New PM Articles for the Week of October 19 – 25

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Red Balloon OverheadNew project management articles published on the web during the week of October 19 – 25. We give you a high-level view so you can read what interests you. Recommended:

Must read!

  • Seth Godin uses the Boeing 747 as a metaphor for large projects and organizations: as scale increases, gravity takes more of a toll, and everything becomes harder.
  • Bertrand Duperrin notes that the connected economy, robots, and drones will push our collective acceptance of risk farther than ever.
  • David Needle summarizes data science iconoclast Nate Silver’s keynote address at the Rich Data Summit. “Big Data has peaked, and that’s a good thing.”

Established Methods

  • Kailash Awati tells a little story about a proof of concept, which proved only that … well, I’ll let him tell you.
  • Elizabeth Harrin reviews Cesar Abeid’s new book, “Project management For You.”
  • Henny Portman reviews “Transforming Business with Program Management,” by Satish Subramanian.
  • John Goodpasture recounts a story about the voice of the customer, where the speaker was a Marine Corps General.
  • Todd Williams makes a good case for the PMO as a temporary organization – a project, with a specific goal and a time box, rather than a bureaucracy.
  • Marian Haus argues that scope management is the primary enabler of project success.
  • Rich Maltzman extracts key understandings from the recent PMI “Pulse of the Profession” report, which reinforces the message in his latest book.
  • Pat Weaver gives us an overview and a link to the Guild of Project Controls Body of Knowledge.
  • Nick Pisano editorializes on the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency.
  • Phillip Smith describes Kaizen, as applied to a project.
  • Kerry Wills notes a key similarity between middle school math and project execution.

Agile Methods

  • Joseph Czarnecki contrasts classical and jazz, traditional methods and waterfall, and gets us to consider a mindset.
  • Kelsey van Haaster gives us a tutorial on Blitz Planning, where the goal is to identify the earliest point at which business value can be delivered.
  • Glen Alleman puts “classic” risk management in perspective for Agile methods.
  • Mike Cohn explains why the UX designer is typically looking ahead, to the next sprint and beyond.

Applied Leadership

  • Harry Hall asks five fierce questions, “…to help you identify the deeper things that are limiting your effectiveness.”
  • Bruce Harpham examines three strategies for earning the right to influence others.
  • Art Petty coaches us on how to get past a career setback.
  • Penelope Trunk coaches us on how to answer the three interview questions. Yes, there are only three – they just get asked in different ways.
  • Elise Stevens interviews Cesar Abeid on his new book, “Project Management For You.” Just 16 minutes, safe for work.

Enjoy!