New project management articles published on the web during the week of November 10 – 16. We give you a high-level view so you can read what interests you. Recommended:
PM Best Practices
- Kevin Kern traces the trajectory of re-planning from reactive to proactive to predictive.
- Elizabeth Harrin summarizes a presentation by Mark Englehardt at PMI Hungary’s Art of Projects Conference, “Project Risk Management Doesn’t Have to be Difficult.”
- Steven Levy outlines the elements of the project charter.
- Roxi Bahar Hewertson considers how four types of mastery contribute to leadership success.
- Rich Maltzman demonstrates the impact of context in our communications, with a graphic that lets us deceive ourselves.
- Bruce Harpham presents the PMBOK view of managing conflict, as a follow-up to last week’s post on sources of project management conflict.
- Bruce Benson explores conscious uncoupling, as members of a struggling organization fight to preserve the size of their piece of the pie.
- Michael Girdler links morale problems and lowered and productivity as result of organizational change to the project communications plan.
- Lynda Bourne contrasts the functions of management with the functions of governance.
- Allen Ruddock looks at the “overs and unders” that contribute to failed projects.
- Kerry Wills argues for picking team members who may not be perfect in any one role, but can play multiple roles.
Agile Methods
- Mike Cohn illustrates the incremental and iterative nature of Agile development, with a sculpture metaphor.
- Mike Griffiths says that the key to scaling Agile is not adding process, but facilitating the work of teams.
- Terry Bunio points out the plain truth that “minimum viable product” is not always an appropriate approach.
- Michiko Diby takes issue with the term “Scrum Master.”
- Neil Killick: “We teams can make a huge difference to removing the typical dysfunctions around software estimates, simply by asking the right questions.”
- Madhavi Ledalla champions automation and virtualization, as drivers of improved quality, reduced build time, and more predictability.
- Milton Dillard explains what Agile acquisition support is, in the context of how the U.S. federal government lets contracts.
Podcasts and Videos
- Cornelius Fichtner interviews Dave Cornelius on the project manager role in Lean and Agile approaches. Just 12 minutes, safe for work.
- Mark Phillipy shares a presentation on improving task estimation using three-point estimates and critical chain. Just 35 minutes, safe for work.
- Paul Ritchie posts his very first Crossderry Blog podcast, explaining why the Apple Watch won’t compete with the Swiss watch industry. Just 17 minutes, safe for work.
Pot Pouri
- Suzanne Lucas offers her list of ten simple things to do (and stop doing) in order to boost your career.
- Coert Visser explains why you should interrupt.
- Ron Friedman says you’re probably not getting enough sleep; explains how it’s impacting the quality of your work; and then tells you what to do about it.
- Nick Pisano weighs in on Net Neutrality, the economics of controlling access to information, and the demands of the powerful interests who want that control.
Enjoy!