There are No Endings | Bite Sized Project Management Thought from Hilary Mantel

TL;DR

Project endings are not the end of the process but rather the beginning of a new phase for different stakeholders.

Transcript

there are no endings if you think so you are deceived as to their nature these words were written by the british author hilary mantel the author of the fantastic trilogy of books about the life of thomas cromwell they're one of my favorite sets of books of all time and i'm looking forward to rereading them but in this video i want to explain what i... Read More

Key Insights

• ❤️‍🩹 Endings in project management are not absolute but mark the start of a new phase for different stakeholders.
• 🤗 Handing over a project is not the end but rather the beginning for the operational team taking over.
• 📽️ In agile project management, projects move from one stage to the next, highlighting the ongoing nature of the process.
• ❤️‍🩹 Recognizing that there are no endings helps in better planning and collaboration.
• 📽️ Projects continue with additional features and functionality.
• ❤️‍🩹 Hilary Mantel's quote challenges the traditional notion of project endings.
• ❤️‍🩹 Clear endings for one group of stakeholders may be the beginning for others.

Questions & Answers

Q: What does Hilary Mantel mean by the quote "There are no endings if you think so you are deceived as to their nature"?

Mantel suggests that in the real world, things continue and what appears to be an ending for one person is the beginning for another. Endings are not definitive and can be seen as the start of a new phase.

Q: How does project handover relate to the concept of endings?

Project handover may seem like the end of a project, but for the operational team taking over, it represents a new beginning. They will continue the project and initiate the next phase.

Q: Why is it important to recognize that there are no endings in project management?

Recognizing that there are no endings in project management helps in understanding that projects evolve and transition into new phases. It allows for better planning, collaboration, and preparedness for the future stages.

Q: How does the agile approach to project management demonstrate the concept of no endings?

Agile project management involves continuous development and iteration. Each sprint is followed by another, emphasizing that projects do not have a clear end; rather, they flow into the next stage.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The quote by Hilary Mantel, "There are no endings if you think so you are deceived as to their nature," implies that in the real world, things continue and what seems like an ending for one person may be the start for another.

• Handing over a project may feel like its ending, but for the operational team taking over, it marks a new beginning.

• In agile project management, sprints are followed by more sprints, highlighting the ongoing nature of projects.