Is Getting Things Done helpful in terms of understanding PM, and does it make any direct contributions?
I'm not asking whether GTD will make you better organized, or more effective generally. I mean, has it led to practical tools for PM?
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It's not a question, but a topic to discuss. This site is for project management questions and answers.– yegor256Commented Mar 25, 2011 at 18:15
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2Actually for me the subject is interesting and while the question wasn't phrased very neatly I believe it would belong here after some rephrasing or approaching it from a bit different angle.– Pawel BrodzinskiCommented Mar 25, 2011 at 20:09
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1OK, I rephrased the question and I voted to reopen it.– Pawel BrodzinskiCommented Mar 26, 2011 at 12:47
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2Thanks everybody. I liked the last re-write ... a lot ... so I went and re-wrote it again, more in my own style. :-) Hopefully it better reflects the focus of the forum.– SmandoliCommented Mar 26, 2011 at 15:21
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2Hi All! Nice work bringing this question back to life! I went ahead and re-opened this question since it's been edited to be an actual, real, answerable question! This is exactly the type of behavior I expect to see out of the community. Let's continue using those close/reopen votes!– jmort253Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 20:26
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2 Answers
I'm a great fan of GTD, and I believe in custom-fitting to take what benefits you. Things I found from GTD that are great when applied to project management:
- Formally tracking "waiting-for" tasks (eg. dependencies on work from other teams)
- Keeping everything documented electronically (at least, my GTD systems are always like this)
- Using a calender to track specific dates (with email notification) for things due on that date (I tend to use a giant spreadsheet and not keep too many dates)
Other than that, GTD doesn't really add much to project management. You'll get more out of PMI's framework, or a specific methodology like Agile.
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Thanks! Frankly, I'll take the answer overall as a "No", merely because the points you listed can be as easily grasped with no awareness of GTD.– SmandoliCommented Mar 27, 2011 at 3:07
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One element of GTD that has been helpful for me in project management is the habit of asking "What is the next action?" when a particular issue, problem, or mini-project is discussed in a meeting. All too often, meeting participants can leave the room without the "next action" being identified. Thinking in terms of GTD for my personal productivity has led me to ask this question more often.
