True or False: Military managers = Project managers
Are military managers a natural fit for project management? The answer is “yes” according to the latest advice from the Project Management Institute (PMI). But how are military managers suitable for project management work? Surely the Institute isn’t suggesting that Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan, or the guys from Black Hawk Down, are ideal candidates to manage business projects? The truth is that military activities are a mystery for most people, and the image that we get from movies is often a condensed account of everyday military work. In spite of the security measures that conceal what military managers do on a daily basis, one fact has stayed true to public knowledge. That is, the military’s strong reputation for providing schooling in the art of leadership and management.
“We have great managers who haven’t spent a day in management school. Do we have great surgeons that haven’t spent a day in surgical school?”
~ Henry Mintzberg
PROJECT MANAGER FUNDAMENTALS
The two core skills of a project manager are to (1) provide leadership; and (2) make decisions. In any organisation, project managers will enlist these skills to initially plan a set of activities, and then continuously influence resources to facilitate progress toward achieving desired project outcomes. Providing leadership and making decisions is an iterative communication process for any project manager. But if we assimilate a project manager’s role, their purpose can ultimately be defined through the description: to facilitate “project activities”, which lead to the completion of a “project”.
MILITARY MANAGER FUNDAMENTALS
While it’s not immediately recognisable, the fundamentals of a project manager are comparable to those of a military manager. Specifically, military managers are responsible for executing successful Operations through the completion of tactical orders. That might sound interesting, but the unique military language and words like “Operation” and “tactical orders” can create some ambiguity as to what military managers really do. Not surprisingly, it’s this fogginess that causes people to assume what military experience means to them. If we replace the word “Operation” with the word “project”, and the words “tactical orders” with “project activities”, then suddenly the job of a military manager becomes a little clearer. In comparing the two assimilated responsibilities, a project manager’s role resembles a parallel to that of a military manager, which is: to facilitate “tactical orders”, which lead to the completion of an “Operation”.
miltary manager vs project manager
Military Managers
Most military managers start with humble beginnings in the lower ranks of the Army, Navy or Air Force. Following a short introduction to military life, they are immediately thrown into an Operation (or project). However, before learning aspects of leadership and management, they are required to understand and display the qualities of a follower. As a follower, they work in a Unit (project team) that has been assigned “tactical orders” (or project activities); all the while their performance is being reviewed for management potential and promotion opportunity. Typically, three main psychometrics are required for promotion to management ranks, they are: communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills. By exhibiting these skills, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen are afforded promotion to management positions, and in-turn become responsible for military resources.
Before undertaking management responsibilities, promotion candidates attend full-time leadership and management schooling. Traditionally, these ‘military promotion courses’ run for several weeks, and comprise of 50% theory and 50% practical scenario exercises. Similar to project management methodology, the promotion candidates learn a ‘military management methodology’. They are assessed in their ability to practically apply leadership and management skills throughout a suite of Operational (or project) scenarios, which are held in various outdoor settings and range in degrees of difficulty. Graduates of these ‘military promotion courses’ are then appointed as military managers and assigned higher-level responsibilities in a new Operation (or project).
Project Managers
In most cases, the path to earning the title “Project Manager” requires a certification or an education in the field. There are several different routes to obtaining certification, including: AGILE, SCRUM, PMP, PRINCE2. However, becoming a project manager for an organisation is not as routinely scripted as the comparable military manager example. In fact, many companies do not consider it necessary to learn project management methodology before promoting staff to project management roles. It is often the case to find project management professionals who are employed without the aforementioned certifications or education. This doesn’t mean that these professionals are bad managers. It rather observes certifications as being secondary to possessing non-discretionary leadership and management skills.
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN MILITARY & PROJECT MANAGERS
The road that delivers military managers into the world of project management is built on two pillars: (1) corporate respect for military managers’ skill-sets; and (2) education / certification in project management. With the PMI recently advocating the transition of military managers into project management careers, veterans have a better opportunity to apply their leadership and management experience to the corporate industry.
Several vehicles exist as a conduit for veterans seeking project management work. In particular, the co-founders of “Vets2PM”, Eric Wright and Tim Dalhouse, have successfully connected the corporate industry to an untapped resource of experienced managers. While it isn’t as readily available to Australian veterans, this unique American-based company is setting a precedent by supporting military managers in becoming internationally recognised project managers through a certification process.
If you’re a recruitment specialist or hiring manager, share this post amongst your network and capitalise on the thousands of people that leave the military each year. If you’re a military member that is looking to pursue a career in project management, share this article with your personal network and reach out to the team at Vets2PM for information regarding your transition.