New PM Articles for the Week of January 4 – 10

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New project management articles published on the web during the week of January 4 – 10. Recommended:

Must read!

  • Bruce Harpham shares part of his reading list from the last year, and urges us to make reading a key part of our professional development program in 2016.
  • Bob Tarne has been reading “Change by Design,” by Tim Brown. He’s found some interesting insights on the nature of constraints: feasibility, viability, and desirability.
  • Gurjeet Singh gives us some background on machine learning: what it is, what it can do, and what we should expect for the next few years.

Established Methods

  • Michel Dion notes that not every project is an IT project, even when they involve software.
  • Deb Schaffer starts every project with the same question: “What does project success look like?”
  • Johanna Rothman questions the value of certifications and credentials in hiring.
  • Steve Olson extracts project management insights from his long experience in contract management.
  • Brad Rach points out a source of risk we might not have considered: the project manager.
  • Nancy Settle-Murphy shares some techniques for establishing a compelling presence in conference calls, where they can’t see your body language.
  • Mario Trentim has prepared a list of questions to ask for those organizations that want to start a PMO.
  • Tim Wasserman looks into the causes and effects of the gap between organizational strategy and executing on that strategy.
  • Cornelius Fichtner interviews Peter Monkhouse on preventing failure by communicating based on how the project fits into the organization strategy. Just 16 minutes, safe for work.

Agile Methods

  • The Clever PM reviews the twelve guiding principles listed in the Agile Manifesto.
  • Jonathan Schneider presents two scenarios for Agile transformation: one based on compliance, and one based on empowering teams in a pilot.
  • John Gilroy interviews Jesse Fewell on how Agile methods are being adopted by U.S. federal government agencies. Just 42 minutes, safe for work.
  • Tom McFarlin recommends a pragmatic approach: don’t over-engineer your solutions.
  • Angela Wick brings a business analyst’s eye to Agile methods.

Applied Leadership

  • Gurpreet Singh presents an interesting metaphor for leadership: The Listening Tree.
  • Mike Clayton tutors us on influence and persuasion, including a list of persuasion tactics from his book, “How to Influence in Any Situation.”
  • Art Petty suggests we start a business revolution – by fighting corporate bureaucracy to eliminate obstacles.
  • Susanne Madsen coaches us on how to handle a demanding workload, by sharing it.
  • Lynda Bourne points out the signs that a project manager is on the path to becoming a great team leader.

Trends and the New Year

Enjoy!