The Project Coach

In my last article on risk, I discussed qualitative and quantitative analysis which allows a team to assess probability, impact, and monetary value of the risks identified.  This allows a project team to develop priorities for those risks that require further planning and threat mitigation or opportunity realization strategies.  In this article we’ll discuss how to develop risk response strategies › Continue reading…

In our last post, Susan discussed the top project management stories of 2010, and in that article concluded that risk planning was one of the major take away lessons of the year. When we look to past news-worthy project stories such as the BP oil spill disaster, the Carnival cruise ship Splendor nightmare, or the delays of the Broadway production of Spiderman, risk management emerges time and again as a leading factor for better outcomes. So why don’t more projects and organizations embrace it? › Continue reading…

Here is my list of the big project management stories of 2010 and what lessons they offer for project managers.  At a glance, I think risk planning and perseverance are the take-aways.  › Continue reading…

Undoubtedly, the masters would agree hands down that the recommended approach for any project team practicing agile methods would be co-location. The benefit of this arrangement is all the casual conversation that team members naturally tend to engage in, or are forced to overhear from their co-workers, which in turn promotes collaboration on the project – or so the theory goes. Unfortunately with the fabric of today’s multi regional, global, or outsourced organizations, co-located teams are not always an option. › Continue reading…

In my last article I discussed characteristics and roles of the agile scrum methodology as compared to waterfall.  In this continuation article, I committed to examine the artifacts, meetings and processes involved and also discuss what they compare to in a waterfall context.  By design agile and the scrum methodology deliberately minimize processes, artifacts and meetings › Continue reading…

For those of my PMP friends and colleagues who are firmly immersed in the waterfall way of doing things but who are hearing more and more about agile and scrum and wondering what all the fuss is about, I thought it might be a good idea to write a series of articles comparing and contrasting the two approaches.  I’d like to start by stating that I am very much a fan of agile and scrum and believe that the traditional PMI methodology, when practiced in a sensible manner and the agile scrum approach have more in common than you would think. At the end of the day the purpose of both is the same – to get work done well.  › Continue reading…

Let’s start with a definition of social media.  According to Wikipedia  (and that’s an obvious place to go for information about this topic) “Social media are media for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. Social media use web-based technologies to transform and broadcast media monologues into social media dialogues.” The last part of that explanation is really powerful for project managers, as we strive to turn monologues into dialogues.  › Continue reading…

I am on vacation in Taos, New Mexico this week with my husband and 15-year-old nephew, Evan, who spends every summer with us.  We are staying in a very nice condominium and having lots of adventures: a llama trek, river rafting trip, horseback ride, visits to the Taos Pueblo and various art galleries, restaurants, historic markers and other areas of interest.    Like any good project manager, I spent a considerable amount of time planning for this trip.  I did a lot of research on places to stay and restaurants to visit.  I researched different vendors to determine who to book our activities with, and I reserved in advance.    I also have a “standard packing list” of additional items that I bring whenever we stay in a condo: a good cutting knife, two good cooking pans, coffee, tea, extra kitchen towels, etc.  My planning efforts paid off enough that › Continue reading…