Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are paving the way to make Project Management tools and profession go through change in approach and mindset.
Category Archives: Project Manager
How to Publish Project Manager’s Daily Newspaper?
Have you dreamed about publishing your own newspaper? Here is quick way to publish one. Some days ago I got a link on twitter to an online newspaper about social media content. I was impressed and thought its lot of work put in by the author to compile so many sources and presenting in an attractive layout. LastContinue reading “How to Publish Project Manager’s Daily Newspaper?”
Quotes for Project Managers
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched. – Aesop The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there is 90% probability you will get it wrong. – Andy Rooney If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster. – Clint Eastwood Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comesContinue reading “Quotes for Project Managers”
15 Ground Rules for Project Team Management
People with diverse professional experiences and background have totally unique perspective on any issue. When a new team is assembled for any project, its vital for the success of that project that all team member are aware of the ground-rules for the project; similar to any sport. You may have to read it to team and give aContinue reading “15 Ground Rules for Project Team Management”
Got 10 minute to speak with executive?
When you got 10 minutes or less to talk to your executive manager, you are well aware of the fact that you do not have enough time to give background of the issue or request and he/she isn’t interested in nitty-gritty detail. Instead of giving your jargon loaded intellectual talk, paint the picture with words.Continue reading “Got 10 minute to speak with executive?”
11 Principles of Leadership
I came across 11 leadership principles of Marine Corps in Guide Book for Marines on the Internet and here is my interpretation of 11 principles. I am interested in hearing from Marines about their leadership experience. Take responsibility – we need to seek and take responsibilities if we need to grow; never shy away, whatever seems challenging willContinue reading “11 Principles of Leadership”
Quotes for Managers
Here are 6 quotes for I.T. managers from Norman R. Augustine Hardware works best when it matters the least. A revised schedule is to business what a new season is to an athlete or a new canvas to an artist. One of the most feared expressions in modern times is ”The computer is down”.Continue reading “Quotes for Managers”
Changepoint and PPM
Last week I completed Compuware Changepoint training. I had read earlier that Changepoint is in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant (leaders) for PPM tools. Changepoint is a web based tool for project and portfolio management. The tool enables leadership make right decisions based on dynamic metrics of various initiatives and what value these initiatives add; and realignment ofContinue reading “Changepoint and PPM”
3-Rs for Leaders
Read more Reflect more Risk more Leaders ought to read a lot to stay ahead. Each day is blessed with new discoveries and useful information. Using the 80/20 rule, find out what is out there that you need to know. Co-relate how changes in the world going to shape your world. Read more = Plan LeadersContinue reading “3-Rs for Leaders”
Project Management – Useful Links
We learn a lot from the Internet these days and rely on up-to-date information. Personally, I’ve learned a lot from my fellow bloggers and other websites on Project Management to stay ahead of the curve. There are many other on-line resources but I would like to share following list of blogs/websites that I frequently visit and wouldContinue reading “Project Management – Useful Links”
Capture Planning Assumptions
Your boss approaches you and tells that workplan is very good but customer wants to know how can we deliver the project sooner than promised? Now you have to come up with a new workplan or make some adjustments based on new findings. You put your thoughts together and go on to make changes/update and deliver the finalContinue reading “Capture Planning Assumptions”
Choosing Team Lead
“People acting together as a group can accomplish things that no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about.” – FD Roosevelt Each team members has unique work style, personal goals, skills, background and experience. Each team member’s unique qualities and different attributes make a team complex unit where conflict, confusion, criticism will grow and finally bringContinue reading “Choosing Team Lead”
Life is bigger than that!
2008 is nearing the completion of business work days and it was one of the eventful year. We have seen all from US election to Canadian elections, Wall-street meltdown to Automotive bailout, Saturday Night Live comedy to economic worries. All the stuff, never thought of. But when it comes to our professional life, one needs toContinue reading “Life is bigger than that!”
Communication Skills for Managers – Learning From Barak Obama
I was looking into posts on Mr. Barak Obama’s communication style and how it contributed towards Obama’s victory. Did Obama address people in all 4 categories of DiSC Model? These categories are Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. Each person in his/her category wants to hear in a specific manner. Some people need direct answer while others need some encouragement and hopeContinue reading “Communication Skills for Managers – Learning From Barak Obama”
Elected – Board Member @ PMIGLC
When I checked my inbox this morning, I found an official email from PMIGLC election committee congratulating me that I have been elected as Vice President – Communications for the 2009-2010 term. Some of you might know that I volunteer at Great Lakes Chapter of PMI (Project Management Institute) in Detroit. I started volunteering as ‘Director of Webservices’ almost over 2Continue reading “Elected – Board Member @ PMIGLC”
Scheduling & Three Types of Tasks : MS Project
If you are new Project Manager or new to using MS Project, when putting workplan together one of the question you may ask is – what type of task should I choose? MS Project has 3 options – Fixed Duration; Fixed Units; Fixed Work. The choice will decide how MS Project schedules the work, inContinue reading “Scheduling & Three Types of Tasks : MS Project”
Fast, Cheap AND Good
Can’t pick any two? You also need all three – fast, cheap and good? It has been very commonly used set of options in I.T. when offering an alternative or usually when dealing with issues from outsourced service. Someone will come and say – “Pick any two!” Sometime ago I was involved in a projectContinue reading “Fast, Cheap AND Good”
The 7 Habits For Managers
Stephen R Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is classic and most of us have read and learned from it. This week, I listened to his another audio book The 7 Habits for Managers: Managing Yourself, Leading Others, Unleashing Potential. Its based on ‘classic 7 habits’ and with focus on management. I would recommend toContinue reading “The 7 Habits For Managers”
DiSC model – Management Styles
I completed DiSC (stands for Dominance, influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness) training last week and fount it interesting. DiSC confirms one thing, different strokes for different folks. DiSC is a system to help you find out similar and unique characteristics among people. It also shows person’s behavioural preferences and helps to identify different management styles that can leadContinue reading “DiSC model – Management Styles”
Intro to Earned Value Analysis – Part 1
We got to measure the progress of the project and report it to upper management along with controlling it. Project might seem progressing well, tasks completing on time and we are spending money for that. Earned Value Analysis (EVA) gives us an integrated view of cost and schedule performance. Lets go over some basic definitionsContinue reading “Intro to Earned Value Analysis – Part 1”
PMI Membership Benefits
I volunteer at my PMI (Project Management Institute) local chapter called Great Lakes Chapter (www.pmiglc.org). I enjoy the benefits of PMI membership in form of monthly magazine called PM Network and accompanied paper called PMI Today. Both are informative and I have gained a lot by reading both publications. Many people join organizations enthusiastically and then with veryContinue reading “PMI Membership Benefits”
Issue or Risk?
Budget, Scope and Schedule are three constraints a project manager has to deal with to produce deliverable. Any one of these three is changed, remaining are also affected. Risks and issues in a project are documented and monitored. During the documentation phase, it becomes cofnusing when we have to classify it into either risk or issueContinue reading “Issue or Risk?”
Leading Creative Employees
There are always some special people in teams who are very much techie, creative and loaded with specific knowledge. Lets call these employees creative people in this post. These creative people provide tremendous value to organization through application of their knowledge and expertise. These really smart and creative people need nurturing environment and motivation. When leading these creative people, keep in mindContinue reading “Leading Creative Employees”
How to Have Project Kick-off Meeting
Kick-off meeting is the first meeting of the project where you give all the team members good news that project is ‘go ahead’ from the sponsors and also set the tone of your project – is it going to be a success or a failure. Many hours and days have gone into preparation before youContinue reading “How to Have Project Kick-off Meeting”
Keeping in touch with direct reports?
Workplaces have transformed a lot in last few years from people working in same office building to team members scattered over different continents. This poses some benefits and challenges. As we all know that we are all connected via communication and our communication skills and capabilities play a major role in our success. Keeping theContinue reading “Keeping in touch with direct reports?”
Conflict Matters!
Managers face many situations where he has to sort out two opposing actions or ideas. Situation may be very tense as people with conflicting ideas become very much involved and passionate about their stand. As a manager, a positive and constructive conflict between team members may be a good thing (such as some team members in favor ofContinue reading “Conflict Matters!”
10 Steps of Project Success
Whenever IT project failure is talked, people refer Denver Airport project that failed big time and costed a lot. I have also seen project that failed or cancelled or shrunk. Why is it happening when so many intelligent people are working and we know all the ingredients of project success. Here are some commonly known factorsContinue reading “10 Steps of Project Success”
Leadership and Management 