pen, a notebook or a video call… and the newcomer gets disappointed and you cannot move forward with your own activities.
- There are several active projects with the same client and each focal point sends the client different formats for the same subject; and the client asks you, do you all work in the same company?
- You have to issue a formal letter to a client related to a contract and you don’t know where to start, you can’t find a standard template, with logo, sample presentation, etc. And, what’s worse, other colleagues have to issue the same type of letter for other contracts and they do exactly the same: each one creates, prepares and issues the documents according to their own knowledge and what they think may be the best. For sure, not efficient at all.
- You finish one project, start the following one and realize that the scope has not taken into account one of the key lessons learned from the previous project.
- You are in charge of submitting bids for new projects and you have to start each one from scratch because you don’t have a system to save previous offers submitted or a data-base from which to start and customize from there. You end up frustrated and with that feeling of always being at the starting point, of not moving forward.
There are many other examples and some of them certainly happened to me too… until I found the standards. This concept is used to define something that can be taken as a reference, pattern or model.
Activities, methods, processes, templates, forms, tools, communications, documents, metrics, training… in short, anything that is part of a recurring activity has the potential to be standardized.
Body of paper
Are you ready to go through some of its benefits?
- Standard methodologies
A standard methodology drives your project management through four elements that reinforces each other in a positive manner:
More…
To read entire article, click here
How to cite this article: Ancizu Beramendi, M. M. (2021). Want projects to move fast and robust? Try standardization, PM World Journal, Vol. XI, Issue III, March. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/pmwj115-Mar2022-Ancizu-want-projects-to-move-fast-and-robust-try-standardization.pdf
About the Author
Manuel Ancizu
Pamplona, Spain
Human leadership, Global Sustainable Projects, Renewable energy, Story-teller, Keynote speaker, Lifetime learner, Risk management, Standardization
Manuel Ancizu is passionate about human leadership, sustainable projects and people’s motivations. Enjoys working in international multicultural environments and wants to have a positive impact in society.
Manuel graduated in Economics from University of Navarra and obtained an MBA from IESE Business School (Spain); he has also studied in CEIBS (China) and University Anahuac del Sur (Mexico). He holds a number of professional certificates such as the PMP by Project Management Institute, Lead Auditor in ISO 9001:2015 by IRCA Association and has also received training in Management of Development Projects and Risk Management by Interamerican Development Bank (IDB).
Manuel has lived in Spain, France, UK and Mexico; he currently works in the wind energy sector leading the quality management of Offshore projects. Manuel has been involved in wind energy renewable projects developed in different parts of the globe with external customers, as well as in internal projects of cultural transformation, IT and global processes.
Thanks to his experience, he has delivered training sessions, lectures and keynotes to a different number of institutions.
Manuel is a qualified member of the Spanish Standardization Body (UNE) and has been involved in the development of Standards and Norms in Projects, Programs and Portfolios; he has also participated in the translation of different ISO 21500 to Spanish language.
Manuel loves smiling, storytelling, dreaming and making ideas come true in a sustainable manner.
Manuel lives in Pamplona, Spain and can be contacted at manuel@manuelancizu.com
