Now Apply Five Whys to Global Project Management

My last blog talked about applying Five Whys to elements within project management and specifically to human and team dynamics. The more challenging aspect is in attempting to apply the Five Whys on global projects where activities are performed in multiple countries and the team is typically comprised of members from more than one country. (more…)

Five Whys for Managing Project Dynamics

Five Whys provides a structured yet simple approach to solving problems as they occur during a project and can provide a framework for a team to work through complex problems. It is a simple process at its core.  (more…)

The Power of Memory in Project Management

In a recent project team meeting we were reviewing an Ishikawa diagram and root cause analysis as a means to determine the next appropriate steps on an issue we were addressing as a project team when a forgotten data point was brought forward be me of all people, the project manager. (more…)

Less is More: How to Not Get Trapped Under Microsoft Project

Do a quick search for project management jobs and you will usually find an emphasis on the ability to create and manage plans in Microsoft Project.  Although nearly every project manager has used this tool before, it is frequently misused and misunderstood.  This often leads to frustration and reversion to other methods of planning and tracking.

Keep it Simple - How much do you really need to know about Microsoft Project?  To get through your career as a project manager, not as much as you think.  Perhaps a small fraction of the actual features.  But how can you distinguish useful features vs time wasters which don’t add value?  One effective answer is a combination of a hands-on course led by an instructor with real project management experience; and, a commitment of time to work with the tool using recommended best practices.

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Project Management For Dummies Horror Story

Wow, I guess they’ve got a for dummies book on everything now.  Awesome.  There is also of course the 10 minute project manager book in case you find yourself dubbed project manager 10 minutes before the kick off meeting.  (more…)

Project Management Books/Methodologies to Live By and also Die Slow Deaths From

I thought it would be fun to list some impressions of favorite and least favorite Project management books and methodologies.  I wrote none of these.  You too, can feel free to refute my oppinions or add your own replies or spam us with the latest project managment religion.  Why not?  Everyone else does.  (more…)

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands

Having made a moniker name called theUnknownPM kinda makes it impossible for me to push my own products so instead let me do the next worst thing for a moment and engage in random philosphy.  How do you know if you are a success or a failure at what you are doing?  Are you a good witch or a bad witch and how do you know the difference?  I mean how do you judge these things and should you?   Yeah the easy answer is don’t but then how do you improve anything if you don’t have any metrics?  OMG the person sitting next to me just read the title and started clapping his hands… which makes me laugh.   He’s happy evidently but is that the company that makes him happy or the excess sugar from the special K he is chewing on that is really making him clap? (more…)