ISO 21500 could represent the standard for longevity in the project management community, just as this giant tortoise represents the animal kingdom's standard for longevity.
Project managers will be free to deliver projects in the next decade.
That’s the conclusion of Arras People, the project management people, who have deduced through research and discussions with senior ISO / PC 236 officials that the new ISO 21500 initiative can become a standard of unification in the project management community.
John Thorpe, Founder and Managing Director of Arras People, based his conclusions on the discovery of a variety of guidance publications in project management that detail procedures, techniques and tools that users can adapt appropriately for a project they undertake.
Further investigation revealed that there is currently an ongoing initiative to develop an international standard for project management which will be launched as ISO 21500. The ISO / PC 236 committee is responsible for this.
Thorpe also spoke with ISO / PC 236 committee chairman Miles Shepherd, who revealed the goals of 21500 initiative, due out in 2012. Shepherd, a well-respected figure in the UK and International project management community, is working with representatives of 38 countries on this initiative.
Thorpe said “Having caught up with Mr Shepherd to discuss the programme and its challenges, he was very keen to point out that this is ‘not a process which is looking to create a new method’. The aim is to deliver a ‘global, overarching guidance [for project management], not [another] how to do it [method], which is applicable globally and may be used to reduce barriers to trade’”.
Arras People feel that since there are 38 countries and governing bodies like ANSI (American National Standards Institute) involved in this work (all while using the skills and knowledge of the PMI [Project Management Institute]), the end result may add to the credibility and adoption when the standard is released.
“The discussion with Mr Shepherd and my research let me to wonder if this is the missing link (for our industry),” Thorpe said. “Something that could move the project management community on from its current turf wars and fixation with method rather than application.”
“If we were to consider ISO 21500 in the same way as, say, ISO 9001, which is seen as applicable for use in any organization regardless of size, type or product (including service), then we may take a giant leap forward. It’s simply having a common, global set of requirements which an organization needs to fulfil to achieve project satisfaction through consistent delivery of products and services which meet customer expectations we can measure outcomes consistently.”
Thorpe contends that under such a model, PPM professionals would not have to worry about unification of methods, if Prince is better than PMBOK, or about sector specific nuances; tools would be tools and project managers would be free to deliver. The model would recognise that there is not a “one size fits all” approach that can be applied to the delivery of successful programmes and projects, which can be mandated from a governing body. Looking at successful organizations today, Thorpe says, “it can be clearly seen that they ‘pick and mix’ from methods, tools, accreditations and best practice to form ‘their strategic approach’ to delivering programmes and projects.”
Arras People therefore concludes that the model would prove beneficial for individual PPM Professionals, specifically.
“Measures would move away from today’s hang-ups about specific methods and affiliations,” Thorpe said. “False barriers across sectors could be banished as the focus moves to delivery and end results. Most importantly, Project Management skills could be recognised and developed against recognised competencies to enable delivery within an accepted global standard.”
“In developing their PPM strategy, organisations would be able to think holistically, ending the widespread acceptability of ‘tick in the box’ compliant methodology. Flexibility for nuances and changes would, in turn, become the manner in which results were delivered.”
Image © sly06 and used with permission.
It’s great if project management will become ISO standard. But the consequence are PMI, Prince2 will expire.
The companies are concentrate to get ISO. I agreed because ISO is for organization not for individual person like PMI (PMP). because there’s no guarantee to hire employee with PMP can implement the project management process.