PMcrunch

While many project and program managers work on large multi-year projects, many of us also work on small to medium sized projects. In fact, while many of these small to medium sized projects last anywhere from weeks to months, larger projects and programs consist of a series of these small to medium sized projects. Let’s take a look at one of the most common problem solving techniques available for getting into rapid-action mode on these fast-moving projects.

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The issue of scope relates to both product scope, and project scope. Project scope is within the realm of the project manager. Product scope defines what the product of the project will be. Managing product scope is one of the most challenging aspects of project management, and is a key to managing stakeholder’s expectations and project scope.

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All professionals – Project Managers, Program Managers, Executives, leaders of all kinds -  worry at times, and some more than others.  Worrying a lot or a little is actually a controllable habit.  Worrying a lot is little more than trading your peace of mind and taking a negative view of the future.  The urge to [...]

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Project Management involves a great deal of discipline in making sure that “all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed’. It clearly involves a great deal of attention to detail, and a high degree of thoroughness. So how do we balance that with a practical realism that allows us to prioritize and focus on the most important activities? The pareto principle can help.

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Determining project requirements has many challenges, but one of the most common that I have encountered is what I call the “Solution Trap”. I have usually identified this when someone states something like “What I need is a …” This is usually a hint that there is an underlying problem that needs to be surfaced and further investigated.

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Uncertainty is part of the territory for effective leaders. Certainty simply does not exist for effective leadership, since if it did, leadership would not be needed! Whether in executive leadership or project leadership, it is the ability of the leader to manage uncertainties that most defines success.

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Thomas Edison was the quintessential mistake maker. He believed that the more mistakes he made, the more wrong answers and wrong solutions he could eliminate and, therefore, the closer he came to the correct solution to his problems. In management and on projects, on one hand, we seek to minimize mistakes but it is important to recognize when “mistakes” can actually be beneficial and produce positive outcomes. Indeed, we should not be afraid to make mistakes but rather should try to control and leverage the process. The project portfolio management process is an ideal place to formally do this.

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There are many project management templates out there in the marketplace. Project Management consulting firms, training companies, large government organizations, and educational institutions are among those who produce and often sell project management tools and templates. These are generally geared toward implementing particular methodology and addressing a particular common problem space. There also are template providers – firms who produce many templates to service the open market. Some of these might be free, but generally the best cost some money. Here is a list of the more notable template providers I have found. The list gives a flavor for what is out there to support project management processes.

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Managing the IT architecture process in the building industry has some parallels and distinct differences to the IT industry. 1. In the building industry, there are many standard ways of doing things – actually more ubiquitous and more stable than in IT – but I don’t think there is still not always one best way [...]

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