3.2. The Project Manager's Toolkit: Key Models, Methods & Artifacts

💡 First Principle: A professional project leader possesses a versatile toolkit of models, methods, and artifacts, and demonstrates expertise by selecting the right tool for the specific context and purpose.

Scenario: A project team is struggling with inaccurate estimates. Instead of forcing one method, the project leader facilitates a discussion on various estimation techniques (a 'method'), such as Planning Poker or Affinity Estimating, and helps the team choose the one that best fits their context. They use a 'model' like the Tuckman ladder to understand the team is in the 'Storming' stage, which explains some of the conflict around the estimates.

Understanding the purpose of models, methods, and artifacts is key to selecting the right tool for the job. This section provides an overview of commonly used items.