New project management articles published on the web during the week of July 28 – August 3. We give you a high-level view so you can read what interests you. Recommended:
Contract Management
- Todd Williams shares some insights gleaned from litigation over failed projects. Unless you only manage internal projects with in-house staff, you need to read this!
- Glen Alleman articulates the key distinctions between fit for purpose and fit for use, and applies them to project management.
- Pat Weaver outlines method for preventing, minimizing, or at least making visible, delays due to client inaction.
- Andy Jordan presents an interesting case study of an outsourced portfolio management office. Or more accurately, outsourced PMO services.
PM Best Practices
- Pollyanna Pixton notes that it’s easy to get metrics wrong, and explains how to design them to be effective.
- Craig Brown vents at project management textbooks that get the work breakdown structure wrong.
- Bryan Barrow points out that there are some things that Kanban software can’t do as well as Gant charting software.
- Bruce Harpham offers a few stress management best practices.
- Elizabeth Harrin provides an executive summary of PMI’s “Navigating Complexity” practice guide. PMI members can download the guide at no charge.
- Kailash Awati mines a paper from the British Medical Journal for an understanding of how organizations deal with human error: scapegoats and systems.
- Kiron Bondale lists the stakeholder questions you want to answer in your project kickoff meeting.
- Gina Abudi details a set of roles and responsibilities for team decision making.
- Nick Pisano considers the early stages of project execution, as the team establishes its operating rhythm.
- Dan Stober shares the Q&A from his recent webinar on the project manager as business analyst.
Agile Methods
- Mike Burrows recounts his experience with implementing Kanban with a new team, and how they evolved from a generic process to just what they needed.
- John Goodpasture expounds on the need for Agile methods to take compliance with external requirements (say, auditors and regulatory agencies) into account.
- Shim Marom considers (and questions) the incremental value of “deeper” retrospectives.
Professional Development
- Cheri Baker recounts her recent experience with a French client who wasn’t enchanted with her “American cheerfulness.” Time to recalibrate!
- Scott Berkun provides a master course in refining and delivering your pitch, so that your ideas get the traction they deserve.
- Lynda Bourne details the steps in building your personal brand, and leveraging your knowledge of your business contact’s brand.
- Karina Keith shares some factoids about the profession of project management, to help you get a little perspective.
Podcasts and Videos
- Cesar Abeid interviews Ky Nichol on the challenges of managing event projects like the World Cup and the Olympics. Just 39 minutes, safe for work.
- Dave Prior interviews Troy Magennis on how to apply the lessons from Money Ball to portfolio management. Just 9 minutes, safe for work.
- Mike Wheatley speaks with SAP America VP of Global Operations Tina Rosario on the growing importance of data governance. Just 12 minutes, safe for work.
- Rich Maltzman and Dave Shirley share a video of a presentation on innovation by former Obama administration CTO Aneesh Chopra. Over an hour, safe for work.
Enjoy!
Dave, thanks again for the mention and the awesome work.
Thanks for your awesome interviews, Cesar!