What Is Extreme Project Management ?
Project Management is a methodology being utilized to be able to achieve the goals and vision of an organization. It is the application of dynamic processes, methods, knowledge, skills and experience to meet specific success criteria. There are a lot methodologies and techniques to be used. In fact, with the advent of technology it is then improved to meet the global challenges and needs.
Extreme Project management differs from any other existing traditional methods. Extreme Project Management is short and flexible unlike the others. It is a methodology used to describe how to deliver projects on time at a reasonable budget.
Extreme Project Management vs. Conventional Project Management
The Conventional or Traditional approach assesses the project through fixed stages. These stages may include initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and completion. The prior stage must always end at a specific time to be able to let the next stage to start otherwise, the cycle will be hampered. Traditional project management is plan driven, and is used for linear work pattern. On the contrary, Extreme Project Management is ideal for past paced projects with unpredictable results. This method is complex and self-correcting process to arrive at the expected result. There are possibilities that the requirements change throughout the project. These changes may be brought by competition, technology and economic conditions. The delivery cycle may only last up to two weeks only, compared to the traditional approach that can take longer time.
The Mindset
It requires intensive training when applying the extreme management approach. The management team is responsible for the preparation of mindset of the team. The team should be oriented properly and must be informed that some activities may be chaotic. They should be informed that uncertainties may occur. Since that this type of approach is uncontrollable, changes may occur along the way. The management team should also ensure security as the project progress.
Self-Management
The project manager serves as the facilitator and mentor. The responsibilities must be distributed among the members of the team. It brings organizational structure to move spontaneously. Each member should develop motivation and concentration skills to help overcome procrastination at work. It is a skill that will involve setting of goals and time management to effectively function even without much supervision.
Conclusion
A manager has to make sure whether to implement Extreme Project Management in the team or venture for other options. It is not an easy method to be employed because it is a very complex approach. It is strongly recommended that the manager to have enough training on this type of project management. Intensive trainings on this approach will help the manager become flexible and have thorough understanding on how this type of management is being applied. Managing a project under extreme pressure with everything on the line, millions of dollar at stake, and company at stake is the whole idea of extreme project management. It is finding oneself doing whatever is necessary, trying to focus on what is the most important at the moment, fixing it, and moving on to the next stages.
