PMBoK definition of “Estimating Cost”
Developing an approximation of the costs of the resources needed to complete the project activities
The scene from Ramayana:
The scene from Ramayana:
Rama helps Sugriva get back his wife and kingdom from Vali and in turn takes help from Sugriva’s monkey army to rescue Sita. He motivates heroes like Hanuman, Jambavan, Angada and Sugriva to work for his cause who in turn motivate the army to wage a great war against Ravana and win the war. Rama protects the army with his might from ruthless ogres like Kumbhakarna and Indrajit.
At the end of the war, Rama directs Vibhishana to reward the monkey army with gold and diamonds, which Vibhishana was more than happy to oblige, because Rama made him the king of Lanka. Again during Rama’s coronation he recognizes the heroes of the war with mementos.
How the scene maps to the process:
Rama is exiled and in exile he looses his wife. To find her whereabouts and rescue her from a tyrannical enemy like Ravana, he cannot afford to hire an army of men. He had to work within the resource and cost constraints. He befriends Sugriva, a monkey with a few known frailties, but a good character with great potential, and works with him to complete the project activities. After successful completion, Rama takes good care of the team that helped him.
If the manager can motivate emergent people of potential with challenging work, safeguard them from risks, and reward and recognize them at the successful completion of projects, he / she would be able to better control attrition and in turn finish projects within estimated cost.
Related posts:
- Project Management in Valmiki Ramayana – 10
- Project Management in Valmiki Ramayana – 8
- Project Management in Valmiki Ramayana – 2
- Project Management in Valmiki Ramayana – 9
- Project Management in Valmiki Ramayana – 5
Category: Management in Ramayana
1 Comment
00:30, 19.09.2010
With the available resources in hand, Rama set the timeline as 1 month to bring abducted Sita back to India. Project Planning should have been perfect to ensure the project is NOT running beyond schedule (Sita would have committed suicide), NOT running beyond budget (army would have been demotivated or dead without food – cost overrun), ALL risks are properly and carefully noted and mitigated.
Also, in terms of HR management, rewarding and recognizing the monkey army that accomplished the project successfully, are Rama’s excellent leadership skills.