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”
Category Archives: Project
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
Trust is very important for teamwork
When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality. – Joe Paterno. Who else can say better than JoePa? He is absolutely correct, but key thing is outgrowing individualism. When a team is motivated to work together, everything seems possible and there is quite a different feeling. I have beenContinue reading “Trust is very important for teamwork”
Quotes for managers
People ask for the secret to success. There is no secret but there is a process. – Nido Quebin Set a good example. It will please some people and amaze the rest. – Mark Twain We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are. – Anais Nin Those who lack courageContinue reading “Quotes for managers”
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?”
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”
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”
Importance of TimeOut
We have seen in various sports when a play or a pass is not developing the way expected or falling out of bound, timeout is called. After timeout, team regroups and turns the outcome for that instance or break the momentum of the opponent team going for score. It give opportunity to re-focus, re-think and re-group.
The 4 Disciplines of Execution
Execution of ideas/goals makes the real difference. Any one can set goals and objectives but when it comes to implementation, it is totally a different game. You might have seen excellent concepts being converted into highly visible projects and later the project being cancelled or product being shelved. Its all how you execute. As Will Weider saidContinue reading “The 4 Disciplines of Execution”
Situational Leadership
I completed Computer Based Training – “Situational Leadership II” developed by the Ninth House. I was amazed with the technique used to give lessons; it kept me involved till the end and I did not feel disconnected or bored. It is kind of movie that you watch and your decisions dictate the way story develops. Continue reading “Situational Leadership”
You had problem pronouncing long Indian name?
You might have seen that some Indian names are little complicated to pronounce (particularly by our American and Canadian fellows – may be Europeans too). Now-a-days, Indian names are very common in workplace as offices are quite diverse and multi-cultural. Some have changed their long (or complex to pronounce) Indian names to short ones, the same way William isContinue reading “You had problem pronouncing long Indian name?”
Positive Thinking..
I spent some time over the last few months reading book and listening to audio CDs on positive thinking (attitude). The one was “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Vincent Peele. I liked so many things described there. I have tried to implemented it in my life and work. By thinking positively, things are more interesting and joyfulContinue reading “Positive Thinking..”
Leadership and Management 