The Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Men often go Awry: The Disadvantages of Project Management

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this conceptual chapter is to highlight the disadvantages of project management to help the reader put project management work in context.

Methodology/approach

Different project management methodologies such as waterfall project management, Agile project management, Six Sigma, and Kanban are discussed in terms of overall problems and then specific problems with each methodology. Managing multiple projects and the problems with program and portfolio management are discussed.

Findings

The findings are that most formalized project management methods are ill-suited to most library-related situations. However, some aspects of project management are well suited to any project, at any size, and those are discussed.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is that readers will get a strong understanding of project management methodologies in context and a clear idea of the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Citation

Perrin, J.M. (2018), "The Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Men often go Awry: The Disadvantages of Project Management", Project Management in the Library Workplace (Advances in Library Administration and Organization, Vol. 38), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 71-88. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0732-067120180000038001