Book Review: 4/5 Impact On Me (Book By Eliyahu M. Goldratt)
Read more about the book here
Wow! I found a book on project management by an author who has already impressed me with his supply chain and operations books. The book brilliantly explains several complex concepts. For instance, it addresses monitoring project progress strictly through its critical path. It also tackles the problem of dealing with two types of bottlenecks: a key resource required across multiple projects and a critical path specific to a single project. I didn't fully understand how to handle this, so I plan to re-read the book to grasp it better.
The book taught me three main reasons why projects often face delays. First, every team involved adds a buffer to their timeline. Second, teams aim to meet these buffers rather than submitting work early, which would alter expected timelines. Third, 'school homework syndrome,' where teams delay starting their tasks, believing they can finish on time but often end up late.
Tracking progress based on the total work completed is flawed. Instead, we should introduce a buffer before the critical team's involvement to encourage other teams to finish their tasks sooner. This can counteract the 'school homework syndrome'.
I also learned that applying a single buffer at the project's end, rather than at every stage, is more effective. Additionally, the book suggests ways to motivate vendors or teams to provide accurate estimates instead of inflated ones. This insight is precious, and I look forward to applying these strategies in my projects.
The book had a 4 out of 5 impact on me because project management is crucial in my work. I'm constantly engaged in it at work and home. However, I'm quite concerned about implementing these strategies within my team or planning family activities, as it also involves convincing others of their benefits. This concern remains a key challenge for me.