Project Management is People Management

Project management isn’t just about handling tasks—it’s about managing people. As project managers, our job is to facilitate processes and ensure the team can work efficiently.

1. The Role of a Project Manager

Project managers do not code, design, or physically build projects. Instead, they manage:

• Developers and designers
• Customers and stakeholders
• Senior management
• Contractors and consultants

The focus is always on people rather than tools.

2. Agile Manifesto and People Management

The Agile Manifesto states:

"Individuals and interactions over processes and tools."

Why? Because:

• Projects are done by people, for people.
• Tools like Microsoft Project are useless without human involvement.
• Managing people ensures that tools and processes are used effectively.

3. People Are the Biggest Cost Factor

People consume the most resources in a project. To illustrate this, we can use the Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO), which helps estimate project costs based on various factors.

Key Insight from COCOMO:

• Tools and processes have a cost factor of 3.
• People have a cost factor of 33.
• People cost is 11 times more significant than tools and processes.

Example: If tools and processes cost $1, the people cost would be $33.

4. What This Means for Project Managers

Since people are the biggest cost factor, project managers should:

• Ensure teams are well-supported and motivated.
• Focus on effective communication and collaboration.
• Optimize team efficiency rather than relying solely on tools.

Conclusion

Managing people is the most crucial aspect of project management. Tools and processes are secondary—your team’s well-being and productivity determine project success.

Next Steps

Let’s explore more strategies to enhance people management in Agile environments.