I was recently asked, "What project management methodology do you use?", and I had to really think about that question.  It’s not that I don’t use a plan and a system, but I don’t know that it has a particular name.

In my opinion, many of the popular project management methodologies are like fad diets:  There are plenty of them out there, and there’s always a new one coming down the pipe.  In every case, you can find someone who claims great success, but no one system will work for everyone in every situation.  They usually seem to over-emphasize one element of health while minimizing or ignoring others, and thus nearly all of them are unhealthy if followed strictly.  The primary success of most of them is in selling books and seminars.

A real diet is fairly simple, and is made up of some fundamental principles:  Don’t gorge yourself.  Minimize fats and sugars.  Eat natural foods instead of “junk” food.  Exercise.  Drink lots of water.  These things aren’t flashy or revolutionary, but they work.  They may not sell a lot of books or make anyone famous, but they will promote a long and healthy life.

Project management is just like that.  There are some fundamental principles that aren’t revolutionary or mind-blowing, but are necessary for success.  Without these principles, you can introduce all kinds of complicated systems and extreme techniques, but your project is likely to fail.

Over the next several posts, I will lay out what I consider to be the fundamental principles of project management.