New PM Articles for the Week of September 29 – October 5

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Two BalloonsNew project management articles published on the web during the week of September 29 – October 5. We give you a high-level view so you can read what interests you. Recommended:

PM Best Practices

  • Glen Alleman points out the judgment heuristics that introduce errors and biases in our discussions of the success rates of software projects.
  • Seth Godin notes the frustration some have with leaders who remain calm.
  • George Ellis reminds us that, as the leader, we should share credit but assume responsibility.
  • Bruce Benson finds additional lessons from the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange debacle.
  • Russell Whitworth describes the process of conducting a project health check. His agenda is well worth cribbing!
  • Gina Abudi tells of the importance of engaging all of the stakeholders – not just the ones with senior management titles.
  • Henny Portman describes an interesting one-page approach to communicating a program: the Program Canvas.
  • Latesha Goodman lists five collaboration tools increasingly in use a government agencies.
  • Lawrence Putnam identifies the ways in which estimates are refined throughout the project life cycle.

Agile Methods

  • Mike Cohn has an excellent suggestion: add requests for additional documentation to the product backlog.
  • Venkatesh Krishnamurthy spoke at the Agile PM meet-up in Melbourne, about Craig Larman’s Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) framework.
  • Maxim Kur identifies a number of misperceptions, logical flaws, and of bad reasons for struggling with Agile methods.
  • Don Kim notes a disturbing trend: Agile is becoming more rigid!

Diversity

  • Johanna Rothman reflects on being told that she was “too abrasive, too direct, maybe even too assertive.”
  • Kieran Snyder reports on her survey of women who have left the tech industry – it’s the culture. Managers, if you aren’t driving the solution, you’re part of this problem!
  • John Goodpasture points out the difference between inclusion and tolerance.
  • Naomi Caietti announces the first e-book in a series, written by five Glass Breaking women in leadership positions.
  • Elizabeth Harrin created a video diary of the APM’s Women in Project Management Special Interest Group 21st Anniversary conference. Just 5 minutes, safe for work.

 Professional Development

  • Bruce Harpham begins a series on how project managers can learn and use the principles of strategy.
  • Matthew Wall reports on the impact of Big Data, gamification, and lexical analysis on selecting job applicants.
  • Henny Portman explains APMG’s new Agile Program Management framework and certification, apparently based on MSP.
  • Susanne Madsen explores the differences between management and leadership.
  • Michael Wood details the abilities and behavior traits required to become a successful, even great project manager.
  • Coert Visser reviews “The Marshmallow Test,” by Walter Mischel. “Willpower is not a predetermined and fixed characteristic of people but a learnable skill.”
  • Suzanne Lucas shares three management lessons learned at a Turkish wedding.

Enjoy!