Question

Discuss the role of a Christian worldview in IT project management and provide an example of how it can be applied to contribute to the success of a project.

Answer 1

The role of a Christian worldview in IT project management:

The role of the Project Manager is largely a balancing act… meeting all the needs of the client (those they want you to know, those they need to know, and those they don’t care to know), while knowing your team well enough to give them the information they need to do their work without getting in their way, thus hindering productivity. Do these things and at the same time keep the team on time, on target, and on budget, checking in but not impeding, offering your help when asked but all the while respecting the individual team member’s perspective and contributions; all these things and more are necessary parts of successful project management. What’s more your success as a Project Manager, by definition, is measured by the success of your team, not as an individual; make them look good and your role becomes ever more important not only to your firm’s leadership, your peers, and teammates but also to the client. In the end, you build relationships with your team and your client while building their trust in your abilities to lead as you show them what a Project Manager is meant to be. Your objective as Project Manager is to put others first by giving them the tools they need to do their craft and do it well. In Luke chapter fourteen Jesus instructed us this way… Luke 14:8-11 When you are invited to a wedding feast, don't sit in the best place. Someone more important may have been invited. (9) Then the one who invited you will come and say, "Give your place to this other guest!" You will be embarrassed and will have to sit in the worst place. (10) When you are invited to be a guest, go and sit in the worst place. Then the one who invited you may come and say, "My friend, take a better seat!" You will then be honored in front of all the other guests. (11) If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.

Inspire confidence in your team by keeping them up to date on current and relevant events throughout the project such as emails, schedules, equipment updates, owner comments, etc. don’t make them spend time looking for answers. You are the eyes and ears of the team; knowing the individual team member’s needs and deciphering between necessary information and that which only serves to bottleneck; this requires relationship and relationship demands that you work with your team to understand what they do. If you can do that then you can head off questions that are relevant to the client but do not require the immediate attention of your team. It is your job to satisfy the client’s concerns while allowing your team to stay productive. On the next team huddle, it is your responsibility to update the team on these types of decisions as they relate to project progress.

You want a team that is full of energy, where productivity flows, and members take ownership of each project. Then update your team at the appropriate times, empower them to impact the outcome, and remember your perspective is contagious. Don't be afraid to give away ownership, your value isn't found in owning achievements but instilling creativity, in leading a team that can tackle any obstacle, meeting, and exceeding the expectations of your clients. Adversely, you will wear yourself out pushing and prodding each team member and you will be left wondering why Project Managing is so much work. Fulfilling the role of Project Manager the wrong way is often to blame for many not wanting to do it. We’ve all known those who rely on micromanaging to get work done. In the short-term, it is easier to tell someone what to do than it is to lead and inspire but you’ll not only burn yourself out but you will have a group of people who are unwilling to follow you beyond your given authority. Additionally, no one likes being kept in the dark, only working on their small part and not knowing how it fits into the big picture. Instead, people want to know how their contributions have helped to solve the needs of others; for fun follow up a project with news articles of how it has impacted the community or how it has helped your company to grow. Too many times those who are assigned to the role of Project Manager were chosen because of their abilities but they are also people who already have plates full of other responsibilities and as a result, they don’t have the time to give themselves fully to the position. When it comes to being a successful Project Manager time is just as important as abilities. Those without both either concentrate their efforts on client management or damage control as a means of their own time management and is therefore unable to get the entire package right, not realizing a partial effort causes many inefficiencies and worse runs the risk of a client being dissatisfied. In Exodus chapter eighteen we read about a similar situation. Moses was over all of Israel and when they had a problem they would look to him to resolve it, both Moses and the people were becoming frustrated but when his father-in-law saw it he instructed Moses to build leaders to meet the people’s needs and only the most important matters would be brought to him. This kept both Moses and the people from being worn out and all leadership positions, even today require the same of us. We are to give it away! You know when you are doing what you are supposed to do when you have trained others to do what you are doing now. I have been in situations where I took on the responsibility, gathered a team, built up leaders, and worked myself out of a position so that I could go on to do bigger things. The problem starts when we measure our own value through the positions we acquire, the contacts we hold on to, or tricks of the trade we hide to make ourselves look good thereby causing productivity to stagnate because we fear the unknown.

Your role as Project Manager should be transparent meaning the information you have gathered should be readily available to all team members and kept in an orderly fashion. When team members miss out on obtaining a client goal because an email sat in your inbox unseen by anyone but you then they become frustrated and as a result, they, to some extent, feel their trust was betrayed thus causing the role of Project Manager to become devalued or diminished. In my career, I have seen leadership that has inspired and empowered its constituents but I have also seen or heard stories about designers reluctantly assuming the role of Project Manager because the person assigned to that role was too disconnected from the project for one reason or another. If we are to grow then we need to take a hard look at areas that need improvement. In this case, maybe the person assigned to the role undertook it not fully understanding what was required or how important their role was as Project Manager to the development of a design after all the PM doesn’t do the design work, right? If the picture you have of a Project Manager is a person who initially meets the client, answers occasional phone calls, and takes meetings then lets the team do the rest while you move on to “bigger and better” things, then I would venture to say you are not well prepared for that role. There is a difference between allowing your team to take ownership and being disconnected or distracted. Your team naturally wants to follow you and know that the success of the project is foremost in your mind but if they have to follow behind and not only do their part but your part as well then you have lost their confidence and are unable to lead.

A person who is meant to fill the role of Project Manager has more than just abilities and time but also the desire to see their team succeed. They are willing to invest his/her own time even if their efforts are not immediately recognized; having a good understanding of each team member’s part and have the willingness to get in the trenches to help when needed and they genuinely are interested in offering solutions that not only meet the client’s expectations but have the means to deliver the results efficiently and through industry-leading methods. Additionally, for many solutions, the Project Manager will seek out and collaborate with different team members so they are also invested in the effort. Though project design details are not the PM’s priority they should understand each intricate detail to the extent that is required to explain all the reasons “why” to the client. They have the ability to make work fun and instill vision. Ultimately they make their team look good to the clients and their clients look good to the owner.

The heart of the best Project Manager knows what service is all about and is not afraid to lead by example, they are genuinely enthusiastic about building relationships, are excited about seeing others succeed, understanding the unique contribution of each team member and are able to maximize their potential for the best outcome, not unlike a great symphony conductor. The Project Manager, though he/she has a desire to resolve issues through effective design, is first others-centered and is able to keep sight of the big picture at all times so their team has space to work out each detail efficiently while inspired and invested in the outcome.

While many examples could be offered, here are six particular applications where a Christian worldview provides a difference in perspective:

1. Technology—Technology can become either an instrument through which we fulfill our role as God’s stewards or an object of worship that will eventually rule us. A Christian worldview provides balance and insight for understanding this crucial aspect of twenty-first-century life.
2. Sexuality and marriage—Sexuality has become a major topic for those entering the third millennium. Much confusion exists among Christians and non-Christians. Sexuality is good in the covenant relationship of mutual self-giving marriage. Sexual intimacy, separated from covenant marriage, in heterosexual or homosexual relations is sinful and has a distorted meaning, a self-serving purpose, and negative consequences.
3. The environment—Environmental stewardship means we have a responsibility to the nonhuman aspects of God’s creation. Since God’s plan of redemption includes his earthly creation, as well as human, we should do all we can to live in it carefully and lovingly.
4. The arts and recreation—The arts and recreation are understood as legitimate and important parts of human creativity and community. They express what it means to be created in the image of God. We need to develop critical skills of analysis and evaluation so that we are informed, intentional, and reflective about what we create, see, and do.
5. Science and faith—For almost two centuries science have been at the forefront of our modern world. We must explore how we see scientific issues from the vantage point of a Christian worldview. An understanding of God includes the knowledge we gain through scientific investigation. With the lens of faith in place, a picture of God’s world emerges that complements and harmonizes the findings of science and the teachings of Scripture.
6. Vocation—Important for any culture is an understanding of work. Work is a gift from God and is to be pursued with excellence for God’s glory. We recognize that all honest professions are honorable, that the gifts and abilities we have for our vocation (vocatio/calling) come from God, and that prosperity and promotions come from God.