PMcrunch

The business analysis function is one that needs to be managed with care and the wisdom of experience. Business analysts handle requirements management, systems analysis, business analysis, requirements analysis, or consulting. The various activities around these functions take place throughout the project and require continuous monitoring, starting at a high level near the beginning of the project. This post explores key business analysis activities throughout the project lifecycle.

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Many executives, project portfolio managers, and program managers make good choices about investing in new projects and ideas. Yet it’s also critical to set up a measurement, preferably from the start, for when to potentially stop investing resources in each project. This would be a sort of “stop standard” for any given project.

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There are many ways to earn the 60 PDUs required to maintain PMP certification. Many PMPs consider this to be a challenge. However, with proper planning (remember, we are PMPs!), earning those PDUs can become a part of your regular professional life and can be a breeze. Here’s how.

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Project Portfolio Management, like Investment Portfolio Management, is a balancing act that requires constant monitoring and adjustment over time. Whereas an individual may have the right balance of risk, return, income, growth and others represented in an investment portfolio, a project portfolio is similar in many ways. Risks, returns, resources required, and alignment with overall strategy are just a few of the factors that must be kept in balance over time.

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Talent management is a huge challenge for corporations and organizations of all types and sizes. I many cases, success at talent management within the organization can be the key differentiating factor between success and failure for the organization. Likewise, success at project management, program management, and portfolio management also largely hinges on strong talent management. Part of this challenge lies at the relationship between the organization’s talent management capabilities and those of the projects and programs.

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Professional Project Management is becoming more pervasive. Like “Electrification” occurred during the era of proliferation of electricity, “projectization” is occuring throughout the workforce and organizations. Most of the emphasis I have seen is on professional project management. However, most people will not be professional project managers, but rather will be team members, support personnel, subject matter experts, department managers, C-level executives, and the like. This post explores what is being said about this broader workforce in a projectized world.

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Time off is not just a luxury. It’s a responsibility of leadership for project managers and program managers. Especially in summer, where schedules tend to be a little lighter, it is easier to take some time off and connect with others who also are taking time off. Taking time off helps us personally, as well as our families and social relationships, but it is also a big gain for members of our project team, as everyone appreciates an organization that acknowledges and values time outside of work.

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The word ‘agile’ has become popular in software development and project management circles, as the agile method produces quality product speedily in a very flexible and organic way. Agility, however, describes much more than a method for software development and speaks right to the core of project team formation and development. The individuals, project team, and team building process itself all need to be agile in today’s demanding environment.

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You are new to a project. The project itself is new, or perhaps you have been handed an initial project. The project charter is a great place to start to get yourself oriented to where the project fits into the organization.

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I have encountered misunderstandings numerous times due to different concepts of the meaning of the word ‘plan’. There are various types of plans. In Project Plan Integration, we pull together various aspects of the project plan, which taken separately actually represent separate plans. One of those plans, the Configuration Management Plan, is one that I have encountered misunderstanding over.

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