{"id":4700,"date":"2018-01-04T10:59:32","date_gmt":"2018-01-04T10:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.binfire.com\/blog\/?p=4700"},"modified":"2018-01-04T10:59:32","modified_gmt":"2018-01-04T10:59:32","slug":"collaborative-project-management-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.binfire.com\/blog\/collaborative-project-management-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Collaborative Project Management Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everybody is familiar with the traditional project management method <\/a>and how it works, but what is collaborative project management?<\/span><\/p>\n

The short answer, there is no solid definition\u00a0of\u00a0collaborative project management yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

People have different\u00a0ideas and vision when it comes to this topic.\u00a0 One reason for this is that it is a new method. <\/span><\/p>\n

No rigorous academic work\u00a0has been\u00a0published on this subject as of this writing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another reason for lack of formalization\u00a0for collaborative PM is the fact that this method was discovered due to new capabilities in technology which was brought\u00a0to market by social media<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Social media apps like Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a> has had a huge effect on how people engage and communicate with each other at home and at work.<\/span><\/p>\n

The introduction of smartphones has only accelerated this phenomenon.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The lessons learned from social media were\u00a0integrated by some vendors to the business applications.<\/span><\/p>\n

One area that has been on the forefront of this change is the project management software market.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, organizations like PMI, have not yet defined what collaborative project management means and\u00a0what are its requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

PMI has written about this subject in the past, like this article in 200<\/a>2. But it was never considered as a new concept or method.<\/span><\/p>\n

PMI considered Collaborative work as a work habit and not a new project management method.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many software vendors claim that their ware is collaborative, but no one is clear at what it means.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nobody has defined the features that are absolutely needed in the collaborative project management.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this paper, we will define\u00a0what the term collaborative project management means and how it is practiced in real-world projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"New<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Collaborative project management Definition\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Collaboration means that\u00a0a group of people work on\u00a0a common goal to achieve an objective that all share.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are people who define project collaboration as dividing a project into small pieces and then let\u00a0each piece be done by a different group or team.<\/span><\/p>\n

When\u00a0all groups have finished their work, the results are integrated\/combined and a new product or service is made.<\/span><\/p>\n

This definition is only partially correct. There is more to collaborative work than dividing up a job between several groups.<\/span><\/p>\n

By our definition, collaborative work means an open, transparent, and democratic work environment where all project’s participants\u00a0have access to all the project’s information at any time and from anywhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Collaborative PM everybody is allowed to contribute. There are no boundaries and chiefdoms like the old work habits.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Everybody’s ideas are respected and heard. It does not mean every idea or suggestion is accepted, just they are given proper time and attention. <\/span><\/p>\n

This means there is no fear of failure and nobody feels his\/her ideas will be discarded without proper evaluation and vetting.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have summarized the elements of collaborative project management below:<\/span><\/p>\n

1- The work is open and transparent to everyone in the project<\/span><\/p>\n

2-The project scope and the goals are known to all project participants.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3- Everyone in the project has access to the same data at any time from anywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

4- Everyone can contribute to every part\u00a0of the project. There are no boundaries\u00a0on contributing and discussing ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

5- The project has open communication channels for all. Managers and contributors communicate and collaborate freely.<\/span><\/p>\n

6- All ideas are heard and discussed without the fear of ridicule or put down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7- No idea is deemed crazy, every idea is checked and discussed.<\/span><\/p>\n

8- There is no fear of failure, people are encouraged to take risks and work on new ideas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

9- Everybody is given credit for the success of the project. The success or failure is the team’s alone and not\u00a0the individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n

10- After a thorough discussion of the important issues, decisions are made in a timely manner, even if the team does not have all data at hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

11- After a decision is made, everyone on the team accepts the decision and set it as his\/her personal goal<\/span><\/p>\n

12- Nonperforming or\u00a0subpar performing team members are replaced as soon as the problem is known to the team.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In such a project environment the role of the project manager is very different than in the traditional project management.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"project<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Project Manager’s role in Collaborative PM<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In a collaborative environment, very much like in the democratic societies, we\u00a0don’t have rulers\u00a0but leaders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A project manager in the collaborative work should know how to lead, plan, and communicate.<\/span><\/p>\n

The qualifications of the project manager for collaborative work is as follow:<\/span><\/p>\n