The Trouble with Projects
In my many years of running projects I have often looked back and asked why it was always so difficult to get things done. Every time the answer came back, “It’s the stupid people from the top to the bottom.” …
Thoughts on Spiral Development
We have been exposed in recent years to many project management and product development methodology terms with often subtle differences in meaning. The latest version of the PMBOK, for example uses the term “progressive elaboration” to describe the eventual realization …
An Organic Approach to Project Management
In Flocks and Swarms – The End of Control As We Know It (blogs.cio.com, Tuesday, October 24, 2006), Michael Hugos asks, “What makes a flock of birds or a school of fish move as if they are a single entity? …
Do you still want to be a Project Manager?
Would you do it again? Is it time to stop? For me I think the answer is I’d never have that kind of energy and chutzpah again, not for some random faceless corporate projects anyway, and yes, it’s time to …
The Bad Project Management Olympics –First Entry Part 1, Surely You Can Top It
You too can do everything wrong! And you can do it well. Let us share the wisdom of slinking by in corporate America. Here’s the first entry up there in the “Bad Project Management Olympics”. The question is do you …
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Are the Triple Constraints still useful?
Scope, Schedule, Cost – they are classics, but do they remain useful?. I’ve heard many practitioners call the Triple Constraints (TC) obsolete or, at least, inadequate. Many PMs point out that we need to factor in quality. I don’t have …
Choosing Between Your Heart, Your Lungs and Your Kidneys
One thing is for sure, there is always more to do on any project than there is time or money to do it. And as much as people hate to choose between things that seem equally vital, if everything is …
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Recognition and Appreciation Gone Sideways
Recognizing and appreciating your project team members is an important part of project leadership. But some people wield it like a 6-year-old who just found daddy’s gun. This is posted on behalf of a colleague who wishes to remain anonymous. …
Common Sense is Not Common Practice!
Common sense says that, when working on a project where results really matter, the team should agree on a plan of how to achieve the goals, consider what might go wrong, and make sure everyone who needs to deliver results …
How things get done right!!
Projects are how things get done right. Project using best practices are how things get done better, faster and cheaper. As the 21st century unfolds, businesses are discovering that sustainable competitive advantage can best be achieved by using project management …
If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going ANY Road Will Take You There!
Lilly Tomlin once said “When I was young I always wanted to BE somebody when I grew up. I just wish I’d been more specific.” Isn’t THAT the truth! Many project teams hear the shot of the starting gun and …
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Welcome to Project Management in the REAL world!
There are myriad sources of info about how project management should be done in the ideal world. The real world is something else. Projects are MESSY! From the minute the project begins all manner of changes, surprises and disasters befall …
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Hiding in the chaos of projects
Don’t you wonder why product development projects are so insane? Chaotic? Consider this, a lot of team mates are thriving in the chaos, and aren’t about to change! It’s based on our wonderful human nature to be “Not my fault.” …
Fearless project leader
Taking risks seems to be an endangered species in corporate America. But that shouldn’t stop the fearless project leader. Following are three tips to help you rise to the occasion when all hell is breaking loose. 1. Assure that the …
Crossing The Cultural Divide
How many times do we hear it? We live in a global economy. It seems like practically every project seems to be spread over two or three continents and four or more time zones. This makes a project manager’s job …