VIEWPOINTS

Planning? Yes, indeed, planning!

By Germán Bernate

Bogota, Colombia

Knowledge workers love action: Their immediate boss has not even finished assigning a job when you may see them rushing around to fulfill his/ her commands. Act quickly! Time is a natural enemy! Just a couple of hours later the final product is ready... But, without exception, there will be a party pooper who dramatically, pointing out with his/her forefinger will state: “That product is wrong”. A closer look to the product will unveil multiple errors. By this way the assiduous employee will become aware of the multiple errors made and will get to a two ways road: The first alternative, to ignore that bothering party pooper: Who he/she thinks he/she is? He/she is not the one to judge my work! ¿How he/she dares?

After a fast reflection the activity’s executor realizes something: Certainly product is wrong. What should he/she do? For sure his/her manager will not accept such a deliverable. Should he/she start all over again? He/she, undoubtedly, has lost time, resources and the opportunity to use the product in a timely manner. Sadly, he/she discovers that his/her mistakes are caused by a single error: Lack of planning.

The knowledge worker acting our story decides to start from the very beginning; hence, he/she seeks advice from some colleagues to determine what should he/she learn and where. Business Administration and Project Management books drive him/her to an interesting conclusion: All authors agree that he/she must Plan, Manage and Control. They also advise to act prudently.

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About the Author By Germán Bernate Author Germán Bernate is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today in Colombia. Based in Bogotá, he is also General Manager and Founder of ALMAGESTO Consulting Firm. Germán holds a degree in Electronic Engineering from the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas. He has over 45 years of experience in the engineering and software industry in the areas of strategic management, Balanced ScoreCard, and Project Management, including 30 years at IBM Colombia. He also worked as a Project Manager at NCR Colombia. Germán is the immediate past president of the PMI Santafé de Bogotá Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI). Germán Bernate can be contacted at gbernate@cable.net.co. For more information, visit www.almagesto.net or http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm.