It is easy to understand how important the application of project management skills has become to the international development community. Donors, international development firms, consultants and their client governments are constantly looking for better ways of managing projects to achieve results. Here are a few interesting points picked up from recent experiences:
1. Although a project might have the most sophisticated project management approaches, it takes time and persistence to build momentum – especially where resources, leadership and co-ordination is at a premium. Hence, projects should plan for time to build momentum and engagement even though very few if any project results or milestones are reached. It takes time to build a common set of ideas and vision for a reform. Sometimes it is more important to show persistence than results, even if it does look like inertia at times.
2. Small wins create momentum. When “bigger picture” results described in project sheets appear out of reach, creating small wins is a tangible way forward. These can include early positive feedback from stakeholders, or the discovery of new possibilities, the resolution of a difficult challenge or early steps that demonstrate engagement to build the required change. Continuous small wins such as these can create remarkable momentum for change.
To my neighbourhood’s football (soccer) players, small wins and persistence were unshakable concepts of great significance. Their play tells the story.
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