Stand Back and Deliver - Pollyanna Pixton, Niel Nickolaisen, Todd Little, Kent McDonald
Differentiating, Partner, Parity, Who Cares. Where does your project fall, and what might you do differently because of that? Is your project a Bull, a Colt, a Cow or a Sheep Dog? Even just the names give you an idea that you are in for a different ride with each of these projects. Using straightforward models and a good dose of common sense, Stand Back and Deliver will change how you view projects and help you utilize your organization’s resources to deliver just what is needed.
As a developer I learned early that the best solutions to complex problems are generally the simplest ones. There is a certain eloquence in simplicity. The eloquence of this book is its straight forward presentation of a simple set of tools through real-world examples of their worth and utility. Starting with a framework to show the interrelation between value-based decision making, purpose alignment, collaboration, and delivery, the authors share their considerable experience to help you invest the right resources in the right projects.
What’s the purpose of your project? It sounds funny to say it, but often project teams don’t actually know this. Does the project keep your company up with the Joneses? Put you ahead of the field? Or does no one actually care that much about it. The Purpose Alignment Model provides an assessment of purpose based on how a project relates to the organization’s mission and market position. Is the project delivering capabilities that are mission critical and market differentiating? That’s a Differentiating project that is worthy of the organization’s all out efforts. Is the project mission critical, but not differentiating in the market? Now we have a Parity project on which we need to avoid over delivering. Taken to another level the Purpose Alignment Model can also help project teams assess the purpose of specific features of a project and deliver them much more effectively.
Another highlight for me is the authors’ recognition that all projects are not alike and because they are not, different leadership techniques are required. The Context Leadership Model helps you assess the complexity and the uncertainty of the effort you are about to undertake and determine the type of leadership that is required. A Bull project is one of high uncertainty and high complexity. At the other end of the spectrum is the Sheep Dog project with little uncertainty and low complexity. What kind of leader is needed for each of these? Are we wasting a Bull leader on a Sheep Dog project? Again the experience of the authors helps you think through how to match the respective talents of leaders to the rigors of a particular project.
Stand Back and Deliver is a short, straightforward read, but exercising the models put forth in this book can help stop the churn and focus project teams on doing what is best for your organization.