Are you looking to increase your project management efficiency? AAMcourses is here with the solution to your problem – The 7s of project management.

In every business, every project is crucial to its future. Every task performed, every work done, everything contributes towards the outcome of the project. So, as a manager, it is our job to ensure that each operation is performed efficiently.

To ensure that every department involved in the project is working at its maximum efficiency, the manager must evaluate each department carefully. The manager must check the department’s performance against certain KPIs to check its progress.

McKinsey’s model of the 7s of project management provides a policy/guideline for effective project management. According to the model, these 7s of project management must be aligned effectively for successful project management.

Now, without further ado, let’s look at the 7s of project management.

The 7S of Project Management

McKinsey divided the 7s of project management into soft and hard skills. The 7s of project management are :

• Strategy
• Structure
• System
• Shares value
• Style
• Staff
• Skills

In hard skills, the model places strategy. Structure and system. In soft skills, the model includes style, staff, skills, and shared value.

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Below, we will study all the 7s of project management in detail. Let’s start with the hard skills first.

Hard Skills 

Strategy

The first task after setting an objective is to devise a plan to achieve the objective. That pulls in the first S of the 7s of project management – Strategy.

The project manager must ensure they map out a plan and strategize to act on those plans. The manager must create a guideline for each department, set their objectives, provide policies, and build a proper team.

The manager also has to be flexible to change. There must be contingency plans in case of an emergency. The manager should be able to change their strategy quickly and adapt to new situations.

Structure

The second of the 7s of project management is the organizational structure. The structure refers to the organization’s roles. Who will perform what task? Who will report to whom? And similar questions.

The employee must have a clear idea of who their supervisors are. Supervisors should be aware of who they report to and what their authorities are. In the same way, departmental heads must be mindful of their roles and responsibilities.

A clear organizational structure can ensure smoother interdepartmental work.

System

The next of the 7s of project management is the organizational system. The system is also one of the hard skills in the Mckinsey model.

The system refers to the methods, tools, techniques, and processes used by the organization. The manager has to ensure that the system o the organization works effectively for a timely delivery of the work.

Soft Skills 

Style

The 4th of the 7s of project management is the management style. Each manager has a different style of managing their team. The style can affect the team and its motivation. Each style can offer something different, which may be good or bad for the team.

There are mainly three management leadership styles: Autocratic, democratic, and Laissez-Faire.

Autocratic leadership is where the manager makes the decision based on their judgment. In the democratic style, the manager takes everyone’s input before making a decision. Laissez Faire is a unique style. It empowers and encourages the employees to work in their style as long as they give effective results.

Staff

The next and the 5th of the 7s of project management is the staff. As an organization, your most valuable asset is the human resource you have. The employees are the reason the organization can deliver on time.

As a manager, you must get the best out of every employee. It is important to select the leadership style that is suitable for the team. Some people work better under pressure, some work better when they have freedom, some need guidance, and so on. Every type of member is available in the team, so it is important to understand under what circumstances they can perform the best and adapt the leadership style accordingly.

As a manager, you also have to ensure that you pick out talent. Managers must ensure that they promote talent. They have to make sure that employees get enough opportunities for growth for the sake of the employee as well as the organization.

Skills

The next and the 6th of the 7s of project management are skills. Skills refer to the skills of both – employees and managers. The organization should ensure that they develop and utilize the skills of their employees optimally.
If the employee or manager shows potential, the organization must ensure that they provide them with proper training and opportunities so that they can explore and increase their skills. This will not only empower the employee but also positively affect the organization.

Shared Value

The last of the 7s of project management is organizational values. This is one of the most crucial soft skills. The reason is that it is one of the most important factors in retaining employees. The organization must ensure that they have a good and healthy work culture.

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FAQs

Closing Statement

As a project manager, these are the 7s of project management that can help your organization boost efficiency. Each S has its effect on every project. As a manager, you should understand how to use these 7s of project management effectively. But before learning how to use it, you must first identify these 7s in your organization.

I hope this article about the 7s of project management is informative. If you have any doubts or suggestions, quickly strategies your words and let me know in the comment box.