What drives project management (by industry)...

[pmkb]

aerospace/defense -> bureaucracy / bean counters
construction -> contracts & claims
petrochem (maintenance) -> safety, time, cost
it/software -> teamwork/collaboration

Do you agree or disagree?

[Mark V. Smith]

it/software -> teamwork/collaboration

it/software -> deadline/scope
The marketing dept sold a customer on a new whiz-bang version and sales just signed the contract to deliver it in 6 months. Now they decide to talk to development. Can we take and replace the horse with this guy?

[Mark V. Smith]

aerospace/defense -> bureaucracy / bean counters
construction -> contracts & claims
petrochem (maintenance) -> safety, time, cost
it/software -> teamwork/collaboration

aerospace/defense -> bureaucracy / bean counters = blame/litigation
construction -> contracts & claims = blame/litigation
petrochem (maintenance) -> safety, time, cost = blame/litigation
it/software -> teamwork/collaboration = Birkenstocks & /.

[pmkb]

[PM4HIRE]

Business need!

[harrywaldron]

In the IT profession, sometimes the magazine articles executives read on the plane govern what we'll be working on for the next year

[Bernard]

LOL @ Harry. Good one.

Sadly, it appears that some of the real drivers for some projects are politics and cult(s) of personality.

[cdevera]

IMHO i think that in every kinds of project the key would be:

1. Trust in the team (no hidden agendas)
2. teamwork/co-ordination
3. A Good leader

but sadly politics still lurks around the corner...

[mulikrahul]

The major driving elements in construction are

1. 5 "M"s of Management &
2. The Contract Document.

[Bryan Russell]

This can only be the Contract; which also is the steering wheel and the brakes, with a trailer behind containing claims and disputes.

In the last ten years the standard forms of contract have been drafted to unbalance risk towards the Employer and the wise contractor, and Project Manager, needs to have a wise contractual adviser to actually control the Project and avoid filling the trailer.