New project management articles published on the web during the week of November 21 – 27. And this week’s video: “Weightless,” by Manchester, UK “ambient” band Marconi Union. A study by Mindlab International determined that this song produces a greater state of relaxation than any other music tested to date: a 65% reduction in overall anxiety and a 35% reduction in usual physiological resting rates. In case of holiday-induced stress …
Must read!
- Darragh Broderick points out five leadership lessons we can learn from the National Football League.
- Johanna Rothman provides elegant definitions of iterative and incremental, and how each manages a different type of risk.
- Seth Godin notes that automation is reducing the difference in cost between custom, on-demand orders and mass-produced products. We’ll need a few adjustments in our management approach to stay in business.
Established Methods
- Barry Hodge helps us radically transform our status reports by making progress visible.
- Dmitriy Nizhebetskiy posted two more risk management videos, on selecting risk response strategies. Total time just over 7 minutes, safe for work.
- John Goodpasture points out the application of project statistics in “Cost Risk and Uncertainty,” Chapter 14 of the GAO Cost Estimating Manual. Free download!
- Pat Weaver reports to us on the application of virtual reality and 4D Building Information Modelling to optimize scheduling of activities and resources in construction projects.
- Harry Hall tutors us on scope risks – how to recognize them, how to manage them.
- Mike Donoghue puts the focus on gathering and managing requirements.
- Naomi Caietti explains the details of managing organizational change in projects.
- Cornelius Fichtner interviews Suketu Nagrecha, Chairman of the Board of the PMI Educational Foundation. Just 19 minutes, safe for work.
Agile Methods
- Stefan Wolpers posts his weekly round-up of Agile articles, blog posts, and other content.
- Dave Prior discusses “being” Agile, as opposed to “doing” Agile with Jessie Shternshus and Paul Hammond. Just 40 minutes, safe for work.
- Henny Portman bullets the learning objectives of the SAFe 4.0 Scrum Master course.
- Margaret Kelsey rounds up links to the top five #DesignTalk webinars of 2016, with links to the recordings.
Applied Leadership
- Elizabeth Harrin identifies the potential sources of conflict in each phase of the project life cycle.
- Leigh Espy shares a variety of ways to express appreciation to your team and co-workers.
- Deanne Earle reviews “Leading in a Changing World,” by Keith Coats and Graeme Codrington.
- Elise Stevens interviews author and organization change management consultant Michelle Gibbings on becoming a more effective influencer. Just 17 minutes, safe for work.
Technology and Techniques
- Mike Griffiths tutors us on the fine points of creating multiple choice questions (and how to spot the correct answer in poorly written examples).
- Leyla Acaroglu reviews the two physiological states of being for insights into what motivates change. As it turns out, a little discomfort is a good thing.
- Jory McKay explains how our brain processes what we’ve read for retention. Yes, how you read makes a difference.
Working and the Workplace
- Nir Eyal updates us on the current state of the ongoing debunking of ego-depletion, and suggests that there is meaning in our feelings about our work.
- Suzanne Lucas reports on a study from Germany: switching from a seniority-based system to a merit-based system breeds inter-generational resentment.
- Lisette Sutherland interviews Clare McNamara on giving virtual teams the time and space to get to know each other. Just 38 minutes, safe for work.
Enjoy!