You are absolutely right when you say that conventional project management is not social.

Conventional project management became formal after WWII. At the time, there was very little awareness about what really motivates people in general. In fact, I would argue that at that time, organizations didn’t really need to worry about people that much, let alone how they are motivated. Post-WWII Project Management in defense & aerospace, pharmaceutical, construction industries, which influenced the founding fathers and mothers of conventional project management, only needed few smart “planners” at the top to develop an “efficient” plan. These industries were dealing with mostly proven technologies and the masses of eager and less educated workers were ready and willing execute the plan without much thought. The assumption was that the workers’ feelings, thoughts, behaviors can be held constant, since they really can’t be (and don’t need to be) planned.

Conventional PM approach to planning and even the process groups and knowledge areas we are still taught and used today are from that bygone era.

This top down approach is still taught in our PM “Education System” today, despite the realities and challenges of the current knowledge-based economy and workplace.

So yes, I agee: conventional project management is not social. We are ready for a refresh!

Samad Aidane
Managing Editor
GuerrillaProjectManagent.com