linaro-project-management team mailing list archive

[Joey Stanford <joey.stanford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi PMs,

Do NOT skim this email. Please take the time to read it fully.

I'm trying to clarify the value add that project managers bring to
Linaro's Engineering team. This doesn't concern Landing teams because
the value of a good PM is much more evident there.

I've had some interesting discussions over the last week about what
project managers are supposed to be doing and how their (your)
activities are/are not helping the team leads.  I realize that we're
not doing pure classical project management in most cases and that
complicates the value proposition.   In a typical distro, the team
leads do the needed project management activities and many people who
come from this background have trouble understanding the value add a
project manager brings over a low cost general administrator.

----
ACTION: I'd like for you to please answer these questions in a reply email:

1) What activities you are currently doing for your team leads today?
e.g. status reporting, blueprint tracking, documentation updates,
requirements planning, etc   Please be as specific as you can without
writing a book. Bullet points would work best for me.

2) What activities could you do to add value that you are not already
doing? Again, bullet points are probably the best way to document
this, with clarifying comments as needed.

3) Write down any comments as to the value of a PM over an admin
specifically in/for Linaro Engineering. Why do we need PMs in Linaro
Engineering?  What does a PM do that an Admin could not? What
impact(s) would occur if we hired an admin instead of a project
manager? What if we transitioned everything over the team lead?
----

I have a few goals:

1) Refine https://wiki.linaro.org/Process/ProjectManagement  which
right now is just a simple page
2) Ensure the PMs are providing as many beneficial services as
possible and are being justly recognized for their contributions
3) Solidify the justification for having PMs vs admins.   Note, if I
can't do this, I may decide to radically change course and recommend
gradually sunsetting the PM function in favour of a cheap admin or
two. Hence, it's imperative that you put some thought into your
responses above please. Currently there is no pressure to do this
other than for correctness and long term strategy refinement.

I have two open PM slots today.  I plan on hiring for the PM/RM role,
specifically for the release management function, but I've put the
hiring of the pure PM role on hold until after this exercise is
completed and I have good justification to continue.

All thoughts are welcome.

Joey