In a recent Harvard Business Review article, What the Next Generation of Project Management Will Look Like, states that a recent global Gartner survey suggests that project manger is actually expected to be one of the fastest growing project management office (PMO) roles across the next two to three years. An outcome of this survey identified Next-Generation Skills that Project Managers need to have a decisive role to play in this new environment, where complex challenges must be addressed such as overcoming organizational silos, managing hidden interdependencies, and realizing cross-team efficiencies.
A core part of your success as an implementer of an ISO Management System, whether you are the internal System Manager, or an external Consultant is excelling in Project Management. As I was reading this HBR article there were some very familiar terms being used that relates to successful ISO Systems project management that I thought would be great to break down.
Project Managers proficient in these skills were found to be 1.4 times more effective at achieving key business and functional outcomes. Adding to this the Gartner research also found that these skills were far more impactful than organizational experience or formal project management certifications. Let’s do a quick comparison for 8 of these skills that align with the success of the implementation of an ISO Management System.
|
Project Management Skills |
ISO Management System alignment |
|
Organizational awareness |
Context of the organization |
|
Data acumen |
Evidence-based decision making, Customer satisfaction, Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation |
|
Cross-functional collaboration |
Engagement of people, Consultation and participation |
|
Decision making |
Leadership |
|
Process and framework expertise |
ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 |
|
Customer centricity |
ISO 9001:2015, Customer focus, Customer satisfaction |
|
Growth mindset |
Performance evaluation, Nonconformity and corrective action, Improvement |
|
Ability to coach and motivate teams |
Leadership, Roles, responsibilities and authority, Competence, Awareness, Communication |
“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."
– Charles Darwin
At the heart of this diagram, they all intersect to achieve "Excellence". This represents the ultimate goal of combining effective project management practices, adherence to ISO standards, and a consideration of cultural aspects. It embodies achieving high-quality outcomes through a well-rounded approach that integrates these key elements.
Each segment and intersection of illustrates how the amalgamation of Project Management, ISO Standards, and Cultural Aspects can lead to enhanced performance, more effective processes, and a holistic approach to organizational challenges. This integration is essential for the successful implementation and operation of ISO Management Systems.
Project Management: Represents the principles and practices of project management. It encompasses planning, executing, and overseeing projects to achieve specific goals within a given timeline and budget. Project management is critical in ensuring that the tasks and objectives align with the overall strategy and are efficiently completed.
The overlap between Project Management and ISO Standards Is Integration, which signifies the combination of project management techniques with the structured approach of ISO standards. This integration enhances process consistency, ensures alignment with organizational goals, and promotes a culture of continual improvement.
ISO Standards: Focuses on the structured approach provided by ISO standards. These standards offer guidelines and best practices to ensure quality, efficiency, and consistency in processes and outcomes. They are essential in providing a framework for continual improvement and compliance in various organizational functions.
The overlap between ISO Standards and Cultural Aspects Is Adaptability, which highlights the ability of organizations to mold ISO standards within different cultural contexts. It underscores the importance of customizing standard procedures to align with the unique cultural fabric of an organization, ensuring both conformance and cultural sensitivity.
Cultural Aspects: Represents the cultural dimensions within an organization. It includes the values, beliefs, behavior, and social norms that influence how people interact and work together. Understanding and integrating cultural aspects is crucial for effective communication, team dynamics, and fostering an inclusive and positive work environment.
The overlap between Cultural aspects and Project Management Is Team Dynamics which emphasizes the influence of cultural factors on project management. It involves understanding and managing diverse perspectives and backgrounds, enhancing team collaboration, and leveraging cultural diversity for innovative problem-solving and effective project execution.
At the heart of this diagram, they all intersect to achieve "Excellence." This represents the ultimate goal of combining effective project management practices, adherence to ISO standards, and a consideration of cultural aspects. It embodies achieving high-quality outcomes through a well-rounded approach that integrates these key elements. Each segment and intersection of illustrates how the amalgamation of Project Management, ISO Standards, and Cultural Aspects can lead to enhanced performance, more effective processes, and a holistic approach to organizational challenges. This integration is essential for the successful implementation and operation of ISO Management Systems.
Project Management: Represents the principles and practices of project management. It encompasses planning, executing, and overseeing projects to achieve specific goals within a given timeline and budget. Project management is critical in ensuring that the tasks and objectives align with the overall strategy and are efficiently completed. The overlap between Project Management and ISO Standards Is Integration, which signifies the combination of project management techniques with the structured approach of ISO standards. This integration enhances process consistency, ensures alignment with organizational goals, and promotes a culture of continual improvement.
ISO Standards: Focuses on the structured approach provided by ISO standards. These standards offer guidelines and best practices to ensure quality, efficiency, and consistency in processes and outcomes. They are essential in providing a framework for continual improvement and compliance in various organizational functions. The overlap between ISO Standards and Cultural Aspects Is Adaptability, which highlights the ability of organizations to mold ISO standards within different cultural contexts. It underscores the importance of customizing standard procedures to align with the unique cultural fabric of an organization, ensuring both conformance and cultural sensitivity.
Cultural Aspects: Represents the cultural dimensions within an organization. It includes the values, beliefs, behavior, and social norms that influence how people interact and work together. Understanding and integrating cultural aspects is crucial for effective communication, team dynamics, and fostering an inclusive and positive work environment. The overlap between Cultural aspects and Project Management Is Team Dynamics which emphasizes the influence of cultural factors on project management. It involves understanding and managing diverse perspectives and backgrounds, enhancing team collaboration, and leveraging cultural diversity for innovative problem-solving and effective project execution.
1. Understand where your knowldge of ISO standards interacts with project management
2. Document or plan these for project management success.
This article is just the beginning. Join us for the extended discussion on the podcast, available on Spotify and YouTube.