ABSTRACT

Introduction Practicing and teaching project management have left numerous impressions on me. One is that many project managers today don’t seem very satisfied. Some are experiencing doubt as to whether this career is for them. Others are permanently changed from being caught up in an extraordinary project that went sour, ruining careers and reputations. Surprising? No, we know the statistics. On the other hand, projects often positively influence the lives of project managers, their customers, and their extended communities. Those critical projects seem to have moments when a few people make remarkable contributions that positively alter the direction of the project. Their unique fingerprints cover the project, and they have left their individual, personal mark and influence behind. Any forensic project scientist can see the positive impact these leaders have had. These leaders’ fingerprints indelibly cover their project work.