New project management articles published on the web during the week of June 4 – 10. And this week’s video: Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen perform “Rock That Boogie” somewhere in Europe. I reference a line from this song in one of my comments below, so I figured some of you under age 60 might want to hear it in context. Less than 3 minutes, more-or-less safe for work.
Must read!
- Mike Murphy reports the details of Microsoft’s $7.5B deal to buy GitHub. 2 minutes to read.
- Adrien Book examines the impact AI-driven content might be having on our children. Case in point: Youtube for kids. 5 minutes to read.
- Elad Sherf reports on research that indicates overworked managers treat their employees less fairly, to the detriment of the organization. 6 minutes to read.
Established Methods
Robert Wysocki describes Hybrid Project Management—a mix of traditional, Agile, and Extreme methods. 5 minutes to read.- Walter Stinnett offers some tips on how to ensure the project status data you get from Microsoft Project is as accurate as possible. 3 minutes to read.
- Adam Knight explains why testers and management have very different perceptions of risk to software under test. 7 minutes to read.
- Andy Silber explains how to assess project risks using a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. 6 minutes to read.
- Glen Alleman reviews some of the principle biases that impact our decision making and how that affects our projects and estimates. 4 minutes to read.
- Mike Clayton tells us how to hand over the project to the operational team when it comes to an end. Video, 4 minutes, safe for work. When Mike mentions “snagging list,” US project managers should think “punch list.”
Agile Methods
- Stefan Wolpers curates his weekly list of Agile content, from using graphics to improve your facilitation skills to organizational analysis to Kanban Cadences. 7 outbound links, 3 minutes to read.
- Dave Prior interviews Agile heretic and thought leader Jim Benson on why Agile is going off the rails and what should be done about it. Podcast, a little over an hour.
- Valerie Senyk shares her notes from a presentation by Esther Derby: six rules for driving complex change, as an Agile coach. 2 minutes to read.
- Radoslaw Orszewski answers your questions about Kanban Cadences, a more structured approach. 5 minutes to read.
- Neil Killick lists eight ways to implement the Agile mindset and methods without putting the organization through an “Agile Transformation.” 4 minutes to read.
- Luis Goncalves defines Agile project portfolio management. 5 minutes to read, plus a 2-minute video.
Applied Leadership
Alexander Maasik curates his weekly list of leadership content, from innovation programs to pushing back against shame and failure to acting when your employees are losing focus. 5 outbound links, 3 minutes to read.- Guy Itzchakov and Avraham Kluger explain the powerful that listening plays in helping people to change their behavior. Your listening, not just theirs! 8 minutes to read.
- Mary Jo Asmus imagines how it would work if we valued good questions as much as knowledge. 2 minutes to read.
- John Goodpasture passes along some good advice on staying prepared for the opportunity to speak to a group about your project. 2 minutes to read.
Technology, Techniques, and Human Behavior
- Erik Dietrich identifies the seven sins of unit testing. Be aware of these worst-practices and ask the right questions. 6 minutes to read.
- Erin Wildermuth expounds on science proving the benefits of talking to yourself. 4 minutes to read. “Sittin’ on a bench down in the park, talkin’ to myself alone in the dark.”—Billy C. Farlow
- Julie Giulioni shares a strategy for enhancing your ability to learn and succeed over time. 3 minutes to read.
Working and the Workplace
- Poornima Vijayashanker interviews Holly Cardew on how to recruit and interview remote workers, and why you should. Video, 13 minutes, safe for work.
- Aytekin Tank explains the difference between a manager’s schedule and a maker’s schedule. You can mix both into your day if you understand the difference. 7 minutes to read.
- Elizabeth Harrin shares some ways to stay motivated and productive at work during summertime, when you’d rather be outside. 6 minutes to read.
Enjoy!
My latest article for AITS was published today: 
It’s important to think like a journalist when writing status reports: be clear, concise, and engage the reader by creating a narrative. Tell a story that the reader wants to finish. But not everything in your status report should be news—you also need to mix in information, showing trends and data in a digestible format. The goal should be to help your stakeholders have a better understanding of the work planned, completed, and in progress so they can make better decisions and help to champion the project.