李燕云/譯

是的,這是真的!你可以在你家鄉(xiāng)的YMCA組織那里體驗(yàn)一次項(xiàng)目管理的過程.這應(yīng)該是一次輕松的體驗(yàn),因?yàn)槟阒恍枰岢錾暾?qǐng),做一個(gè)志愿者,指導(dǎo)一幫小孩子.

我的兒子四歲,好動(dòng),精力充沛.我們夫妻倆決定送他去參加一個(gè)四到六歲小孩子的籃球比賽.報(bào)名那天,比賽組織者(項(xiàng)目發(fā)起人)告訴我,他們需要個(gè)籃球教練(項(xiàng)目申請(qǐng)).我從沒有做過正式的教練,但在我的職業(yè)生涯中,有好多次曾經(jīng)扮演過類似的角色.我相信這應(yīng)該不難,于是接受了邀請(qǐng).(項(xiàng)目經(jīng)理指派).

一起接受邀請(qǐng)的,還有其他十個(gè)孩子的家長(zhǎng).我們?cè)谀抢锫犎〗M織者介紹情況.他說今年是他們第一次組織這個(gè)活動(dòng),沒有什么經(jīng)驗(yàn).他還從來沒有組織過這樣的小baby球隊(duì),也沒有一個(gè)成型的推進(jìn)計(jì)劃,更不確定我們什么時(shí)候可以開始訓(xùn)練.我回到家,將一些需要回答的問題制作成一張表格.在過后的幾天里,我找到組織者(小型JAD會(huì)議),向他請(qǐng)教表格中列出的問題,他能夠回答一些,但也有些他不能夠回答.(后來我收集到一些新的信息,細(xì)化了我的工作內(nèi)容,并將那些不確定的問題放到日志里去).

周末我收到了我的隊(duì)員名單(項(xiàng)目成員分派).盡管還有一些不確定的問題,我還是決定召集所有的家長(zhǎng)們碰個(gè)頭,將我收集到的信息告訴他們,并一起解決其他問題(JAD會(huì)議).但在這之前,我還需要將一些信息文件化.首先我制作了隊(duì)員列表,里面包括有隊(duì)員姓名,家長(zhǎng)姓名,以及聯(lián)系電話(聯(lián)系人名單).我還完成了一個(gè)初步的訓(xùn)練計(jì)劃(項(xiàng)目計(jì)劃).開會(huì)那天,除一個(gè)家長(zhǎng)外,其他孩子的家長(zhǎng)都到會(huì)了(一次典型的項(xiàng)目首次會(huì)議).我們一起研究了相關(guān)議程,定下了正式的訓(xùn)練日期,安排了誰(shuí)將負(fù)責(zé)采購(gòu)零食.另外,我們還幸運(yùn)地拿到了正式的比賽計(jì)劃.

有一項(xiàng)議程是找一天大家來個(gè)合影照,我們想選定某個(gè)星期天.但這同好幾個(gè)家長(zhǎng)的日程有沖突.于是我說我將另外選一個(gè)日期.回到電腦桌前,我將這個(gè)問題加入到日志里,重新錄入我們商討后的訓(xùn)練計(jì)劃,還為那個(gè)沒有參加會(huì)議的家長(zhǎng)制作了會(huì)議記錄.

我覺得我們已經(jīng)有了一個(gè)不錯(cuò)的計(jì)劃.我們開始了我們的訓(xùn)練.第一次到Y(jié)MCA參加這樣的活動(dòng),讓我有些興奮.我用計(jì)劃好的檢驗(yàn)方式(另外的議程)來對(duì)這些孩子做測(cè)試, 跑動(dòng),傳球,運(yùn)球,投籃.我用一個(gè)表格去記錄他們的成績(jī).其間,我高興地地記錄著他們的成績(jī),稱贊著他們的表現(xiàn).那一天我們大家都很開心.我將這第一次的訓(xùn)練記錄帶回家輸入電腦,用它給每一個(gè)小隊(duì)員打分,以代表他們的技術(shù)水平(這個(gè)表格同我們的供應(yīng)商記分卡類似).

要想在第一次比賽前的短短的一兩周時(shí)間內(nèi),教會(huì)這群四到六歲孩子基本的籃球技術(shù),不是件輕松的事.我的目標(biāo)是將這些孩子平分成兩支實(shí)力相當(dāng)?shù)乃娜岁?duì)伍(正式比賽是四人對(duì)四人),在訓(xùn)練中讓他們來一場(chǎng)混戰(zhàn).我知道帶兩支四人的球隊(duì)比帶一支八人的球隊(duì)要容易一些.(記分卡可以很方便地幫助我分配這兩支隊(duì)伍)

我們第二次走進(jìn)YMCA的訓(xùn)練場(chǎng)時(shí),柜臺(tái)后面的工作人員給了我們一個(gè)限制條件.他說從下次開始我們最遲必須在下午五點(diǎn)鐘前到達(dá)訓(xùn)練場(chǎng).我知道這是個(gè)不合適的要求.因?yàn)槲覀儺?dāng)中很多孩子的家長(zhǎng)工作的原因他們不可能在五點(diǎn)半之前到來.但YMCA不肯作出通融.我只好將情況簡(jiǎn)單地同家長(zhǎng)們談了談,說如果我們不能找到一個(gè)新的訓(xùn)練場(chǎng)地,我們將不可能繼續(xù)我們的訓(xùn)練.我明白大家都是在一條船上,我們必須共同面對(duì).結(jié)束這次防守訓(xùn)練后,我回到家開始想辦法解決這個(gè)大問題.

即使這已經(jīng)成為一個(gè)正式的項(xiàng)目,我和我們這個(gè)團(tuán)隊(duì)在進(jìn)行風(fēng)險(xiǎn)評(píng)估時(shí)并沒有意識(shí)到這個(gè)潛在的問題.現(xiàn)在問題已經(jīng)很嚴(yán)重了,我們需要一個(gè)應(yīng)急方案來解決這個(gè)問題.我們必須盡快找到一個(gè)替代的訓(xùn)練場(chǎng)地.但這又涉及到一個(gè)新的問題,預(yù)算問題.要知道我們的孩子只有四到六歲,他們沒有人可以將籃球投到正常的籃筐高度.YMCA有這樣特制的7.5英尺高的籃球架.但其他地方不大可能有.我們?cè)撛趺崔k?

這個(gè)問題困擾了我好幾天,其他孩子的家長(zhǎng)也沒有什么好辦法.可一個(gè)優(yōu)秀的項(xiàng)目經(jīng)理應(yīng)該在組織中具備有影響力.盡管我不是某個(gè)組織中的一員,但我是我們社區(qū)的一員.我認(rèn)識(shí)消防隊(duì)的隊(duì)長(zhǎng),他應(yīng)該可以幫助我.找到他向他說明了我們的困難后,他表態(tài)同意移走兩輛消防車好騰出房間供我們訓(xùn)練.哈哈,現(xiàn)在想一想,有幾個(gè)隊(duì)伍能在明亮鮮紅的消防車旁進(jìn)行籃球訓(xùn)練?我告訴家長(zhǎng)們我們又有地方可以訓(xùn)練了.

現(xiàn)在只剩下籃球架的問題了.這完全是一項(xiàng)夜間工作.我到倉(cāng)庫(kù)里找到一副舊的球架,取下籃筐和籃板,還有一個(gè)4X4的合頁(yè)及其它可供安裝的小裝置.用它們制成了一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)便的高度正好的籃球架. 還差一個(gè),我用上了我家那個(gè)五加侖油桶上的適合幼兒用的籃球架.將它調(diào)整到合適的高度.大功便告成!

第三次訓(xùn)練的時(shí)候,我到達(dá)得早一些,安裝球架,用膠帶標(biāo)出邊界線.當(dāng)孩子們到來時(shí),都很驚訝于他們竟然有如此酷的訓(xùn)練場(chǎng)地.我將他們分成兩組,分配好各自的角色(責(zé)任矩陣).然后,藍(lán)隊(duì)對(duì)白隊(duì),我們?cè)僖淮芜M(jìn)行了攻防演練.孩子們不僅學(xué)習(xí)了籃球技巧,而且人人都玩得很開心.我的第二個(gè)目標(biāo)達(dá)到了.

合影照的事很容易就解決了.我聯(lián)系到攝像師,在這次訓(xùn)練結(jié)束后,我們一起乘車到他那里,擺pose來了個(gè)集體照.

剩下的賽季,我們沒有碰上什么麻煩事.聚到一起,然后訓(xùn)練.在最后,我們完成了十場(chǎng)比賽.感謝上帝,他們并沒有記錄下比賽的比分.可這一段經(jīng)歷,可真是一段快樂的時(shí)光,孩子們開心,大人們開心.而且,我們還從中學(xué)到了一些東西.

在最后一場(chǎng)比賽后,我們舉行了一個(gè)pizza party(項(xiàng)目結(jié)束會(huì)議). 會(huì)上,我們?yōu)楹⒆觽兠咳藴?zhǔn)備了一份小小的紀(jì)念品,以表彰他們的參與.孩子們歡騰了(獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)與承認(rèn)).同樣地,我也得到了承認(rèn),被邀請(qǐng)明年再一次擔(dān)任教練!

也許這種說法并不錯(cuò):不論你以前的工作領(lǐng)域是什么,項(xiàng)目經(jīng)理們都可以到其他領(lǐng)域一展身手.呵呵,留意了,NBA,我來了.

原文：

　　　　　　　　Free PM Training at the Y

written by: Richard Weller, MBA, PMP

Yes, it?s true!! You can get free Project Management experience from your local YMCA. All you have to do is volunteer to be a Coach for a team of Tiny Tykes.

My son is four and full of energy, so my wife and I elected to enroll him in the 4 to 6 year old basketball program. On the day of enrollment, the director (Sponsor) stated that he needed coaches (project requested). I have never been an official coach, but many times in my management career I have referred to myself as a coach. I thought surely this can?t be that tough, so I signed up (Project Manager assigned).

There were ten other fathers standing there in the middle of the gym floor as the director explained that this was the first year for the program and he had very little information for us. He did not have the teams assigned yet, the schedule of games had not been established, and he was even uncertain of when we could hold practices. I went home and developed a list of questions that I needed answered. I called the director the following day (mini JAD session). He was able to answer many of my questions, but there were still some that were outstanding. (I used the new information to enhance my Scope Statement, and the outstanding questions were moved to an Issue Log).

By the end of the week I received the list of players that were on my team (Team Members assigned). I determined that even though there were some outstanding issues, I should pull all the parents together to give them the information that I did have, and work to fill in the rest (JAD Session). But before I could do that, what I needed to do was document some of this information. First I created a list of the players? names, the parents? names, and their phone numbers (Contact List). I also created an agenda along with a proposed timeline (project schedule). All parents showed up for the initial meeting except for one (typical of any other project I have ever managed!). We worked through the agenda and established official practice days, assigned who would was responsible for snacks, and luckily were finally given the official game schedule.

One agenda item was the date for team photos. We had been assigned a date to have the photos taken that fell on a Sunday. This caused a schedule conflict with many parents, so I told them I would work on getting an alternate date. After I returned to my computer, I added this to the Issue Log. I also updated the Schedule with the official game dates, and then created some rough meeting minutes for the one parent that did not make it to the meeting.
I felt we had a pretty good plan created and was excited as we entered the YMCA for our first practice. I had established a series of drills (another agenda) to test each player?s skills. The kids ran, they passed, they dribbled and they shot. I had made a little form to help evaluate their skills. I feverishly documented their efforts and praised their accomplishments. We all had a blast. After the initial practice, I took the information home and plugged it into my computer. The form I was using allowed me to create one number that summed their skill level (this form was similar to the Scorecard I had used in the past to assist in determining the best vendor for a product!)

Teaching eight 4-6 year old kids the fundamentals of basketball was going to be tough in the short two week time frame before our first game. My objective was to create two evenly matched teams of four (official games would be 4 on 4), and work to the point of scrimmaging on another during practice. I also knew it would be easier to teach two teams of four, than one team of eight! (The scorecard worked beautifully for creating these two teams.)

As we entered the YMCA for our second practice, the person behind the counter informed us of a new constraint. It had been determined that after today the latest we could get on the floor to practice was 5pm. This was an unreasonable constraint. There were many of us parents that could not get to practice before 5:30 due to work. The YMCA would not budge on this constraint. I briefly met with the parents and explained that unless we found an alternate place to practice our son or myself could not participate. I knew many of the other parents were in the same boat. We completed our practice on defense and I went home to work on the major issue.

Even if this had been an official project, I don?t think myself or the team would have recognized this as a potential problem while creating a Risk Assessment, but it would have been great to have a contingency plan already in place. Instead we were now scrambling around to find an alternate place to practice. This issue also brought up budget concerns. Keep in mind the kids are 4-6 years old. None of them can get the ball up to an official rim height, so the YMCA had purchased rims that went down to 7.5 feet. How do we deal with this issue?

I struggled with this problem for a few days. None of the other parents could come up with anything either. Then it hit me. One of the characteristics of a good project manager is to be able to influence the organization. I wasn?t working within an organization, but I was within a community, and I did know the head of the local fire department. Upon explaining our situation to the Fire Chief, he had no problem moving two of the trucks outside to make room for us to practice. Now think about that! How many other teams got to practice beside bright red shiny fire trucks? I called each parent and explained that we could continue to practice.
Now all I had to do was overcome the budget constraint for rims. This was a full evening?s work. I pulled the rim and backboard off our storage building, and along with a 4x4, hinges and a little ingenuity, created a portable hoop that was just the right height. For the second backboard, I elevated a Playschool rim that we kept in the house on 5 gallon buckets, and got close to the proper height.

Just prior to the third practice, I had to arrive early to set up the rims and mark off the floor with tape so the kids would have the foul line. The kids were in awe as they arrived to find they got to practice in such a cool place. I used the list of names with position assignments (Responsibility Matrix) to break the group into two teams: blue versus white. We practiced our simple offense and again the kids not only learned, but they had a blast. My two main goals achieved.

The final issue surrounding pictures was easily resolved. I was able to get in direct contact with the photographer. Immediately following practice three, we all caravanned to his location and posed for our group photo.

The rest of the season went without issues. We met, practiced, and played out our schedule of ten games. Thank goodness the officials did not keep score during these games. Let?s just say we were having a building year. The kids had fun, the coach had fun, and I know we all learned a little!

We held a pizza party after our last game of the season (project closure meeting). During the party each child was ecstatic to receive a small trophy for their participation (reward and recognition). I, too, was rewarded with many requests to be the Coach again next year! Maybe it is true?Regardless of your area of experience, a project manager can move into other fields to manage. Look out NBA, here I come!!

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