GDG- Gettysburg, NASA, and Self-Promotion

[John Baniszewski]

SNIP

As a follow up to my earlier comment, I think
 it worth noting that a project management 
study of Meade and Lee during the retreat 
and pursuit wouldfind that the reverse was 
true.  As good a job that Meade did at 
Gettysburg in comparison to Lee's poor 
performance, Meade seemed to overlook most 
tenets of project management in the aftermath, 
while Lee rose to the occasion
remarkably well.

UNSNIP

I agree with your assessment of Lee during his
retreat.  The contrast between what he did
during the retreat, versus what he did
during the battle, is striking. Lee managed
his retreat masterfully.

I do disagree with your assessment of Meade,
however.  I think that his actions were
consistent with those of a project manager.
The role of a project manager is to figure
out exactly what is expected, and accomplish
it.  Project Managers are always worried 
about "scope creep".  After Meade's victory,
the scope of Meade's responsibilities grew,
at least in Lincoln's mind.  Before the
battle, Meade was given three requirements -
engage Lee in battle, protect Washington and
Baltimore, and relieve Harrisburg.  After
his victory, Meade still focused on
protecting Washington, and no one had ever told
him that this was no longer a priority. His 
pursuit of Lee therefore required him to
continue to take a blocking position between
the ANV and DC, rather than go at Lee by the
shortest route. Lincoln now had it in his head that Meade's
responsibility was now to end the war.  In
short, Meade and Lincoln were not on the same
page.  Lincoln eventually concluded that he
needed someone with a less narrow focus on the
short term, which is what project managers are 
supposed to focus on .  That man was Grant.  The 
strength of Grant was that he looked beyond
the upcoming battle, and recognized that an
individual battle was only one project in a 
series of battles, all of which focused on
ending the war.

John Baniszewski 



John Baniszewski