7 S of Project Management

The McKinsey & co. management consultants were introduced the 7-S framework of management issue. The 7-S framework provides a comprehensive set of issues that need to be considered. It also allows classification of tasks within the remit of the project manager, which reduces the complexity of the role. In addition, classifying issues in this manner ensures that the project manager will know where to look to find sources of help if novel situation arises. Their original 7-S is amended for the project environment with a description of each of the elements as follows,

Element

Description

Strategy Structure Systems Staff Skills Styles/Culture Stakeholders

The high-level requirements of the project and the means to achieve them The organisational arrangement that will be used to carry out the project The methods for work to be designed, monitored and controlled The selection,recruitment,management  and leadership of those working on the project The managerial and technical tools available to the project manager and the staff The underlying way of working and inter-relating within the work team or organisation Individuals and groups who have an interest in the project or outcome

§  Strategy

            Strategy is a process what involves a high-level consideration of objectives that can be seen as points of principle, rather than activity-level details. So strategy is an overall approach and plan.

§  Structure

            Structure is the arrangement of human resources relative to lines of command and control. A key question for the project manager concerns the nature of this structure.

§  System

            Systems are ‘the way we work’.both formal and informal systems will need to be designed or at least recognised for key task, including communication and quality assurance. Formal systems can be demonstrated though statements of procedure-simply put, under these conditions, we carry out this action. Informal systems, particularly for information transfer, are far less easy to describe and control.

§  Staff

Staff should be selected, recruited and then managed.How they respond to their treatment will have a large impact on the success or otherwise of the project.

§  Skills

The project manager should have very good capability to understand staff member’s skills.Skills required by the project manager and staff of the project team again have we got the skills in in-house, before we mentioned the areas you may have get involved in.

§  Style/Culture

It is the part of the ‘soft’ side of management. Indeed,it cannot be managed in the short term in the same way that the finances of a project as an example it can be managed.

§  Stakeholders

They are an important consideration for project managers. Their importance has only recently been realized and methods for the management of expectations and perceptions developed.So that is going to be supporters, who are going to support project.