Reference no: EM133587165
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this week's discussion is to explore the interrelated nature of the art and science of project management. In many ways, the science-side enables the information that solidifies the art-side while the art-side enables understanding of the science. In essence, the art and science represent the Yin and Yang of project management.
The intention of this week's discussion is to explore further the concept of art and science and your thinking on this relationship with respect to managing projects.
Background
Last week's overview (Overview: Week 6) introduced the concept of the "art and science" of project management:
The art-side was suggested to represent the critical soft skills that enable project managers to foster relationships, motivate project team members, communicate, and inspire successful outcomes.
The science-side was suggested as the mechanics of effective project management and concentrates on the use of data and facts to plan, execute, and control the delivery of a project.
Effective project managers recognize that art and science have a mutual relationship and leverage soft skills and mechanics to enable successful project outcomes.
Assignment
Reflect on the concept of the art and science of project management and present a scholarly argument based on your agreement or disagreement with the concept:
Do you agree with the concept? If so, please share an experiences of where you observed the art and science of project management in motion. Explain how and why art and science was useful and contributed to the experience.
Do you disagree (and please be comfortable in doing so) with the concept? If so, use examples from your experience to elaborate on your rationale for disagreeing with the concept. Please state which dimension you believe is more important and explain why.
Example:
The Art and Science of Project Management
Introduction
Effective project management is driven by two core and interrelated components often know as the "art and science" of managing projects. Science represents the quantitative nature of the project management and is enabled by the controlling actions of the project manager. Art aligns with the relational skills that enable effective teaming when seeking successful outcomes. Effective project management emerges when project managers optimize and balance the interrelationship between art and science.
Optimizing Art and Science
Project managers maintain the dual responsibility of managing and leading when accountable for projects. Managing embodies the responsibility of ensuring a project achieves its success metrics (i.e., scope, budget, and time) when seeking an alignment between outcomes and expectations (Yukl, 2013; PMI, 2017). Leading represents an ability to inspire and motivate others through behaviors and actions and results in positive responses to the needs of the project (Uhl-Bien, Marion & McKelvey, 2007). Achieving the success metrics links directly to the outcomes delivered by the team and reflective of the project manager's ability to optimize the art and science. An effective project manager recognizes art and science are not independent components nor will having exceptional strength in one dimension overcome deficiencies in the other. An effective project manager embraces the importance of optimizing art and science and understands that the ability to be relational strengths opportunities to enable controls and vice versa.
Exemplifying Art and Science
The tension between art and science was a recurring challenge that emerged during my days leading a project management office. Finding project managers who balanced art and science effectively was a challenge. Internal training was successful in building science skills. However, art was not easily taught and seemingly emerged as an outcome of experience and confidence.
Our solution was to align better the project manager's experiences to the needs of a project. Our goal was to enable an environment where success was achievable and help build self-confidence. This approach proved helpful when seeking opportunities to optimize art and science and promote effective project management.