The Planning and Managing Cycle or process is part of the Life Cycle Process and includes many of the activities associated with the Define Stage. Key to the success of the Life Cycle Process is understanding the various reviews and tests that occur repeatedly throughout the phases of the process. The customer’s role in the review process assures that customer needs and requirements are being met during the development and completion of each phase.

 

Planning and Managing [also known as Project Management] Cycle (Process): The process of planning and managing the work is an existing and effective process used in aerospace and defense. There are specific steps to this process and it is integrated with the life cycle process. Every time some work is to begin or an assignment is given to anyone, the planning and managing process begins. The process already exists and is defined. Perhaps some tailoring might be necessary. The Planning and Managing process is used by managers and self-empowered teams --all people--whenever planning is needed.

Managers /leaders need to	Steps/Documents/Measures
1. Understand the work	(Statement of Work)
2. Develop a functional organization chart	(Functional Organization chart)
3. Define the work	(Work Breakdown Structure)
4. Assign responsibility	(Responsibility Matrix)
5. Develop the schedules	(Schedules)
6. Establish controls	(visibility walls/room, reviews) to assure that the assignment is on track.

Writing Cycle (Process): Since much of the planning and managing function is writing, it is imperative for leader-managers to understand that-           

• Writing is a process
• Its outcome is a document (something written)
• The document must be planned and controlled
• The document has a life cycle whose development phases must be defined, designed, developed, and delivered.

The steps in the writing cycle or process are:

1. Idea generation
2. Organization
3. Revision
4. Fine tuning

Note that the processes repeat themselves and are continually integrated. Various authors support this approach. Edmund Weiss (1982) suggests strategic planning for documents and offers a structured method for planning, writing and revising in less time and with greater results. James Souther and Myron White (1984) from the University of Washington in Seattle urge that writers follow a structured design approach in technical writing.

 

The Negotiating Cycle (Process): The steps of the Negotiating process or cycle are as follows:

1. Introduction
2. Background Music
3. Tactics/Strategies
4. Agreement

The Creativity Cycle (Process): The steps of the creativity process or cycle are:

1. Conscious effort (expenditure of energy, frustration)
2. Detachment (pause, relax, forget)
3. Illumination (gain of energy, elation)
4. Completion (accomplishment, growth, satisfaction)

Communication and Influencing Skills

Many people do not realize how their voice and speech impact people. Do you employ mannerisms and ways that turn people off or draw people to you? Many times, people talk at others rather than with them. Instead of listening to people by paraphrasing or reflecting feelings, people tend to respond in ways that inhibit further communications.

 

Communication Roadblocks

Some of these include:

• Giving orders (“Don’t talk to me in that tone”. “Do it this way”.)
• Belittling (“That’s silly.”)
• Reassuring (“You’ll get over it.”)
• Denying (“You can’t still be angry”.)
• Giving solutions (“This is what you should do about it.”)

The effect of these roadblocks is that people learn not to come to managers with their problems.

 

Influencing Skills

Some influencing skills include:

• Don’t criticize, condemn or complain
• Give honest and sincere appreciation
• Arouse in the other person an eager want (reward the right behavior).
• Become genuinely interested in other people
• Smile
• Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound
• Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
• Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
• Make the other person feel important—and do it sincerely.

Rewards

“If you aren’t getting the results you want, ask yourself: What’s being rewarded?” - Michael LeBoeuf – from GMP - Greatest Management Principle in the World.

There are 10 flexible rewards that can be employed;

• Favorite work
• Advancement
• Freedom
• Personal growth
• Fun
• Prizes
• Money
• Recognition
• Time off
• Piece of the Action