creative action
September 19, 2008
So I came across this on Cool Hunting last week and thought it pretty useful, being a guy who rails against standard project management methodologies like MS Project. If you have never heard of the Action Method by Behance, it is basically a version of the Franklin Planner that is actually usable. The goal is to come out of every creative meeting with three things:
1) Action steps – things you need to do
2) Reference items – notes, files, drawings, links
3) Backburner items – things to come back to later
Behance’s hope is that their methodology will allow project management principles to breech the creative world by utilizing its simple principles in a relentless manner. Until now, the Action method has been a paper-based model and you had to purchase this paper in order to use the methodology at a cost of about $15 per notepad. Now, Behance is coming out with an Action Method Online (AMO). It will be out very soon and you can sign up here to be notified when you can use it. I have also been a fan of Basecamp by 37 signals, which not only allows efficient task management (especially when you aren’t co-located), but also allows file storage, whiteboarding, etc.
Having all these tools is great, but you still need the discipline to utilize the tools on a regular basis (and so does everyone on your team, by the way). If not, you’ll be part of the infamous statistic: 70% of projects fail – according to The OASIG Study (1995).
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