New project management articles published on the web during the week of January 2 – 8. And this week’s video: Brooke Deterline talks about creating ethical cultures in business. Just eight minutes, safe for work.

Must read!

• Andy Kaufman asks several project management influencers, what was the most important lesson you learned last year? Just 40 minutes, safe for work.
• Eamonn McGuinness describes a structured model for adapting your leadership approach to the situation.
• Ryan Ogilvie expounds on continual service improvement, and the principle of learning by (and while) doing and continually improving while being transparent and inclusive.

Established Methods

• Mary Shacklett provides examples of how critical thinking (or the lack thereof) can impact a project.
• Elise Stevens explains how to deal with irrational stakeholders. Or at least, those brief periods where the rationality of their position is less than clear.
• Rachel Burger identifies the five biggest project management trends of 2017.
• Shuba Kathikeyan links us to six free online resources to learn about ITIL. But as Rob England reports, the number of folks taking the ITIL exam is shrinking.
• Amber Lee Dennis has compiled a primer on the Data Warehouse. Well worth reading, even if you’ve been around a while.

Agile Methods

• Stefan Wolpers curates his weekly list of Agile content, from Agile at scale to Hybrid Agile, to principles of Emergent Organizations.
• Dave Prior interviews Michael Daly and Matt Volpe on how they’re making Agile work at Major League Baseball (not playing; Advanced Media). Just 50 minutes, safe for work.
• Cornelius Fichtner interviews Joy Beatty on scaled Agile in the Large Enterprise. Just 31 minutes, safe for work.
• Glen Alleman contemplates Scrum roles in the context of accountability and responsibility in the presence of a governance framework that extends beyond the team.
• Craig Smith and Tony Ponton interview Betty Enyonam Kumahor on the practice of Frugal Innovation in Africa. Just 27 minutes, safe for work.
• Cornelius Parkin demonstrates how to assess user stories using the definition of done and the SMART criteria.

Applied Leadership

• Art Petty explores former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink’s mantra, “Discipline equals freedom.”
• Grace Windsor lists five New Year’s resolutions to not make and five alternatives that we should try, instead.
• Johanna Rothman reflects on the failure of Holocracy at Zappos and the way we naturally develop relationships.
• Karen McGraw writes about the “Bad boss experience,” as a starting point for becoming a good boss.
• Andy Wolber shows how to make your IT project portfolio more understandable to your customers by grouping them into start, switch, and stop.

Working and the Workplace

• Lisette Sutherland samples answers from various interviewees on the question she always asks: What does your virtual office look like? Just 23 minutes, safe for work.
• Elizabeth Harrin tells of her adoption of a “transitions” strategy at the end of her work day. Ah, the things you learn from being a Mum …
• Jeff Wise reviews the science behind changing our habits, and thus our lives.
• Coert Visser reflects on moments of spontaneous progress, as opposed to the stuff we work so hard to achieve.
• Jessica Meher recounts the realization that holding back, not speaking up, was just being selfish. Leadership requires confidence.
• Jennifer Aldrich shares her list of questions to ask when considering a job offer from a start-up (or from established companies).

Enjoy!