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Created by : M NITIN SHENOY, PMP, IPMA-D, CEng MICE, Manager  | 03 16 2009 09:06:05 +0000
Industry : ConstructionFunctional Area : Project Management(Technology)
Activity:  1468 views;  last activity : 11 15 2012 07:12:08 +0000

What does success of Project Management depend on in a MACRO Level..?

1. That is PM Tools and Techniques :  CPM, PERT, CCPM, MS Project, MIS, Primevara,SAP, Gantt Charts, Monte Carlo Simulations. Risk Registers, WBS, Risk - Probability Impact Matrix, Organization Structure, Project Charter, Project Schedule, Project Plan.... etc.

2. Mere Experience:  Just the past Experience in handling Projects is Enough. Experience here doesn't mean experience in handling PM Tools / techniques, but a sheer confidence in handling Projects on his own way.

 
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PM Tools & Techniques...!!! Vs Mere Experience in Projects ...!!!
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Top Argument
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Project Management Tools are absolutley necessary . With the help of this those who have " Analytic ability and Reasoning " can take corrective actions and make necessary decisions . As is always said a Project Manager needn't necessarily be a Technical man , he should know how to get things done . Technicality helps , abut PM tools helps in taking decisions


By SRINIVAS CHADA, Consultant, STRATEGIC PLANNING & COST ENGINEERS , MUMBAI  03 16 2009 14:00:57 +0000
 
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When you are talking about Macro level then the obvious answer is mere experience. There were so many projects successfully executed when these tools were not there - I am not sure what PM tools were used for

1. Egyptian Pyramids

2. Paris Eiffle tower

3. Italian lening towers

4. Agra Tajmahal and many more

If we don't judiciously use these tools, due to lack of experience, we will end up doing more work and less results. After doing a lot of calculations, Einstein, emloyed 4 people to reduce the height of his table, whereas a kid advised him that he would just need one carpenter. The story tells that Einstein wanted to cut the legs after removing the tabe top, where as the kid advised him to cut at the bottom!!!  


By Raghu Kastury, Principal Consultant & Head of Strategic Business Unit - Retail & Distribution, Sundaram Infotech Solutions Limited  03 18 2009 18:44:02 +0000
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PM tools and techniques means utilization of men,material and machinery.Especially in handling cash inflow and outflow of the project.He have to aware of the organization chart and deputing the correct person for right position.
By VIMALAN , DIRECTOR, VIRGIN ENGINEERS  | 08 12 2012 04:09:55 +0000
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During execution experience helps rather than tools/techniques.
By P.Srinivasa Rao, GM, Rukkveerfood products(Earlier33.25 years in an Integrated Pulp & Paper industry)  | 05 22 2010 09:44:28 +0000
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I rely on PM Tools and Techniques first, since success rate of Project is very much depended on the sound understanding and implementation of renowned and globally accepted standard tools and techniques.

If the PM Tools and Techniques are powerful, standardized and apt for the project under consideration then it would aid a Project Manager of any level of experience to take similar effective decisions.


By M NITIN SHENOY, PMP, IPMA-D, CEng MICE, Manager  | 03 31 2010 17:21:05 +0000
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apart from experience PM tools have become very important for controlling of big projects from remote locations.
By Vidhu Dar, CEO/MD/Director, Shiva's Retreat  | 01 26 2010 19:08:15 +0000
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Project Management is mostly managing the uncertanities. But these uncertainities do have common/ standard traits. To understand the problem precisely is more important whish shall lead to the more correct solution. For this use of PM tools are more benifitiary rather than experience. Experience mostly comes handy to implement the solution to a problem. But experience used with correct PM tools is the best combination always


By Rajesh Jujare, Freelancer, Freelancer  | 07 07 2009 15:54:02 +0000
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It is like they are both sides of a coin.Experience obviously counts,in a project, in addition to that having good knowledge of PM Tools/ Techniques would make a person better understand and become more proliferate in achieving the things better.


By Radha V, Project Lead, Confidential  | 05 15 2009 01:34:49 +0000
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Since the debate is between PM Tools & techniques and mere experience, I wonder how anybody can even support the idea of mere experience undermining the usefulness of the tools. PM tools and techniques with the experience is any day better than just experience.

Of course projects have been perfectly executed centuries back. We cannot say for sure that no tools and techniques were used. May be they did use WBS and network diagram, etc. But the bottom line is their resources and constraints were totally different, and probably they had no competition at all. In our times we are competing neck to neck. Resources are expensive. We need tools for efficiency and speed.

To summarize if one has to choose between only experience and only tools and technique, I would choose experience. Since we have to choose between mere experience and tools and techniques with experience, I would definitely choose the latter.


By Qazi Irfan Mustafa, CEO/Project Management Consultant, e-Centric Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.  | 05 13 2009 12:55:50 +0000
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A mix of both is required for a project to be on target, within budget and of desired quality. Project management tools are employed to keep a track and help in identifying if any of the parameters have a chance of missing the target at a very ealry stage, and hence help an experienced person in taking effective remedial measures. I think tools have an edge over experience as has been previously said, how do you execute new and unique projects?

apart from this, how do you gauze the progress of project and efficiency of strategies used in execution of project in the absence of project management tools.


By Mohammad Shariq, Planning Engineer, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation  | 05 13 2009 11:55:08 +0000
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i think it mostly the tools and techniques as now a days there is a complete flow that the tool provides take redmine which is completely agile and supports all functions of project management


By neeraj choudhary, Practice manager, CIC  | 05 13 2009 11:43:35 +0000
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PM tools are the essential in present scenario, but experience should not be neglected or expressed as "mere". Application of PM tools will make the project a success, adding experience to it will take it beyond 100% assured success.


By aditya ghare, Multimedia Designer & Developer, Final Edit  | 05 13 2009 11:13:12 +0000
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I will go for PM tools & technique as day by day industrial environment is changing.We have to adapt according to that environment to overcome with intense competition.So for this Project Management tools & Technique are absolutely necessary for the oragnisation, as success rate of project is depend on this.
As Srinivas has said that Analytic ability and Reasoning " can take corrective actions and make necessary decisions" which can only be possible through Project Management tools & Technique .


By Samir Das, Tech Architect, Infosys  | 05 13 2009 10:18:20 +0000
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I m with you Dhanaraman ,you had given good example to understand  the role PM tools & Technique.Every where experience will not help to achieve the goal,some tools & technique are required to fulfill the uniqueness of the project to complete it.

What do you say guys?


By Ajay Kashyap, Project Manager, Polaris Software  | 05 13 2009 09:50:31 +0000
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Yes, only experience  does not work out in handling PM toos/techniques, but a sheer confinence in handling projects on his own way.


By Mr Khirod Gogoi, Project Lead, Resigned from Global Innovosource Ltd. last year (Sep/2008)  | 04 30 2009 18:34:28 +0000
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I would support Srinivas ji completely because if you are carrying out the project then just having experience will not make your task easy as every project have different requirements for which the knowledge of PM tools will be more handy than having experience of a particular project which may not be of any help to you in this project.

What do you guys say?


By Anjali Bhatia, Construction-Heavy, Sobha Developers  | 04 14 2009 05:28:37 +0000
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I strongly oppose Mr., Raghu kastury.
1. Egyptian Pyramids

2. Paris Eiffel tower

3. Italian lening towers

4. Agra Tajmahal and many more completed at what cost?

Since projects are unique, The role of experience is zero compare with PM tools and technique.


By Dhanaraman , Project Manager, CRN  | 04 04 2009 09:34:44 +0000
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Experience will help one in handling similar problems or tasks. But to handle the changing atmosphere and challenges PM Tools and Techniques are necessary.


By Shaju George, Facilities/Construction Manager, IBS Software Services (P) Ltd  | 03 19 2009 08:27:27 +0000
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Who is the best PROJECT MANAGER ? Your mother is the project manager. she knows if you have to leave home by 7.00 AM to catch the train. She alarm`s you by 5.30 am itself. because she knows you leave the bed only after an half n  hour. By this time she lite the stove and start preparing your coffee.she cuts the vegetables in one hand. she washes the rice . she start to prepare hot water for your bath. SHE managing all her resources,her hands, stove, pots, vessels, rice, vegetables, etc;and utilizing all in the correct sequence. Now the question all the project management techniques deals this only.My Mother knows well about  these techniques. BUT we have to follow MATRIX only.


By pandianarjunan , project manager  | 11 15 2012 07:14:42 +0000
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In micro level execution, no software can help...its all about managing / simulating previous knowledge in similar situation.... that's what we call experience
By R K Suman, Asst. Manager, Reliance Energy  | 09 16 2009 18:21:58 +0000
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Even though I feel that the discussion between the two is not fair i.e. you need both, not one or the other! BUT for the sake of this debate, I support Experience over Tools and Techniques.

Tools and Techniques are great ways for someone to judge/determine the "source" of the problem. But in most cases, problems are solved by experience and soft knowledge of who are the players, what their interests are, how to get people to do what will make the project successful. These can never be developed or captured by a tool. Experience is king!

Also inexperienced PM's get lost between the all the data produced by the Tools and become "lakir ka fakir" ignoring the broad goals while getting lost in the minutia. Experience is the only thing that provides perspective on the larger goal/objective of project success so minor but annoying issues can be ignored, and the important ones brought into focus.

Experience Rules!


By Inder Monga, Chief Technologist, Energy Sciences Network  | 07 03 2009 16:44:35 +0000
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let us bring a complete novice and give the best project management tools. Let us see if that person can just initiate a project. Need not go to the extent of completing it.

It is the experience that calls for these tools or makes these tools more and more useful. Even at macro level, an expert PM and an experienced PM would continue with the project even if there were no PM tools. That is the expertise. It is not always possible to get all sophisticated tools to manage the project. And that too from day 1 and especially in some remote areas or underdevloped countries.

How many projects that India completed successfully, be it construction projects, software development projects or any other scientific research projects with minimal PM tools simply because they are beyond the budget as well as not available or not sufficient skills to use them?

It is good to have PM tools and capability to use them to run a project more comfortably.


By Raghu Kastury, Principal Consultant & Head of Strategic Business Unit - Retail & Distribution, Sundaram Infotech Solutions Limited  | 06 03 2009 05:30:26 +0000
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I agree with ranjan's statement that tools will be of less help if the individual is not able to visualise the effects of his planning.The base data comes with experience.Mere tols cannot supplement thew the experience.Ofcourse experience with absolute knowledge of thwe right project management tool is a welcome in project management team.


By Mallaya Pandravada, GM-Project , GSSInfraTech Pvt Ltd  | 05 14 2009 06:49:27 +0000
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Project Management is an unexplored skill which is sharpened on a day today basis which is an experience. Usage of Project Management tools is an art where the audience can visualize the efforts of the Prject Manager and the team 


By Chhaya Chandrasekhar, Program Manager, -  | 05 14 2009 06:48:32 +0000
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Tools and techniques will only be of help when you know what to use and when. Nobody becomes a mechanic if he has all the tools. Project Management is a skill and not mere use of applications. A skill is being developed over experience. With more passing days, with more challenges, one slowly learns how to face the challenge and how to come out of it. Any crash course can not make anybody a good PM.


By Anirban Bhattacharya, Software Architect, Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd  | 05 13 2009 15:06:15 +0000
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"The role of experience is zero compare with PM tools and technique" is totally wrong. Project management is not application of tools and techniques, is it?

Would anybody like to comment on this:

http://blog.e-centric.net/2009/04/what-is-project-management.html


By Qazi Irfan Mustafa, CEO/Project Management Consultant, e-Centric Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.  | 05 13 2009 13:06:32 +0000
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I go with the experience in executing the projects, though I don't want to discourage the usage of PM Tools and Techniques. Tools and Techniques increase the chance of making a project successful. When executing the projects, it is not just the tools or techniques that help but also the soft skills in motivating people to perform better help to make it successful. With just tools and techniques, projects can be completed but their success ratio is doubtful.

Let me put it this way - With mere experience projects can be executed and MAY NOT be true with PM tools and techniques. If you give a fresher (fresh from college) these tools and techniques - Can he successfully execute the project? The answer for this will be no. With experience, a person develops his own way of tools and techniques to start with and then the usage of tools and techniques make him a better project manager


By Rama Pulivendla, Program Manager, Agnity Technologies  | 05 13 2009 12:57:45 +0000
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In addition to what Raghu said, Exp is more important than tools. Exp can develop the tools and lead to evolve the tools. We cannot ignore the signifacance of tools, but exp is at top. In past PMs did not have all the latest tools, they managed well with simple excel sheet, spreadsheet, even with a pen and paper. So pen and paper were the only tools. In current scenario, Exp and Tools go hand in hand, but Exp has the upper side. To conclude, if a person does not have exp, he can make a blunder or will gain the exp, tools will be of less help. But if a person has exp and no tools, he will get the project done with some cost, and eventually succeed in project and will develop the tools for fools to follow.


By Rajan Agarwal, Program Manager, Ebix  | 05 13 2009 12:08:06 +0000
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Wright, If you having good exp. in project management. I don't think there is need of PM Tools. Experince in tools in necessary to use it.


By Sikander Mandal, Product Manager, Ubele Solar & Soft. S.L.  | 05 13 2009 11:13:50 +0000
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Absolutely Wright, to use tools you should have experince , how to use those tools. :) Great Answer....


By Sikander Mandal, Product Manager, Ubele Solar & Soft. S.L.  | 05 13 2009 11:10:17 +0000
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Experience inthe project have more weightage when compared to the PM Tools and techniques.Experience gives the methodology of doing the activity.The more the experience the refined is the technology.A Tool is a tool.if the person using thew screw driver is not knowledgeable he will use it as rod instead of using to unscrew the screws.Tools and techniques cannot be the technician ofr theengineer utilizing them.


By Mallaya Pandravada, GM-Project , GSSInfraTech Pvt Ltd  | 05 12 2009 11:53:47 +0000
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The in depth experience of synchronisation of all project activities will lead the project towards success. The PM Tools are the catalyst for preparation and monitoring the project activities.   


By Jogesh D. Shah, Head/VP/GM-Corporate Planning/Strategy, Bhavna Property Developers Limited  | 04 13 2009 11:34:09 +0000
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I am supporting this idea because I beleive this has got major role. But in any management or leadership there is no "mere".


By Vivek Singh, Project Manager, L&T  | 03 19 2009 12:54:16 +0000
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To me experience counts than the tools as one should also have decent amount of experience to know how to use those tools effectively,, so one needs to have more experience than to know how to use the tools.


By Gautam Kuriyan, Project Manager, HP  | 03 16 2009 12:32:48 +0000
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