Let’s expand the scope of our discussion.
Looking back on the countless projects I have managed myself or been invited to assist with, I find that they all had 4 fundamental building blocks:
- Desired value
- Obstacles
- Solutions
- Resources
The Desired Value represents a specific, time-bound outcome or reality represents an acceptable return on investment (ROI) for all of the risk and effort taken to achieve it. My use of the words ROI “Return On Investment” should not lead you to believe that this definition is limited to the business world. All endeavors that consume resources must strive for acceptable RIO. Must justify their use of resources with an acceptable profit. If you are running an NGO, the profit you are committed to (and accountable for) is the scope of positive social change your effort achieves. If you are a teacher, the profit is your educational impact on the overall well-being of your students. If you are a politician, your profit is the scope of the mandate you gain from your defined constituency.
The Obstacles represent anything that might stand in your way on the path to your Desired Value. This may include personal weaknesses and shortcomings; harmful internal dynamics within the team you are part of and external forces such as market trends, a competitive landscape, legal regulations, international relations, and so on.
The Solutions represent any course of action that leads to the Desired Value.
The Resources comprise any assets that need to be utilized or expended in order to successfully implement the solution that leads to the Desired Value.
Notice how the Desired Value paragraph was the longest? Yep. It’s that critical.