The Project Management Kung Fu Theater
Kerry R. Wills, PMP
Director
The Hartford Financial Services Group
Objectives
How many people have seen a classic Kung
Fu movie?
• Project Management resembles these
Objectives
• Identify different styles
• Discover new techniques for being effective
• Come away with a different way of thinking
Kung Fu Theater
What are Characteristics of Kung Fu
Movies?
•Story
•Superhuman moves
•Different techniques
•Words not matching lips
Just like Project Management
The Styles
Dragon
Cat
Snake
Monkey
Crane
The Styles
Dragon
•Aggressive
•Breathes fire
•Direct
•Fear is a motivator
The Styles
Crane
•Stick out their necks
•Take risks
•Anything is possible
The Styles
Snake
•Sneaky
•Doesn’t give out information
•Good talkers
The Styles
Monkey
•Gregarious
•Everyone’s friend
•Team camaraderie
The Styles
Cat
•Cautious
•Reluctant to act quickly
•Likes all information
The Styles
When Would You Use Each Style?
Use
•Expectations set, but
not met
•Work not done
Don’t Use
•Early in project
•Experienced team
The Styles
When Would You Use Each Style?
Use
•Creative projects
•Deadlines not critical
Don’t Use
•Schedule constraints
•Big implications
The Styles
When Would You Use Each Style?
Use
•Minor problems
Don’t Use
•Big problems
•Early in project
The Styles
When Would You Use Each Style?
Use
•Early in project
•Stress reliever
Don’t Use
•Problems that
require addressing
The Styles
When Would You Use Each Style?
Use
•Need to consider
big implications
Don’t Use
•Minor decisions
•Info not available
The Styles
What other styles can you think of?
•The Drunken Monkey
•The Chameleon
Practice and Discipline
•Practice is necessary to attain mastery
•Can’t learn from a Kung Fu book
•You want to take some punches
•Experience is the best teacher
•Discipline is critical to success
•The 36 Chambers
•Frameworks
36 Chambers
Understand of all aspects of a project
1. Scoping – Business case writing
19.
2. Scoping – CBA creation
20.
3. Scoping – Estimation
21.
4. Scoping – Resource Planning
22.
5. Scoping – Product/Vendor Analysis 23.
6. Req – Business Process Redesign
24.
7. Req – Use Case writing
25.
8. Req – UML Diagrams
26.
9. Req – Rules mining
27.
10.Req – Context Diagramming
28.
11.Des – Designing systems
29.
12.Des – Logical Data Modeling
30.
13.Des – Test Planning
31.
14.Des – Usability Testing
32.
15.Des – Infrastructure planning
33.
16.Des – Organizational Impact Analysis 34.
17.Build – Coding
35.
18.Build – Unit Testing
36.
Build – Assembly Testing
Build – Test Script Writing
Build – Implementation Planning
Test – System Testing
Test – Regression Testing
Implement – Release Management
Management – Project planning
Management – Budget tracking/analysis
Management – Executive presentations
Management – Conflict resolution
Management – Meeting facilitation
Management – Team empowerment
Management – Vendor management
Management – Risk management
Management – Issue management
Management – Change Management
Management – Resource Coordination
Management – Communication
Unexpected Punches
There will always be unexpected punches
•The master always took a beating first
•Experience and training will prepare you
•You know some will land
•Risk Management
Breaking Boards
Who knows how to break boards?
• Aim for six inches beyond the target
• You still need to hit the target
• Focus on the short term and long term goals
Five Deadly Venoms
“5 Deadly Venoms” of Projects
1. Not having proper sponsorship
2. No process rigor
3. Not taking ownership
4. Wrong match of people
5. Not empowering the team
Voice-Overs
Words don’t always match lips
Original
Voice-Over
The project is going well
The project is going great
The project has problems
The project is in trouble
The project is going great
The project is going great
We pray that we can do it
We have a plan
The project will never work The project has some risks
The team is looking on
Monster.com
We have some potential show
stoppers
Summary
•PMs are Super-human warriors
•Use the techniques when appropriate
•Continue to work on practice and
discipline
•There will still be some kicks
•Watch for the venoms
• Make sure your words match your lips
Keep the cauldrons warm
Contact Information
Kerry R. Wills, PMP
Kerry.Wills@thehartford.com
1-860-547-5268