Managing Interruptions for Project managers

Abstract

A key barrier to managing time effectively without causing major hinder to success is the common encounter with interruption in everyday work situation. The study replicates and extends on previous work on: a) how and when interruptions occur, b) how managers´ task are affected by interruptions and c) how managers constantly cope with reorganizing their work. The study was carried out at an Engineering consultancy work place where the participant (project manager) was shadowed under working hours as he handled a number of interruptions and disruptions. In the process the methodology use to conduct this study and explain the activities involve in collecting empirical data will be theoretical and practical approaches with adaptation of qualitative and qualitative methods. The participant (Project manager) will be treated to three often encountered intersecting jobs: keeping the project on time, on scope and on budget across everyday interruptions, Stakeholder interruptions and User interruptions that slow down the project such as; phone calls, emails, instant messages, hallway conversations, colleagues stopping to chat at the office, unexpected company meetings, team member being out sick and increase in scope from a stakeholder. The focus will be on different types interruptions, its consequences both positive and negative, the beneficiary, what happens after the interruption, how Project Managers handle and mitigate interruptive activities. In order to achieve these goals the author will pay visit to the Project Managers’ workplace for one week before the actual commencement of the research. The purpose is to get acquainted with the company’s culture, practice and foster interpersonal relationship. This will be succeeded by the process of shadowing which will last for a period of two weeks. During this period of observation, details of the project Managers’ activities in the office will be studied by mapping, timing and tabulating; movement within the office, interaction with human and technological devices, above all utilization of time. Also, the author will conduct two interviews that will be used alongside the recorded observation to generate the result of the study. Some abbreviations used in the thesis include; Pm (Project manager), ITC (Information Technology Communication), AOL (America on line), IM (Instant Messages), PDA (Personal Digital Assistances), IMS (Interruption Management Strategies).