Comment Re:Projects vs. Operations (Score 1) 163
Here's my simple litmus test:
Do you have to go through some sort of formal change request/review process where you document what you will be changing, when it will occur, how long it will take, who will be impacted, what the backout/contigency is, and what the communications will be, then schedule a change and have it approved by the appropriate stakeholders, implement the change, test it, document it and have feedback?
If the answer is yes, then you are involved in a project.
I have worked in a lot of organizations where patching a database and similar functions are considered operational work. Everything is done informally and works great and the sun still rises in the east. I have also worked in organizations where the database in question is the backend to one of the nation's largest point-of-sale systems. Changes aren't as easy to push though.
It's really an issue of how well-tuned an organization is to its resourcing and risk management requirements. I'm finding more and more companies are reaching the limits of what they can accomplish informally. A lot of people are doing project work and are using project management techniques...they're just not aware that they're doing it!
Do you have to go through some sort of formal change request/review process where you document what you will be changing, when it will occur, how long it will take, who will be impacted, what the backout/contigency is, and what the communications will be, then schedule a change and have it approved by the appropriate stakeholders, implement the change, test it, document it and have feedback?
If the answer is yes, then you are involved in a project.
I have worked in a lot of organizations where patching a database and similar functions are considered operational work. Everything is done informally and works great and the sun still rises in the east. I have also worked in organizations where the database in question is the backend to one of the nation's largest point-of-sale systems. Changes aren't as easy to push though.
It's really an issue of how well-tuned an organization is to its resourcing and risk management requirements. I'm finding more and more companies are reaching the limits of what they can accomplish informally. A lot of people are doing project work and are using project management techniques...they're just not aware that they're doing it!
