4 Lessons in Project Management from the Renaissance

AIN LESSONS PROJECT MANAGEMENT FROM THE 4IN REAAISSANTE Here ye! Here ye! In the time of the Renaissance, the noble folk studied from antiquity and collaborated with contemporaries to change the way the world thought. Listed hence forth are four lessons drawn from some of the biggest projects in these days of yore. Lesson 1 The Killer Aprse Construction of St. Peter's Basilica • It took decades to complete (21 Popes, 7 Architects, 120 years). • Each architect built upon the work of the predecessor. A unified vision emerged despite countless voices. Takeaway If you're replacing someone as project leader, don't neglect to understand what was done before your time. Lesson 2 The Inventar's Warkshop Leonardo Da Vinci's Workshop Apprentices learned the ropes through action. The curriculum focused on studying art, science and math - a universal education. From studying the past, the inventors would try to apply their knowledge in new ways. Takeaway Before blazing ahead to reinvent the wheel, have a well-rounded education in the history of that wheel before approaching it from new angles. Losson 3 A Poon Joundation Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa •In 1173 the construction of the Tower of Pisa got underway during the Italian city's glory period. Five years later, the three-story tower started sinking into its unstable subsoil and developed its lean. As wars kicked in, the tower was abandoned for a good century. 100 years later, with the tower settled into its foundation, construction kicked in again. It took a few more phases to finally finish what would become the Leaning Tower of Pisa - in 1374. Takeaway Don't be afraid to put a project on ice if it's no longer (but maybe just temporarily) feasible. Lesson 4 The Great Merger The Marriage of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand This was a marriage that unified Spain into a single kingdom. King Ferdinand, known as a great diplomat, ran the wars, while Queen Isabella ran the economy (and funded Columbus' expedition to the New World). The royal duo reigned during Spain's Golden age, when Spain was the intellectual and cultural center of the world. Takeaway A great partnership is nearly unstoppable. Always partner with someone who's your equal. Source: ELiquidPlanner Museum of Science, www.Vatican.va and LeaningTowerofPisa.net