Scott Scheufler

Defining Success

Scott Scheufler

Pre-Test: “What is Success?”

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Scott Scheufler

X . O

. X O

. . .

Pre-Test, Question 1

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What’s your next move?

Scott Scheufler

Pre-Test, Question 2 The below is an image from a game at http://www.sudoku.com/. What does it mean to “win”?

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Scott Scheufler

Pre-Test, Question 3

The below equation is the best representation of a physical system. Solve.

16.235 × 0.217 × 5 = ?

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Scott Scheufler

Thoreau

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Scott Scheufler

Pre-Test, Answer 3

The below equation is the best representation of a physical system. Solve.

1) 16.235 × 0.217 × 5 = 20

2) 16.235 × 0.217 × 5.0 = 18

3) 16.235 × 0.217 × 5.00 = 17.6

4) 16.235 × 0.217 × 5.000 = 17.61

5) 16.235 × 0.2170 × 5.0000 = 17.615

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http://www.purplemath.com/modules/rounding3.htm

Scott Scheufler

Pre-Test, Answer 2 The below is an image from a game at http://www.sudoku.com/. What does it mean to “win”?

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• Numbers 1-9 only used once in each row, column, and each of the nine unique 3x3 squares

• All squares filled in in less than some set period of time.

Scott Scheufler

X . O

. X O

. . .

Pre-Test, Answer 1

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What’s your next move?

Scott Scheufler

Moral of the Pre-Test

Zig Ziglar: “The first step in solving a problem is to recognize that it does exist.”

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Will Mcavoy: “The first step in solving a problem is recognizing there is one”

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/899843-the-first-step-in-solving-a-problem-is-recognizing-there

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/zig_ziglar_617848

Scott Scheufler

Goals for this Presentation

• Help audience recognize the need for themselves.

• Outline causes for issues

• Walk through approaches to address

• Plant the seeds so audience can apply material to their personal lives

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Scott Scheufler

Picasco

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Question

• Is meeting project objectives sufficient for “success”?

• Is meeting project objectives necessary for “success”?

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Scott Scheufler

What makes it hard to know?

1. Stakeholders don’t know.

2. Stakeholders are unable or unwilling to tell.

3. The world changes.

4. Sometimes “success” is relative.

5.

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Scott Scheufler

Actions to Take…

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Remember the quotes from the end of the pre-test?

You are not alone

1 Cor 10:13 MSG) No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face.

Scott Scheufler

Don’t be afraid to ask

• What does success look like for this project?

• How can this project shine?

• What would make this project exceptional?

• Try to ask all stakeholders separately.

• Dig deeper: 5 Whys or similar investigative process

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Scott Scheufler

Reflect what you understand

• If the project does X, it would be considered a success?

• The project will be successful when it has delivered Y.

• Occasionally, it will be appropriate to skip asking and not reflect, but tell and handle correction if required.

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Scott Scheufler

Probe (ask refining questions)

• What would happen if the project were delayed a month?

• Would the project still be a success, if …?

• Assuming there are degrees of success, where is the cutoff or opportunity for next level?

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Repeat (periodically)

• I just wanted to verify we are still shooting for …

• Since we last spoke, has anything changed that should prompt an alteration in the project?

• It has been a while since we aligned, is our (finish date, scope, cost, etc.) still correct?

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Scott Scheufler

Is project success synonymous with project manager success?

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Einstein

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Applying to your personal life

• Who are your stakeholders in defining your personal success?

• Success is a long-term thing, but you will need short-term victories as well.

• When should “goals” be re-assessed?

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Addendum

• I have additional material, but wanted to pause here before continuing in case we are short on time.

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The skipped cause of difficulty

• Sometimes there is no way to succeed.

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Patton

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How to fail

• Fail well

– Communicate early and often

– Don’t blame/excuse; explain

– Maximize what is beneficial

– Stop the bleeding

– Help team preserve self-assurance/dignity/face

• If possible, negotiate new success

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Scott Scheufler

Churchill

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Edison

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Q & A

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Scott Scheufler

Thank you for coming!

• Speaker: Scott Scheufler, PE, PMP, CSM

• Phone: (713)496-2262

• E-mail: S.Scheufler@IEEE.org

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scottscheufler/

• Website: www.ScottScheufler.com

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