Any Project Managers out there?

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mucalum49's avatar

mucalum49

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1,639 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:17 PM
If so, have you ever had to read the Project Management Book of Knowledge? This is my text book for an introductory PM class and reading it is like trying to read the phone book...

I know this is definitely a cool story bro haha... Just can't imagine anyone actually understanding everything its trying to say.
Jan 26, 2010 11:17pm
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slingshot4ever

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4,085 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:25 PM
I essentially act as a project manager in my position as a study director for pre-clinical safety testing of medical devices. Three words for you: communication, organization, and effectiveness/efficiency. If you have those and the knowledge to understand the business you are in, you are golden.
Jan 26, 2010 11:25pm
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jmog

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6,567 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:30 PM
I'm a R&D research engineer, but have taken a class in PMP and used PMBOK as a text.

You are correct, the book is like trying to read a dictionary.

Its so much better to go through one of the PMP test study guys that use PMBOK as a reference, instead of using PMBOK as a book itself.

I, unfortunately, have PMBOK in 2 editions, 3 and 4 :(.

I honestly wish I didn't, I hate project management and like research. I only took the class because it was during work time, and it got me out of work for a couple hours a week, ;).
Jan 26, 2010 11:30pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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7,733 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:33 PM
Don't sweat it. When you're running a project in the real world, you'll be so micro-managed that you won't need any project management training or skills.
Jan 26, 2010 11:33pm
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tuskytuffguy

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615 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:39 PM
And a word of advice to engineers, don't try to mico-manage your pee-ons, or you yourself will look like a complete idiot.
Jan 26, 2010 11:39pm
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jmog

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Jan 26, 2010 11:41 PM
tuskytuffguy wrote: And a word of advice to engineers, don't try to mico-manage your pee-ons, or you yourself will look like a complete idiot.
And a word of advice to the pee-ons, don't act like you understand the science behind what you are working on, or you yourself will look like a complete idiot.
Jan 26, 2010 11:41pm
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tuskytuffguy

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615 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:48 PM
It's when engineers try to make something that is common sense seem like it's a science that pisses me off. I realize there are some idiots in this world that need their hand held thru everything, but most people don't.
Jan 26, 2010 11:48pm
mucalum49's avatar

mucalum49

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1,639 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:50 PM
jmog wrote: I'm a R&D research engineer, but have taken a class in PMP and used PMBOK as a text.

You are correct, the book is like trying to read a dictionary.

Its so much better to go through one of the PMP test study guys that use PMBOK as a reference, instead of using PMBOK as a book itself.

I, unfortunately, have PMBOK in 2 editions, 3 and 4 :(.

I honestly wish I didn't, I hate project management and like research. I only took the class because it was during work time, and it got me out of work for a couple hours a week, ;).
I'm unfortunately not studying for the test, I am using it as a free elective in my MBA program. The class description sounded interesting but my prof is as boring and monotone as the PMBOK!
Jan 26, 2010 11:50pm
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jmog

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6,567 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:51 PM
It's when pee-ons have to be explained everything like an 8 year old that pisses me off. I realize there are some idiots in this world who have no common sense, but most engineers do.
Jan 26, 2010 11:51pm
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sjmvsfscs08

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2,963 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:56 PM
I don't want to micromanage, but it's peon!
Jan 26, 2010 11:56pm
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tuskytuffguy

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615 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:58 PM
Hey, I'm just sayin'. Don't treat everyone like they're stupid. I'm one of the pee-ons in a company that does alot of jobs salary employees do. Ya know, the type that go above and beyond.

One of my bosses once told me, there are people that, when something goes wrong, they sit and watch, and there are those that will just take charge and fix it. You(meaning me), are one of those that take charge and fix it.
Jan 26, 2010 11:58pm
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jmog

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6,567 posts
Jan 27, 2010 1:03 AM
tuskytuffguy wrote: Hey, I'm just sayin'. Don't treat everyone like they're stupid. I'm one of the pee-ons in a company that does alot of jobs salary employees do. Ya know, the type that go above and beyond.

One of my bosses once told me, there are people that, when something goes wrong, they sit and watch, and there are those that will just take charge and fix it. You(meaning me), are one of those that take charge and fix it.
I'm "just sayin" that no one on this thread put down anyone until you jumped on engineers. You started with the negative, so don't get your panties in a bunch when someone comes back.
Jan 27, 2010 1:03am
believer's avatar

believer

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Jan 27, 2010 4:04 AM
ZWICK 4 PREZ wrote: Don't sweat it. When you're running a project in the real world, you'll be so micro-managed that you won't need any project management training or skills.
THIS! And it is very, very true. lol

Jan 27, 2010 4:04am
Curly J's avatar

Curly J

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Jan 27, 2010 5:31 AM
Not going there...never was a Project Manager, but I used deal with a President of a companythat knew more about my job than he never did...ya gotta love Excell Spread sheets. They don't lie..HA.

Sorry Zwick, I could go off on Engineers and their knowledge...nothing personal...just real life according to theory.
Jan 27, 2010 5:31am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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Jan 27, 2010 8:07 AM
Curly J wrote: Not going there...never was a Project Manager, but I used deal with a President of a companythat knew more about my job than he never did...ya gotta love Excell Spread sheets. They don't lie..HA.

Sorry Zwick, I could go off on Engineers and their knowledge...nothing personal...just real life according to theory.
huh?
Jan 27, 2010 8:07am
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

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Jan 27, 2010 8:12 AM
^^^^

that confused me as well lol....

that sucks that its turning out to be boring as hell for you dude. I'm thinking about going for my MBA after I graduate next year
Jan 27, 2010 8:12am
Curly J's avatar

Curly J

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Jan 27, 2010 12:51 PM
Confused me as well Zwick, but it made sense when I typed it in my druken state of mind.

I was going along the lines of the micro management statements earlier and the President of the company where I used to work liked to do that (Small company). He used to look at spread sheets and justify his decisons instead of actually knowing what the job entailed.

As far as engineers statement. I've had to deal with them in the past and watched things happen to equipment that they said 'couldn't happen'. (they are/were never wrong)
Jan 27, 2010 12:51pm
OneBuckeye's avatar

OneBuckeye

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Jan 27, 2010 1:49 PM
Project Managment is common sense, communication, organization and effectiveness but using good tools and methodologies already established.

By the way curly J using a spreadsheet and making a descion based on it is how business majors do it, not engineers.
Jan 27, 2010 1:49pm
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cbus4life

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Jan 27, 2010 1:50 PM
OneBuckeye wrote: Project Managment is common sense, communication, organization and effectiveness but using good tools and methodologies already established.

By the way curly J using a spreadsheet and making a descion based on it is how buisness majors do it, not engineers.
Haha, so true.
Jan 27, 2010 1:50pm
Curly J's avatar

Curly J

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Jan 27, 2010 2:12 PM
OneBuckeye wrote: Project Managment is common sense, communication, organization and effectiveness but using good tools and methodologies already established.

By the way curly J using a spreadsheet and making a descion based on it is how buisness majors do it, not engineers.
I couldn't agree more. I was going off an earlier comment someone made about being micromanaged. I wasn't saying it about Project Managers, just micromanage in general.

I work in the same office as a Project Manager and I watched as a project fell through due to the vendor he was working with being bought out. I was just saying to him a week or so before that if I move up in the company I'd rather have his position than a Management position. I changed my mind after hearing the conference call when he had to explain to the VPs what happened and the money, time, effort was gone/wasted/lost.
Jan 27, 2010 2:12pm