If you need to start a project, you’ve already failed #noprojects
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The document discusses projects and an alternative approach called #noprojects. It argues that projects focus on the wrong things, are temporary in nature so skills and products are lost, and often fail due to repeating the same approaches. #Noprojects is presented as a continuous culture where activities are aligned with measurable outcomes, guided by shared principles, and delivered by dedicated cross-functional teams focused on value rather than outputs. This approach avoids the issues of projects and allows for continuous change and delivery of value.
If you need to start a project, you’ve already failed #noprojects
- 1. @eleybourn @shanehastie If You Need to Run a Project – You’ve Already Failed #noprojects Evan Leybourn
- 2. @eleybourn @shanehastie THIS IS A (POTENTIALLY) CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC! COME WITH AN OPEN MIND
- 4. @eleybourn @shanehastie WHAT EXACTLY IS A PROJECT? A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result.
- 5. @eleybourn @shanehastie A BRIEF HISTORY “Invention of arts, with engines and handicraft instruments for their improvement, requires a chronology as far back as the eldest son of Adam, and has to this day afforded some new discovery in every age. … I shall trace the original of the projecting humour that now reigns no farther back than the year 1680, dating its birth as a monster then, though by times it had indeed something of life in the time of the late civil war. I allow, no age has been altogether without something of this nature, and some very happy projects are left to us as a taste of their success; as the water-houses for supplying of the city of London with water, and, since that, the New River — both very considerable undertakings, and perfect projects, adventured on the risk of success. In the reign of King Charles I. infinite projects were set on foot for raising money without a Parliament: oppressing by monopolies and privy seals; but these are excluded our scheme as irregularities, for thus the French are as fruitful in projects as we; and these are rather stratagems than projects. After the Fire of London the contrivance of an engine to quench fires was a project the author was said to get well by, and we have found to be very useful. But about the year 1680 began the art and mystery of projecting to creep into the world.” - Daniel Defoe, An Essay upon Projects (London: Printed for Thomas Ballard, 1698).
- 9. @eleybourn @shanehastie BUT WE HAVE A PROBLEM…
- 10. @eleybourn @shanehastie PROJECTS FOCUS ON THE WRONG THING What is measurable not what is valuable
- 11. @eleybourn @shanehastie PROJECTS ARE TEMPORARY (PRODUCTS AREN’T) Products don’t end when the project does – don’t artificially constrain them & lose key skills
- 12. @eleybourn @shanehastie PROJECTS FAIL The definition of insanity is to “do the same thing and expect a different result”
- 15. @eleybourn @shanehastie CONTINUOUS CHANGE IS THE ALTERNATIVE! The approach and structure to successfully deliver value
- 16. @eleybourn @shanehastie THE ALIGNMENT OF ACTIVITIES TO OUTCOMES MEASURED BY VALUE, CONSTRAINED BY GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND (OPTIONALLY) SUPPORTED BY CONTINUOUS DELIVERY TECHNOLOGIES
- 17. @eleybourn @shanehastie CHANGE THE QUESTION Not “how much will this cost?”, but rather “how much is it worth?”
- 19. @eleybourn @shanehastie KNOWING WHEN TO STOP Trim this Save this
- 20. @eleybourn @shanehastie PART THREE OUTCOMES TO ACTIVITIES
- 21. @eleybourn @shanehastie THIS NEEDS AN ADAPTIVE MINDSET “The tactical result of an engagement forms the basis for new strategic decisions” - Helmuth Moltke the Elder (1800-1891)
- 22. @eleybourn @shanehastie OUTCOMES OVER OUTPUTS Outcomes are valuable, planned, slowly changing and define a common direction for all work
- 24. @eleybourn @shanehastie WORKING PRINCIPLES Common, agreed, and prioritised constraints that shape all activities
- 25. @eleybourn @shanehastie VALUE DELIVERY TEAMS Dedicated, stable cross-functional teams that contain the required skills to deliver an outcome
- 27. @eleybourn @shanehastie THE ACTIVITY CANVAS An activity is any discrete piece of work that is undertaken as part of a change
- 30. @eleybourn @shanehastie HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH?
- 31. @eleybourn @shanehastie IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT THE WORK IS As long as there is a level of unpredictability in the outcome, the teams are trusted to make operational decisions, and value can be continuously created, a #noprojects approach works
- 32. @eleybourn @shanehastie JOIN THE CONVERSATION http://noprojects.org/ Join #NoProjects on Slack @shanehastie @eleybourn
- 34. @eleybourn @shanehastie Thanks for listening Any Questions?