Feedback on project input request
Feedback on project input request
(OP)
Hi Everyone,
I would like to hear your opinion on the email I got from my boss. We are starting a pretty big program and at the beginning of 06 my boss asked me for a planning and goals for myself and the program. I sent my boss an email asking for guidelines for the overall program. Below is the reply I got. I wanted to give you enough background but not too much so that what I said will affect your opinion. Please comment on the email below.
***************************************
Regarding the ****** program, I do have the overall program goals and timelines. But, I would like to see you start your plan and goal first, and then we will sit down together to finalize your plan. The reasons I am doing this are: I want to use your imagination and creativity to move this program as far as possible; also to practice your leadership skills in terms of program milestone and timeline. I am doing this is to avoid taking over your thinking and not leaving the room for you to grow.
This is some of my suggestions. When you think about this program, pretend yourself as a program manager and put your thoughts through like: what market this product can go to/what is the risk/challenge in each market/how and when we can take this product to market/what needs to be done to get this products into the markets. Give some thoughts during this week, and I can sit down with you earlier next week to get details.
*******************************************************
I would like to hear your opinion on the email I got from my boss. We are starting a pretty big program and at the beginning of 06 my boss asked me for a planning and goals for myself and the program. I sent my boss an email asking for guidelines for the overall program. Below is the reply I got. I wanted to give you enough background but not too much so that what I said will affect your opinion. Please comment on the email below.
***************************************
Regarding the ****** program, I do have the overall program goals and timelines. But, I would like to see you start your plan and goal first, and then we will sit down together to finalize your plan. The reasons I am doing this are: I want to use your imagination and creativity to move this program as far as possible; also to practice your leadership skills in terms of program milestone and timeline. I am doing this is to avoid taking over your thinking and not leaving the room for you to grow.
This is some of my suggestions. When you think about this program, pretend yourself as a program manager and put your thoughts through like: what market this product can go to/what is the risk/challenge in each market/how and when we can take this product to market/what needs to be done to get this products into the markets. Give some thoughts during this week, and I can sit down with you earlier next week to get details.
*******************************************************





RE: Feedback on project input request
David
RE: Feedback on project input request
Has he recently become your boss? Have you not been with the company long? Seems to me there were recent changes and your boss is 'testing' the waters.
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 05
AutoCAD 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716
RE: Feedback on project input request
RE: Feedback on project input request
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376
RE: Feedback on project input request
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Feedback on project input request
Good luck,
H.
RE: Feedback on project input request
Give the program some thought as to how you would make it successful. Then review it with your boss and ask for his input. This should be a great learning experience.
RE: Feedback on project input request
RE: Feedback on project input request
And - this isn't meant to be critical of your boss at all.
RE: Feedback on project input request
First of all, don't communicate with your boss by email and secondly why wouldn't you just do what he tells you!
I used to supervise a group of engineers and frequently challenged them to come up with goals and timelines for their own work just to see what they were capable of and to make them progress.
Don't try to read between the lines too much, don't overanalyse.
Yes he may be reading too many effective manager books, so what? At least he doesn't shove his ideas down your throat (although he might if yours are not exactly the same, you'll find out soon enough).
RE: Feedback on project input request
Fool me once shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Is this the first time? If yes, go along and see what he has to show you when you guys sit down.
Is this the second time? If yes, it depends on what happened the first time now doesn't it?
RE: Feedback on project input request
Now if there is more you want to tell us to hear what you want to hear, I would be interested in hearing it.
RE: Feedback on project input request
My initial reaction was that the guy had read too many “How to become an Effective Manager in 7 EZ Steps” books however I’d follow Ashereng’s advice and go along with him if it’s the first time and if it’s the second time prevent what happened last time from reoccurring.
Anytime I see anything full of jargon like “goals and timelines” “room for you to grow” and “risk/challenge’ I get suspicious. Why cannot any manager simply say something like
“The project is not yet very well defined but I want your best guess as to what it will be and what our capabilities will be in supporting this nebulous project.”
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Feedback on project input request
But would you force them to do so before filling them in on all the details you had about the project?? That's what this boss is doing.
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376
RE: Feedback on project input request
This sounds similar except is applied to your companies products instead of your career path. This should separate the leaders from the followers so take this as an opportunity to show what you are willing to do promote your company and products.
And as the others said, make sure he's not going to pass on your ideas as his own. There's nothing wrong in passing on ideas as long as credit is given where credit is due.
NozzleTwister
Houston, Texas
RE: Feedback on project input request
My two cents, but then again its your opportunity on the line, not mine. Also, other than your post I have no clue about the rest of your environment at that company, so take my advice with multiple grains of salt. Whatever you decide I hope you're a winner!
debodine
RE: Feedback on project input request
It's rather disappointing that when a manager appears to doing precisely what he's supposed to be doing, e.g., helping you grow into more responsibilities and experience, he gets accused of all sorts of nefarious and underhanded behavior.
Time for all of you to find another boss to work for!!
If you have no other negative data about your manager, accept it on its face value. If he's truly doing the right thing, you've got yourself a keeper. And you can thumb your nose at the naysayers here. At the very minimum, he's not indifferent to you and that's already better than average. Even if he's as bad as some people here might think, bear in mind that he's thinking that your ideas are worth stealing, which is a kudo for you.
My personal experience is that there are indeed managers who are willing to take the time to nurture employees and help the reach their potential. Whenever I've found one in my career, I stick with the guy. I once worked for the same manager at 4 different companies over 18 yrs, because he was a keeper. Caused me a minor panic when he retired, but luckily, I joined up with another great manager and I've worked with this one for over 11 years at 4 different companies.
TTFN
RE: Feedback on project input request
I think everyone would be better off with a good boss, as you have been luck enough to have.
Cynicism is a survival tool. It has kept me out of harms ways many times. Like any tool, it is neither good nor bad. It depends on what you do with it.
My feeling is that all the posts seem to offer both a blend of acceptance and caution, in equal amounts.
When you walk out onto thin ice, its always good to have a buddy on the other end of the safety line with a sled.
RE: Feedback on project input request
Why does this indicate "reading too many effective management" books?
What is "too many?"
What is wrong with a manager doing all he can to develop his/her management skills by reading books and attempting to put the information into practice?
It's unfortunate to see the cynicism which abounds.
--------------------
How much do YOU owe?
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
--------------------
RE: Feedback on project input request
1) If my manager wanted to "develop" me, wouldn't he do it face to face rather than through email?
2) If this short "blurb" is his example of my development, I think I'd rather be "developed" by someone else.
3) Unless I am already very knowledgeable, giving me an "open sky" assignment is a waste of my time, and a great frsutration tool.
4) Why all the "bus speak" jargon? I am in I&C. I can sling jargon and acronyms with the best of them. I don't. Why? Because I just confuse the heck out of anyone who isn't in my discipline, and cause confusion.
5) The fact that coldmountain is posting this leads me to believe that he is somewhat suspicious. If he wasn't suspicious, he would have done it by now and not have posted it.
Like I said, cynicism is a tool to be used. It is neither good nor bad. Sort of like my mom saying my motorbike goes too fast. Well, it only goes as fast as my wrist.
RE: Feedback on project input request
That is game-playing, not "development".
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376
RE: Feedback on project input request
As a counterpoint though, let me share some recent developments. I lead a team of six engineers, three reasonably experienced, three not very experienced. Some months ago I decided that two of the three experienced engineers are ready for stronger leadership roles, and I knew from observing them and conversing with them in the past that they were seeking such roles. So I began to assign them tasks that required them to lay out and oversee a project from square one, so to speak, which is what I do.
While I did not specifically tell them "I have that information" as Hg quoted from the original post when I assigned these tasks, in fact I already had mapped out how I would layout the projects. I considered it my responsibility to have plans ready in the very unlikely case that they were not up to the test. My purpose was to give them a chance to shine while protecting my employer if I had evaluated either of them incorrectly.
On the tasks they have been assigned since I began this course of action, each of them not only rose to the occasion, but except for a few tweaks of guidance on some minor points, they really didn't need my imput to layout these tasks. Each task has been successfully completed to the point that senior management has transferred one to a leadership position on another team and the second has received high ratings and is in line for the next leadership opportunity.
Long story to make short point...the boss in coldmountain's original post may be for real. I am not coldmountain's boss, but I have operated in the same manner to develop leaders.
debodine
RE: Feedback on project input request
I guess he considered you as a beginner who needs guidance and help especially in doing such basics or foundation of new employee "We are starting a pretty big program and.."
It's correct that your boss has theories of management (some are not practical) but he's still has the skills as it can be seen from his words.
I think that you can take your boss's email as a tool that would help you in doing your programme well. Taking it as argument will frustrate you while there is no need for such frustration with your first pretty big programme.
All the best
cheers
SmartEngineer
RE: Feedback on project input request
He is transprarent in why he is doing something and explaining the same. He says that he knows what the goals and timelines are. But, nevertheless he wants the sub-ordinate to do the same. He also explains the reason why he wants the subordinate to do that. He gives a few suggestions and asks the subordinate to use his imagination and do the job.
What more can you ask from a Manager ?
I wish I had such a good boss !!!
HVAC68
RE: Feedback on project input request
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376
RE: Feedback on project input request
Just work up your plan and roll on.
You don't have any choice, but to do your best, unless you considered doing otherwise!
If you take two weeks over agonizing over 30 minutes of planning, it will day a lot.
I don't see email communications as a problem in busy environments, it lets people communicate in their own time slice and to think a bit, perhaps even doing a bit of research before answering a question.