Part of the problem is that the managers simply want to keep their jobs. The statements about the latest round of boardroom and upper management scandals also include recognition of a certain amoun t of incestuous inbreeding. There is a certain group think that evident within many businesses which means everyone lock steps behind the boss right above them even if they’re all headed off a cliff.
Did you notice the statements from the Walmart executive that was fired in December 2006? She was apparently hired about a year previously as a change agent for the giant retailer. Apparently management KNOWS things should change but the reality is that as long as the group think is alive, nothing will really change…. and this makes it dangerous to be a project manager in many corporate environments.
Those of you who have read this blog for any time realize that I’m not to understanding of management. This is no doubt due to spending years working on projects that benefit a company only to see them derailed for personal gain by middle managers.
Although the projects we’re worthy and in some cases very significant in returning some of the competitiveness back to the company, some managers were always willing to put personal position over business need.
This was essentially true in companies like DEC. The old Digital Equipment in the end was so top heavy that they needed a meeting to decide what day of the week it was. And to make matters worse, everyone including the janitor had to sign off before the memo could go out stating today was Wednesday.
Ok, it’s exaggerated….but not much.
Do you see yourself or your company in this scenario? If so, realize that sooner or later you too will go the way of DEC.
Project Management is one of the most unforgiving and relentless position in business. The reason is that we have a lot of change acceptance programs and trying to gain support of managers who don’t know how to lead let alone manage.
Project managers continue to work behind the scenes to try to get something of value accomplished while the organization fights hard to maintain the status quo..