Bringing Sanity to "Unclassfied" (Under Radar) Activities: Part 1, The Foundation
For the Purists
We’ll begin by saying that this entry is specifically aimed at “Maintenance” or “Operational” activities and can be considered Part 1 of a multi-part series on bringing sanity to these necessary and challenging activities.
Before the purists begin to revolt at my last statement, let me say that there is a dangerous fallacy in trying to manage Operational activities as "Projects" and that is precisely what I intend to discuss here.
I hope that quelled the uprising.
All humor aside, it is important to acknowledge that we are already on thin ice when we try to treat Operational activities as projects because, by shear definition, a project creates a unique product or service and has a definite beginning and end. This definition is in diametric opposition to the nature of Operational work.While it is not advisable to treat Operational work as “projects” and while I can appreciate the differences between the two types of activities, it is part and parcel of my job to try to find ways to apply the right amount of discipline to the right activities. This sometimes includes trying to apply some Project Management principles to “Real World” activities that may not fit nicely into the “Project Task” or “Operational Task” buckets.
The Bigger Question(s)
So, exactly how do we handle the type of work that arises on a day-to-day basis and competes for the attention of otherwise assigned Project Resources?
This is an extremely complex question and cannot be answered without understanding the totality of circumstances but we can begin by acknowledging that sometimes Project Resources are assigned to two pools of work; maintenance and systems health in addition to project activities. Again, a thin ice circumstance but a real world business problem nonetheless.
In the coming installments, we will focus on specific solutions but be assured that small projects and certain types of “unclassified” (under radar) activities can benefit from PM Disciplines more than one might think. In fact, it may be the answer to your current project quandary.
Stay Tuned, More to come!