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C4 - A method for project management
C4 Project Management was developed by René Hombergen. . When asked to give a lecture about projects, he asked himself: What is project management? His answer was: Project management is mainly management. This means that it has a lot in common with line management. The basic principles of managing work in a hierarchical organization are also applicable to projects. The main themes of C4 Project Management include division of labour and labour coordination; and aspects relating to front office and back office.
Division and coordination of labour
From these twin pairs of concepts a two by two matrix is developed. A project is distinguished by two inherent tension curves: the tension curve between labour division and labour coordination and the tension curve between the front and back. Labour division means specialization between jobs or functions and labour coordination means bringing back coherence. The front and back office are seen from the perspective of the project manager.
The four C's of C4 Project Management
Combining both tension curves leads to a 2-by-2 matrix where each square represents a part of project management: these four parts are:
- Conceive
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Create
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Consolidate
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Complete
Before starting with a project a question has to be asked: is the work to be done is truly a project?
A project management approach can be used when the result to be delivered can be identified in advance, when the deliverable is new to the organization and when it is agreed that the deliverable can be achieved. This approach must also identify specific actions by the suppliers which result in delivery. Where no new deliverable is identified and where there are only actions and results, then service management disciplines are more appropriate than project management.
C4 Project Management identifies 4 parts of a project: Conceive, Create, Consolidate and Complete. Communication is overall needed to coordinate. In projects with a small complexity, these parts are phases, in great innovation projects the first two squares are being frequently iterated. In each square steps are defined and the outcome of the steps is registered in templated documentation.
The square conceive concerns delivery. What is going to be made? For whom? Identify clients and specify the result to be delivered. Make a concept of the result for line management and users.
Create
The second square create is about developing and activating all the jobs that are to be done to accomplish the result. How are you going to do that? Prepare the work which is necessary to deliver the result.
In the third square measuring and correcting are the subjects. Measuring is about time, budget, quality and about drive and cooperation between people. Projectmanagement adapts the course of the project as well as senior management on behalf of the information and requests for changes in the project.
In the last you finish the project. Complete it, carry it over to line managers, instruct users and evaluate the project.
Communication is the core of a project. Communication shapes the necessary and desired coordination. Communicate with the business line manager who is the client of the project and with other stakeholders within and without the administration.
These four squares of C4 Project Management lead to four easy usable templates:
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project agreement
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project activation
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continuity or adjustment report
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close or discharge document
Applicability
C4 Project Management offers an overview during the entire project cycle and can be used in many situations. A4 can be used in all types of organizations and offers a quick and productive tool not only for project managers but also for portfolio and line managers. It can be used for managing large, mid size and small projects, in commercial companies and within non-profit organizations. The C4 approach is founded on a strong concept based on a business management matrix and in addition offers practical tools in the form of templates. Using A4 enables the user to rationalise sometimes complex projects to a coherent scheme that offers simplicity and an overall overview. C4 is based on reduction of uncertainty in a project and also gives room for creativity and innovation. Whilst the method is based on a strong concept it approaches the reality of projects from a practical and holistic view. It offers an easy teach-yourself approach based on templates. C4 is characterized by simplicity.
C4 came into being in the Netherlands, in the end of the nineties. The first publication on C4 came onto the market in 2003 (and was called in Dutch “A4”). In 2006 the C4 Foundation was established and the Dutch Association of project and program managers listed C4 in a top-10 of project management methods. They recommended C4 as “easy to learn, easy to use”.
In 2007 Van Haren Publishing (publisher of ITIL and PRINCE2 in The Netherlands) bought the Dutch publishing rights. Van Haren Publishing and René Hombergen, the author have realized four new book publications, each on one of the four C4 quarters, in spring 2008 and a book on project communication in autumn 2009. For 2010 the author has planned A4 Program Management.