pm411.org Project Management Podcast

Podcast episode 081: 5 steps to create a successful PMO

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:20:53 +0000

Today I give you 5 steps to help you create a successful Project Management Office in your organization.

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Podcast episode 080: conflict resolution with Margaret Meloni

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 05:12:39 +0000

Today I speak with conflict resolution expert Margaret Meloni about conflict on projects, conflict resolution, and some of the coaching and tools she has available to help you effectively manage the conflict on your teams.

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Podcast episode 079: the people side of change management

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 05:45:13 +0000

I recently talked with change expert Brian Richardson on overcoming resistance to change on our teams by understanding the people side of change management.

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“We don’t do project management”

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 02:53:08 +0000

Have you ever heard someone say, "We don't do project management here!" Well so has Brenda Hernández, and she thinks we may just need to change what we view as project management.

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Podcast episode 078: the value of your pmo

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:16:51 +0000

You can't just create a PMO and expect everyone to jump on board to support it. Especially when 50% of PMOs fail the first time around. So, In order to get the resources and budget necessary for the PMO to be successful, you need to show the value that a PMO will bring to your organization.

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Podcast episode 077: the dirty little secret of business

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:07:02 +0000

Recently I spoke with author, speaker, and executive coach Andy Kaufman. What I was interested in getting from Andy was what is behind what Andy calls “The Dirty Little Secret of Business” – you know, that one thing that can really make you or break you in your career as a project manager.

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Podcast episode 076: the pm exam simulator

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 06:28:50 +0000

At some point you are going to have to ask yourself: "Am I ready to take the PMP Exam?" Here is the secret to answering this question and passing the exam on your first try!

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Eliyahu Goldratt March 31, 1948 – June 11, 2011

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:38:32 +0000

I was saddened to hear that one of the greatest minds and teachers in Project Management, Eli Goldratt, has died.

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Podcast episode 075: e-project managers schedule training

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:16:53 +0000

Regardless if you are experienced or a beginner with Microsoft Project you will benefit from this exclusive weekly video coaching program. The secret strategies to quickly create and manage project schedules is the foundation for successful project management, and for the first time you will receive the information you need in a clear and easy to learn system that will help you be successful.

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Podcast episode 074: the schedule killers presentation (part 7)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Fri, 13 May 2011 04:28:47 +0000

This is part 7, and the final part, of a video presentation I gave on The Schedule Killers last summer. In Part 7, I discuss how you can defeat the “Schedule Killers” on your next project. So now that we have covered the three Schedule Killers in Parts 1 – 6, let’s talk about how to overcome them. Use 3-Point Task Estimations In Part 2, we looked at the example of Sean driving to work and using three-point estimation to get a better feel for how long his commute takes him. Instead of just looking at one data point and drawing a conclusion on how long it will take Sean to get to work, we also asked him his worse case and best case commute durations. You want to do the same with your team members to help them better estimate the duration of their tasks. The two points I recommend focusing on, and I’ll explain why in a moment, is the 50% probability duration and the 90% probabily duration. Use The 8/80 Rule Another way to defeat The Schedule Killers is to breakdown...

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Now Earn 30 Free PDUs at pm411.org!

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:59:54 +0000

Just a quick post to let you know that PMI has revised their requirements for maintaining your PM certification. Now you can earn up to 30 FREE PDUs simply by listening to the free pm411.org Project Management podcasts in iTunes or at pm411.org.

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Podcast episode 073: the schedule killers presentation (part 6)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 01:52:27 +0000

This is part 6 of a series of video presentation I gave on The Schedule Killers last summer. Do you think you can focus on more than one thing at a time? In this video, which I call The Holohan Multitasking Experiment, I let you decide whether you can multitask or not. In this simple experiment, you get to see which is easier and faster to do – adding two columns of numbers at the same time or adding one column before adding the second column. Although the same amount of work was done in both experiments, when I do this test during presentations, I find that it typically takes the audience 2 to 3 times longer when they try to add both columns of numbers at the same time than it does when they add the first column before starting the second column. The audience also tends to make a lot more mistakes when they try to focus on adding two columns of numbers at the same time. This experiment demonstrates what happens when we try to switch quickly (called multi-switching) between...

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Podcast episode 072: the schedule killers presentation (part 5)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:17:53 +0000

This is part 5 of a video presentation I gave on The Schedule Killers last summer. In Part 5, I discuss the third Schedule Killer, called Bad Multitasking. Back in Episode 047, I went into great detail on Bad Multitasking, which is a another really nasty way projects miss their deadline... Usually 1 day at a time!

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Podcast episode 071: the schedule killers presentation (part 4)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 01:40:31 +0000

We tend to hold on to work until the last minute before it is due. So, what does Parkinson's Law and the Ideal Gas Law have in common? Listen and find out!

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Podcast episode 070: the schedule killers presentation (part 3)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 03:34:50 +0000

This is part 3 of a video presentation I gave on The Schedule Killers last summer. In Part 3 I discuss the first real Schedule Killer, Student's Syndrome. Back in Episode 045, I went into great detail on Student Syndrome, which is a really nasty way projects miss their deadline... Usually 1 day at a time! The other Schedule Killers will be presented in the next few episodes.

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Podcast episode 069: the schedule killers presentation (part 2)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:50:29 +0000

Part 2 of The Schedules Killer Presentation where I demonstrate how to use 3-point estimation to better estimate the duration of tasks. Once you have your 3 points, you will be ready to better estimate the task duration by using PERT.

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Podcast episode 068: the schedule killers presentation (part 1)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:46:23 +0000

This is the introduction of a video presentation I gave on The Schedule Killers last summer. The other parts will be presented in the next few episodes.

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Uncomplicated ways to understand the complex world of project managers

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 02:15:39 +0000

Have you considered managing your projects like Dora The Explorer? Maybe you should!

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Podcast episode 067: stop playing games!

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 05:23:39 +0000

Do you ever get tired of playing games? No. I’m not talking about Scrabble or poker or even Dungeons and Dragons Online in which incidentally, I am a current fourth level paladin. No, rather I’m speaking about the games that we get to play every day as project managers. What games you ask? Oh, you know the ones like “The Pricing Game,” “Guess the Truth,” and “Grapevine.” Well, lucky for us, Rick Morris, PMP, provides some strategies on how to win at these games. Rick Morris is the best-selling author of the book Stop Playing Games: A Project Manager’s Guide to Successfully Navigating Organizational Politics. This book, from the author of Project Management That Works and The Everything Project Management Book, dives deep into topics of gaining buy-in from upper management, accurately estimating timing and cost, controlling project communications, managing within a corporate culture, taking care of your team, and more. The Inspiration Behind the Book Frustration was one of the factors...

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Podcast episode 066: 5 myths of weekly status reports

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 01:31:09 +0000

Usually when I talk with project managers struggling with team communication, I get a litany of excuses why weekly status reports won't work on their team. So, today I do my best to help debunk 5 of the myths around publishing weekly status reports and provide you with some tips on how to get the most out of them. There is even a free template available to get you started!

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Podcast episode 065: extreme project manager makeover

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:33:34 +0000

I recently talked with Pattie Vargas of The Vargas Group and author of the book, Extreme Project Manager Makeover, about what it means to be an Extreme Project Manager and how to become one.

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Podcast episode 064: 9 steps to work less and do more

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:18:46 +0000

I recently talked with Stever Robbins of the Get-It-Done Guy Podcast about his book Nine Steps to Work Less and Do More. Stever is a successful entrepreneur who loves productivity in the service of personal fulfillment. A veteran of nine startups, including FTP Software, Intuit, and HEAR Music, Stever is a graduate of Harvard Business School and MIT.

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Podcast episode 063: the lazy project manager

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 21:31:53 +0000

Recently I spoke with Peter Taylor about his book The Lazy Project Manager and what it means to be Productively Lazy.

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Podcast episode 062: MindManager 9

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:29:36 +0000

Today I talk with Neil Mendelson, Vice President of Products at Mindjet, about their new version of MindManager, MindManager 9.

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Podcast episode 061: tips for new project managers

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:30:45 +0000

Well, today we welcome back to the show Josh Nankivel who shares some tips on how to network with other more experienced project managers through a new tool he has created called pmStudent e-learning.

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The truth about PRINCE2: uncovering common fears

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:30:48 +0000

This guest blog post is by Heather Buckley, photographer and director of Silicon Beach Training, a Brighton UK based training company who offer a wide range of Business, Management and IT training courses including PRINCE2 Training. Heather blogs regularly on all things Project Management, Social Media and Photography for her own blog. On the whole PRINCE2 is an invaluable qualification to have behind your belt, being an established toolkit, recognized worldwide and the European standard project management qualification. Whether you’re a fan or not, a unifying qualification has numerous advantages as it gives a standard project management approach and allows a common project language. On the other hand: there are a lot of people making money out of PRINCE2 training so you’ll hear about the wonderful benefits all too often. In reality, PRINCE2 certification is not for everyone; there are certain mistakes that can be made when applying it and certain situations when it may not be so...

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Podcast episode 060: rats, snakes, and complex projects with Geoff Crane

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 02:57:28 +0000

I once described Geoff Crane's Papercut Edge blog like this: "Imagine if Project Management rode the scary rollercoaster and then threw up... That's what Geoff Crane's blog is like." And Geoff just so happens to also an expert on complex projects. Especially those projects where the exterminator needs to be called in. And lucky for us, Geoff is willing to share some of his tips on managing complex projects.

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Podcast episode 059: the pdu podcast with Cornelius Fichtner

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Fri, 14 May 2010 05:32:39 +0000

Today I welcome back to the show Cornelius Fichtner of the world famous PM Podcast and the PM PrepCast to unveil a new product of his available through pm411.org, called The PDU Podcast. You can earn 15 PDUs for free by simply listening to The pm411.org Project Management Podcast episodes and then learning to claim your free PDUs here. But what if you want to earn even more PDUs to fulfill the 60 PDU requirement? Well, now we offer The PDU Podcast! Benefits of the PDU Podcast Earn PDUs Anywhere: With The PDU Podcast there is no need to go to a classroom. You don’t even have to sit at your computer. Simply download the webinars to your iPod and play them wherever you are. Earn PDUs Automatically: Your PDU Podcast puts you on autopilot for your re-certification. New webinars arrive monthly. Automatically. ORDER NOW! Earn PDUs on Your Schedule: Work the webinars into your schedule and not the other way around. Play them when you have the time. Earn as many PDUs as you like:...

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The Cranky Middle Manager asks me “so, why do projects slip?”

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 01 May 2010 00:30:24 +0000

I recently interviewed Wayne Turmel of The Cranky Middle Manager Show in Episode 058, and now he has turned the tables around to talk to me on three reasons projects slip. Plus I include some free downloads and other goodies!

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Podcast episode 058: virtual team tips with the cranky middle manager

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:51:45 +0000

Recently I spoke with the very smart, funny, and dare I say, Cranky, Wayne Turmel about virtual teams. Wayne Turmel is the president of Greatwebmeetings.com, as well as the host of one of the world's most successful business podcasts, The Cranky Middle Manager Show. The BBC, ABC and BusinessWeek Online have called Cranky Middle Manager one of the best HR blogs out there. And Wayne's book 6 Weeks to a Great Webinar: Generate Leads and Tell Your Story to the World is the leading web presentation book on Amazon.com. Wayne is also a contributor to BNET.

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Podcast episode 057: Tom Peters Speaks Out about Toyota Recalls

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:21:41 +0000

I was recently joined by best selling author and Management guru Tom Peters to discuss his perspective on the Toyota recalls. Tom and I also talked about where other major companies such as Dell, Starbucks, Nike, Apple, Google, GM, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, and Honda fall on that elusive spectra known as "Excellence". By the way, if somehow you have not heard of Tom Peters: Simply put, Tom Peters is the last of the still living and truly great 20th Century management thought leaders and, incidentally, is more relevant in today's business environment than ever before.

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The 5 Goals of a Project Manager

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 05:55:23 +0000

Our guest blogger today, Jason Westland, has 15 years experience in the project management industry. From his experience he has created software to help speed up the management process. If you would like to find out more information about Jason’s online project management software visit ProjectManager.com. As a Project Manager, you need to manage people, money, suppliers, equipment—the list is never ending. The trick is to be focused. Set yourself 5 personal goals to achieve. If you can meet these simple goals for each project, then you will achieve total success. So read on, to learn… The 5 Goals of a Project Manager. These goals are generic to all industries and all types of projects. Regardless of your level of experience in project management, set these 5 goals for every project you manage. Goal 1: To finish on time This is the oldest but trickiest goal in the book. It’s the most difficult because the requirements often change during the project and the schedule was...

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Podcast episode 056: effective project landscape management

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:26:51 +0000

In Episode 056, I talk with Robert Wysocki, PhD on the 5th edition of his book Effective Project Management and how to best determine the type of project methodology you should use based on your project landscape.

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How Project Management Helps Businesses Increase Success

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:57:31 +0000

Guest Blogger Dana Larson from OnePlace shares how a project management system can help your business be more successful.

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Podcast episode 055: the complete pmo (part 2 of 2)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:03:34 +0000

In this episode, I continue my discussion on the Project Management Office with one of the world’s leading experts on PMOs, Mr. Gerard Hill, PMP. If you have not listened to Part 1 of our discussion, you will definitely want to go back and listen to Episode 054 before continuing to listen to part 2 in this episode. In the second of two parts, Gerard and I continue our discussion of the areas covered in his book The Complete Project Management Handbook including PMO tools, metrics, knowledge management, project assessments, troubled projects, and Business Performance Management. And at the end of the podcast I will tell you how you can enter a drawing for a copy of The Complete Project Management Handbook or Gerard’s other book, The Complete Project Management Methodology and Toolkit. The PMO and Project Management Tools The PMO should be involved, if not even leading the effort, to standardize the tools and processes used within an organization. The PMO should also help in...

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Podcast episode 054: the complete pmo (part 1 of 2)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:42:51 +0000

Because the Project Management Office is such an important topic, today we are digging deeper into what a PMO is with one of the world’s leading experts in PMOs, Mr. Gerard Hill, PMP. Gerard “Jerry” Hill is an internationally-recognized consultant, author and speaker with professional expertise in the discipline of project management. He brings emerging project management concepts and practices to bear for consideration by individuals and organizations; and he applies a practical approach to implementing business solutions in the project management environment. Mr. Hill has conceived and constructed several project management methodologies and PMO solutions that have been deployed in organizations around the globe. His recent publications include: The Complete Project Management Office Handbook (Auerbach Publications, 2007, 752pp), and The Complete Project Management Methodology and Toolkit (CRC Press/Auerbach Publications, 2009, 520pp). Today, in the first of two parts,...

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What we can learn from “Undercover Boss”

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:39:23 +0000

Okay, so I just got around to watching the debut of the new CBS reality show, Undercover Boss, which I recorded after the Superbowl on Sunday evening. I am really not a fan of reality shows, although I did watch the first season of The Apprentice back in 2004 since it had project managers competing to secure a single lucrative position of overseeing the building of Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, Illinois. After watching the first few episodes of The Apprentice, I actually felt anxious. I think that The Donald’s continual criticizing, interrupting, and “you’re fired” climaxes of each board room episode of The Apprentice struck a little too close to reality for me. I have never been fired, but I have been in my share of meetings and board rooms where politics are at play, people’s defenses are bristling, and at times career paths are changed. I have found that these corporate situations often have an appearance more like a scene from William Golding’s Lord of the...

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Podcast episode 053: 6 tips for email in the new decade

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:28:43 +0000

In today’s episode, we talk with Alec Satin of the Alec Satin on People, Projects, and Process blog, about how we can make our email more efficient, and even the future of email. Alec is a project manager and organizational expert with a passion for fixing workplaces. As a trained therapist, entrepreneur and Information Technology professional, he seeks to infuse environments with order, process and sanity. During this past decade there were several advances in how we get our email… Email became easier than ever with Gmail and email became truly mobile with devices such as the Blackberry and iPhone. And perhaps even several benevolent princes were able to find you through email so you could help them by keeping their fortunes as they were deposed. During this past decade, books like Getting Things Done by David Allen and email applications like Microsoft Outlook have tried to help us organize our email inboxes better. But, today many of us are overloaded with work and we...

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Genius Project Management Software

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:33:29 +0000

I am happy to announce that Genius Inside has become a paid sponsor of The pm411.org Project Management Podcast. Genius Inside, creators of Genius Project, one of the leading project portfolio and project management solutions built on the IBM Lotus Notes and Domino platform, is also the maker of Genius Project for Web and Genius Project for Domino. Using a cloud computing architecture, Genius Project for Web extends the full array of project management functionality designed for the Lotus Notes and Domino platform to anyone with a Web browser. Established in 1997, Genius Inside develops project management software that improves project selection, planning, staffing, execution and tracking. More than 55,000 users at 500 customers across the globe use Genius Inside’s proven Web- and IBM Lotus Notes-based solutions. They are supported by European and North American offices and a global reseller network. For more information please visit www.geniusinside.com. You can also follow them on...

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Podcast episode 052: it’s okay to be RACI!

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:19:18 +0000

If you like us, give us a 5 star review in iTunes! In Episode 004 and Episode 051 we discussed the Work Breakdown Structure and how it can help you as a team to clearly document your project’s deliverables. But once you have completed your WBS, what’s next? Well the next step is to develop a Responsibility Assignment Matrix, or RAM, using the RACI process. I think you are going to find this to be a valuable tool to help clarify ownership to various parts of your project. Soon your entire team will be RACI! Define Activities Process After you identify your deliverables in your Work Breakdown Structure, you will need to define those actions and activities that need to be done to produce the lowest level deliverables. This is the first process in the PMBOK Time Management Knowledge Area and is known as the Define Activities Process. In Episode 004 on Work Breakdown Structures we provided an example of a project of doing laundry. A lower deliverable could be “clean dark clothes”. ...

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If you were deleted, sorry!

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:39:03 +0000

The pm411.org Project Management Podcast continuously works hard to keep itself free from spam, spammers, and hackers. This is important to us to help protect us as a valuable web resource to our users. We also want to securely protect the user information of those of you that have signed up as active members. As a result, to help keep our site secure, today we had to delete any accounts that did not have the proper name information completely filled out in their user account. If you feel your user account was deleted incorrectly (e.g. you are a real person and have interest in posting comments about project management), please re-create your account (it literally takes 16 seconds) and be sure to fill out your full first and last name. If these fields are not filled out and correctly matched to your email address, your account will be automatically deleted. Thank you for your understanding and keep on listening! Ron

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Podcast episode 051: is the wbs just… bs?

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:53:57 +0000

Get the pm411.org Project Management Podcast Newsletter delivered by email for free! – Your email address and personal information are confidential and will never be sold or rented. Way back in Episode 004, I discussed one of the key building blocks of a successful project, known as the Work Breakdown Structure or WBS. However, it is pretty evident that there is still a lot of confusion in Project Management on whether we truly need a WBS on our projects, how to structure a WBS, and how to use it throughout a project’s lifecycle. In this episode I welcome back to the show pmstudent.com blogger and WBS expert Josh Nankivel as we dive deeper into the topic of the Work Breakdown Structure. Josh has recently published a set of training tools called the WBS coach to help those of us that need to know how to create a WBS or those of us that just need a refresher on WBS development. So is the WBS just… BS? Josh and I talk about why more PMs don’t use the WBS, we discuss whether...

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Podcast episode 050: wrike and pm 2.0

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:34:05 +0000

Today we talk with Andrew Filev. Andrew has been managing software teams since 2001 with the help of new-generation collaboration and management applications. His best practices are based on implementation of Enterprise 2.0 software in project management. Now Andrew is an expert in project management, a successful software entrepreneur and the CEO at Wrike.com, online project management software. Andrew is also the author of some influential project management articles, including works for Cutter IT Journal, Web 2.0 Journal and Agile Journal. Andrew is often invited to speak at conferences, symposiums and seminars. Andrew has given speeches on new trends in project management and on implementing Enterprise 2.0 strategies. He spoke at such events as the PMI Silicon Valley Tools and Techniques Forum, Office 2.0 Conference, Enterprise 2.0 Conference, Project Management Symposium and others. Andrew’s ideas about improving traditional project management are reflected in his popular...

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Podcast episode 049: event chain project management

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:50:44 +0000

Today we talk with Lev Virine, PhD. Lev is president and co-founder of Intaver Institute, a Calgary (Canada) based research, software development, and consulting company. Lev has twenty years of engineering and project management experience in information technology and construction industries and is author of more than thirty scientific papers and patents. Lev’s current research interests include decision and risk analysis, project management, and their applications. And much of his writing is on the topic of Project Management using Event Chain Methodology, which differs substantially from Critical Chain methodology which we have talked frequently about on the show in the past. So, we talked with Lev to find out more about what exactly is Event Chain methodology. The Intaver Institute First, a bit about Lev’s company. The Intaver Institute Inc. is a leading innovator in the field of project management software, offering their clients “unique, cost effective...

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Podcast episode 048: Announcing Mindjet Catalyst

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:01:39 +0000

Today I am extremely excited about a major product announcement from Mindjet, the makers of MindManager mindmapping software. In today’s podcast I talk with Mindjet CEO Scott Raskin about a new collaborative Project Management 2.0 tool from Mindjet that is the only platform that combines mindmapping with secure online document and file sharing, secure workspaces, integrated web chat, and web conferencing technologies. The visual nature of Mindjet’s information and idea mapping application (mind mapping) efficiently captures and organizes complex ideas and processes—from the big picture down to the smallest details—in a way that is easy for everyone on a project team to comprehend. It makes it possible for teams to quickly arrive at a common understanding of any given issue, opportunity or project, and then easily engage with the most relevant information to turn ideas into action. By combining these unique and proven benefits of information and ideas mapping application with...

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Podcast episode 047: schedule killers – bad multitasking

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:01:48 +0000

Get the pm411.org Project Management Podcast Newsletter delivered by email for free! – Your email address and personal information are confidential and will never be sold or rented. Today we continue our series on Schedule Killers – those tendencies and traits of project teams that cause us to miss our deadlines! In Episode 045, we discussed “The Student Syndrome,” which is defined as “the phenomenon that many people will start to fully apply themselves to a task just at the last possible moment before a deadline.” In Episode 046, we discussed “Parkinson’s Law,” which is defined as “the demand upon a resource tends to expand to match the supply of the resource.” Today we talk about “Bad Multitasking.” What is Bad Multitasking? Bad Multitasking is also often expressed as “when resources constantly switch focus between critical path tasks on multiple projects AND someone is waiting for the output of their task before they can do their work.” Unfortunately our brains are not...

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Podcast episode 046: schedule killers – parkinson’s law

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:08:22 +0000

Get the pm411.org Project Management Podcast Newsletter delivered by email for free! – Your email address and personal information are confidential and will never be sold or rented. Today we continue our series on Schedule Killers – those tendencies and traits of project teams that cause us to miss our deadlines! Last episode we discussed “The Student Syndrome,” which is defined as “the phenomenon that many people will start to fully apply themselves to a task just at the last possible moment before a deadline.” Today we talk about “Parkinson’s Law.” What is Parkinson’s Law? Parkinson’s Law, as it is known today, started as the first sentence of an essay that Cyril Northcote Parkinson wrote for The Economist in 1955. Parkinson was a British naval historian, public administration scholar, and author of over sixty books. Parkinson’s claim that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion” later was expanded to include how work expands in bureaucracies in...

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Are you Connected?

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:38:06 +0000

Communication is 90% of a project manager’s job. As such, we need to be sure to share ideas and network with each other in order to stay current in our industry. Each of our free forums below allow members to post, network, and share ideas with each other. Click on any of them to find others from around the world that have already reached out to meet other project managers. Also, I encourage each of you to reach out and leave comments on the posts and articles at the pm411.org website that interest you. Your comments, thoughts, and insights will undoubtedly help others in your field and will inspire new and interesting discussions and maybe even new topics for future podcasts. As always – thanks for the great support of this podcast and for listening! How do you stay connected with other project managers outside of your organization? Connect with us by leaving a comment to let us know! Sign up for The pm411.org Project Management Podcast Newsletter!

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Podcast episode 045: schedule killers – student syndrome

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:01:58 +0000

Today we will be starting a series on Schedule Killers – those tendencies and traits of project teams that cause us to miss our deadlines! And the first schedule serial killer of project teams that we will be discussing is called… “The Student Syndrome!” In this episode we cover: 1.) What is Student Syndrome? 2.) What Causes Student Syndrome? 3.) How to Cure it

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Podcast episode 044: PMP exam tools

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:53:30 +0000

We are pleased to announce that we at the pm411.org Project Management podcast now offer 3 new tools to help you pass the latest version of the PMP Exam, which covers the 4th edition of the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK).

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The PM Podcast PMO Roundtable

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:12:39 +0000

Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, host of The PM Podcast, once again invited Shawn Futterer, PMP, of The ICPM website, and myself to a roundtable project management podcast discussion. In this roundtable discussion we focus on the Project Management Office (PMO).

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Podcast episode 043: interview with Josh Nankivel, PMP

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:25:12 +0000

Josh Nankivel, PMP, recently interviewed me for his pmStudent.com website, and he was willing to return the favor and he let me interview him last weekend for this pm411.org podcast. During the interview, Josh and I discuss all kinds of great stuff including his past and current projects, the pmStudent.com website, the PMP and its future for project management, and even possible ideas for a great Project Management videogame!

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Pmstudent.com interview

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:04:33 +0000

Recently Josh Nankivel, PMP, of the pmstudent.com blog and I swapped interviews. PMStudent readers were interested in finding out more about what recommendations and advice I had for aspiring and new project managers.

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Project Management in the Real World: available in the US

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:20:19 +0000

BCS Books has signed a deal to distribute its titles in the US and Canada, making it even easier for project managers to get their hands on Elizabeth Harrin’s practical guide to project management, Project Management in the Real World. “I’m really pleased that it’s now easier for US and Canadian project managers to get hold of good quality, pragmatic advice for getting things done,” Harrin says. “My book includes interviews and case studies from US project managers, amongst others. It’s clear that the project management community in North America has a lot of experience, although looking at the latest surveys on project success, PMs everywhere could do with a helping hand.” Project Management in the Real World contains over 50 case studies – some of projects that went well, some of projects that went badly – plus a discussion of what readers can take from that experience. “The book is a shortcut to learning from the...

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Are You an Artist or a Producer?

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:17:14 +0000

“It has been said that artists never actually finish a song. That is why we need record producers. On your project, are you an artist or a producer?” - Ron Holohan

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Managing Change in Agile Environments

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:26:17 +0000

Today we welcome back guest blogger, Lisa Grant, who is the CEO of EPM Solutions, which specializes in leading companies to a consistent and effective projectized model through the use of a diverse group of experts. She has influenced and improved project management processes in various industries and functional areas such as Knowledge Management, Healthcare, e-Learning, State and Federal Government, Automotive, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Payroll, Textile, and Beverage verticals. Lisa has an MBA with a concentration in Management from Georgia State University, is a Project Management Professional, Advanced Communicator – Bronze, and Competent Leader. She achieved the MS Office Project Blue Belt certification in 2006, spoke on “Lessons Learned” at the 2005 PMI Southeast Symposium and the 2008 PMI Atlanta Professional Development Day, was awarded a Most Valuable Player award for her exemplary service to the Atlanta Chapter of PMI, and is listed in the Who’s...

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Podcast episode 042: PM opinions

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:04:36 +0000

I am here to tell you about a great new Project Management Resource called PM Opinions (www.pmopinions.com) that allows you, as a project management consumer, to read reviews from other people on

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What is your personal elevator speech?

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:44:43 +0000

Lisa Grant, PMP, provides a guest post on The pm411.org Project Management Podcast website on the importance of creating a Project Management "elevator speech" on your responsibilities and your personal brand.

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Podcast episode 041: getting back into the swing

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:26:58 +0000

So the holidays are over and you are facing returning to work to continue where you and your team left off during the holidays. For the past several few weeks you have been enjoying lounging around in your pajamas, eating holiday cookies, taking naps, and watching Oprah. But now you are facing the reality of returning to work, facing your team members, you boss, and your stakeholders. Like a bear being suddenly interrupted from its winter slumber, if you are like me, you are thinking about all the things that your team didn’t get done over the holidays and wishing you had just a couple more weeks of hibernation. So how do you conquer the stress of getting back into the flow of your project after the holidays? Well, that’s what we are going to discuss today, so let’s go ahead and get started. So here I am in the final weekend of my 16 day vacation that I took over the holidays and to be honest, I am already thinking about returning to work. I am thinking about...

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Podcast episode 040: mindmanager pro 8 browser features

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:55:18 +0000

Today we continue our look at some of the new features of the latest version of Mindmanager Pro 8.0 mindmapping software from Mindjet. In our second video in a series, we take a look at some of the new web integration features within Mindmanager Pro 8.0. Project teams can now fully leverage the incredible information resources of the Internet by initiating Web searches right from a map. Real-time search results will appear whenever you view your map. You can also build your own Web service to add information from your company’s information systems. Also, in 8.0 you can view Web pages and Adobe PDF documents without leaving your map. You’ll retain your train of thought by staying focused on work at hand. Check out the video below to see it at Youtube.com. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE2v62Paf5Y Free Giveaways! Finally, we have another special giveaway on the show today! On December 31st, 2008 we will announce the name of 1 lucky winners that will receive a free downloadable...

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Podcast episode 039: new task features in mindmanager pro 8

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:26:23 +0000

Write a review of the pm411.org Podcast in iTunes! Today we look at some of the new features of the latest version of Mindmanager Pro 8.0 mindmapping software from Mindjet. In this episode we take a look at some of the great new schedule task features. Now you can get a quick overview plus ongoing progress on all project tasks—automatically. Visual cues and status indicators allow you to quickly determine the status of critical activities. View the ripple effect of any changes to a map and even run “what if” scenarios to see the resulting outcomes. With Mindmanager Pro 8.0 you can now develop your WBS as a mindmap and then easily automatically import it into Microsoft Project. Check out the video below to find out more! www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg6EwLvE8pA In Episode 40, we look at some of the new integrated web features of Mindmanager Pro 8.0.

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Podcast episode 038: 5 tips to manage your manager

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:40:00 +0000

Write a review of the pm411.org Podcast in iTunes! As a project manager, you are responsible for managing the efforts of your team to insure that your project deliverables are met. But how do you manage one of your most important project stakeholders – your own manager? I am not talking about manipulating your manager, but rather making sure you are successful in meeting her expectations. We usually know what we need to do to get our job done as a project manager, but do we know our manager’s needs? How can we insure that we are meeting her needs? I will go through some tips on how you can improve your relationship with your manager by “managing upward.” Tip #1: Know your manager’s goals Your manager has goals and you should know what they are. You should know exactly what your manager is responsible to deliver to her boss. Unfortunately, most of us spend a lot of time thinking about our own immediate goals and needs instead of thinking about what...

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Avoid the Same Old Mistakes by Focussing on Lessons Learned

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:29:59 +0000

Our guest blogger, Duncan Haughey, PMP, is an experienced IT project manager (certified PMP and PRINCE2 Practitioner) with a proven track record in designing and delivering complex project portfolios and programmes to utilise IT and drive business growth. Particular areas of expertise are online strategy, search engine optimisation, enterprise content management, project portfolio management and software development. Duncan shares his thoughts about project management, along with many other subject matter experts, through his website Project Smart It’s said there are no new project management sins, just old ones repeated. It’s also said that we don’t learn the lessons from past projects and this must be true, otherwise why would we keep making the same old mistakes. In his article, “Lessons Learned – Why Don’t we Learn From Them?” Derry Simmel, board member of PMI’s PMO SIG, identifies two common problems preventing us learning valuable...

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My Take on Agile

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:26:23 +0000

Today’s editorial is from Pawel Brodzinski, hailing from Krakow, Poland. His experience in software development covers positions in both rank and file and management roles. He’s been working in quality assurance, software development, design, support, and implementation teams. He’s been managing different teams from small group of testers up to an ERP system development department. Being a part of a software development process is both great learning and great fun for him, yet sometimes it’s quite challenging. Pawel also enjoys writing about his experiences with managing software projects at http://blog.brodzinski.com. Most of the opinions you can hear about agile are either strongly for or strongly against agile methodologies. Since balanced opinions are rather underrepresented and I’m usually far to treat anything as a panacea, my take on agile is neither black nor white. It’s gray. From the very beginning, I’m providing a small disclaimer for those who...

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Podcast episode 037: the role of the project manager

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:06:08 +0000

Today we preview another one of the PM PrepCast episodes that we offer through The pm411.org Project Management Podcast! Today’s episode is on the role of the Project Manager according to the PMBOK guide. You will definitely need to know your role and understand it well in order the pass the PMP exam. During this episode, Cornelius Fichtner, of the PM Podcast, walks us through some situational questions that you may face on the PMP exam like what to do when your project does not have enough funding or what to do if you find yourself with not enough resources. By understanding the role of the project manager, as stated by the PMBOK guide, you can better answer the questions on the PMP exam. And if you are studying for the PMP, or if you are simply interested in learning project management best practices, we offer all 89 episodes – a total of over 35 hours of material that covers the entire PMBOK section by section. Simply go to www.pm411.org/prepcast to learn more and...

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Podcast episode 036: Mindmapping

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:10:02 +0000

Today I speak with Jagdish Mirani, the Product Marketing lead for Mindjet Corporation. His professional experience spans the areas of Development, Product Management, and Marketing over a twenty-five year period. Prior to Mindjet he was VP of Product Management and Marketing at Business Objects (acquired by SAP). Before that, he was responsible for positioning and marketing Oracle’s Enterprise Performance Management Applications and Oracle’s future Enterprise Applications Product Line (Project Fusion). Prior to Oracle, Jagdish held various positions at Sybase, Tandem Computers and Hewlett-Packard. Jagdish holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Santa Clara University and an MBA from UC Berkeley. A mind map is described in Wikipedia as is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid in...

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How To Avoid “Stopping The Line” On Deliverables

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:21:32 +0000

Today’s guest blogger, Brian Buck, is an Organizational Improvement Consultant and Project Manager in the healthcare industry. He is studying for the PMP and hopes his three year experience requirement kicks in before the new PMBOK comes out (or else he will have to study some more)! He specializes in Lean improvements and loves to integrate the concepts into Project Management. He blogs at http://www.improvewithme.com/. Have you ever had a project team member miss a deadline or give a below quality deliverable? Could the timing or quality have been saved if the team member had asked for help before the deadline? Toyota and their Lean methodology have pioneered Andon systems to call out trouble before a production line is forced to be stopped. The same concept can help prevent a project from stalling. Simplified, if a line worker spots a quality problem (their own or passed on to them) and they know they will run over their allotted time, they pull an Andon cord. This...

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Podcast episode 035: Managing small projects (part 2 of 2)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:27:53 +0000

Finally the Olympics are over and I can get back to producing podcasts again on a more regular schedule. Today’s episode is part 2 of a roundtable discussion held not too long ago with Cornelius Fichtner of the Project Management Podcast ( www.thepmpodcast.com) and Shawn Futterer of the International Community of Project Managers (www.theicpm.com) on managing small projects. Cornelius, Shawn, and I continue our discussion from part 1 with topics covering how to effectively use part-time or inexperienced team members, our experience using Critical Chain Project Management, or CCPM, with small projects, and which is more critical for businesses, small or large projects. Show Commentary When sharing project team members with other project managers, Cornelius would work with other project managers within his organization to share resources. They would work together to meet both their individual project goals, but also with a focus on their company goals. This is better than...

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US olympic teamwork and Michael Phelps

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:07:00 +0000

There is quite a lot that we can learn as project managers from the United States Olympic win in the 400m freestyle relay on Sunday. 1.) Stay focused only on the task at hand How often do you or your team members lose focus on your project deliverables? Don’t get distracted by naysayers or detractors that tell you that your project will never succeed. Focus only on doing the job that you are getting paid to do and do it to the very best of your abilities. French swimmer, Alain Bernard, the previous holder of the 100-meter record, lost his focus by announcing to the media that his relay team would “smash” the Americans and stop Michael Phelps’ bid for a historic eight gold medals in one Olympics. This trash talk only seemed to fire up the US team and bring them closer together in their goal of winning the gold. And the US didn’t lose their focus by shooting back at the French. They focused on their task at hand and let the race do the talking for...

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Podcast episode 034: Managing small projects (part 1 of 2)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:07:36 +0000

Today’s post is part 1 of a roundtable discussion held recently on managing small projects. I am happy to welcome back to the show Cornelius Fichtner of the PM Podcast at www.thepmpodcast.com. Congratulations to Cornelius who recently celebrated his 100th episode on The PM Podcast with an interview with legendary producer and musician Alan Parsons. Also joining us again on the show is Shawn Futterer of the International Community of Project Managers, which can be found at www.theicpm.com. Be sure to check out both of their websites for great pm process advice, tools, and techniques. Shawn Futterer, PMP®, is a certified project management professional with a broad range of experience. He started his career in 1992 managing quality control projects for a small manufacturing company and is currently working in a PMO for a Fortune 50 telecommunications company where he supervises project managers for the North region. Over the course of his career, Shawn has managed projects of...

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The Bigg Success Show: Five tips for more effective status reports

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:49:15 +0000

Recently I was interviewed on one of my favorite podcasts, The Bigg Success Show, and I provided George and Mary-Lynn with 2 Tips for More Effective Project Status Reports. Below I provide three additional tips for a total of five tips that will help you write status reports that people will actually read! Tip #1 – Know your audience! Ask yourself these questions: Who will be reading your status report? Team members? Management? Your customer? What level of detail does your audience require? Don’t make your audience dig through lots of details to get the information they really want. How frequently does your audience need updates – Daily, Weekly, Monthly? Tip #2 – Focus only on the exceptions! Look at just those issues that have changed since your previous report. This will give your audience just the information that has changed since last report. This will also help keep your report short and concise. Tip #3 – Make your report easy to read! Allow...

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The State of Project Management in Ethiopia

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 06:10:43 +0000

Our guest blogger, Mr. Getachew Teklemariam Aleum, is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mr. Alemu is also an Infrastructure Projects Expert in the Development Projects Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, government of Ethiopia. This department is responsible for studying and controlling the project planning and management system at the federal level in the country. Getachew is responsible for monitoring, appraising and reporting on public sector infrastructure projects financed by the Ethiopian government or bilateral and multilateral donors. He has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection from Mekelle University in Ethiopia. He has also been educated in marco economic development, infrastructure development in developing countries, national economic development and project management. More information about Getachew Teklemariam can be found...

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Thanks for your patience!

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:01:59 +0000

Hi! Just wanted to let everyone one know that I haven’t fallen off of the earth, pod-faded, or been abducted by aliens! I have had a lot of work and family things that needed to get done this past month and I apologize for the delay in getting the next podcast out. I am ready to release the latest episode, Episode 034 on Managing Small Projects, but now I have been wrestling with some compatibility issues between the latest version of WordPress (2.6) and my podcast add-in software (Podpress 8.8) that allows me to syndicate my podcast. I am hoping that these issues will be resolved in the next few days by their authors and I appreciate your patience. The episode I am ready to release is another roundtable discussion between Cornelius Fichtner, Shawn Futterer, and me – so hopefully you will find that it is worth the wait once it is released! I will keep you updated! Thanks! Ron

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Podcast episode 033: project management presentation skills (part 2 of 2)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:33:17 +0000

In today’s second of two podcasts in a series on project management presentation skills, we conclude our discussion with Joe Friedman, of the consulting group Zehren-Friedman Associates, Ltd. Show Commentary In Part 1 of 2, Joe and I discussed why people tend to become anxious when it comes to public speaking, how to overcome the jitters of speaking in front of a group, and the steps to take to prepare for an informational or persuasive presentation. In Part 2, Joe and I continue our discussion on presentation skills with discussions on visual aids, basic delivery tips, answering questions during a presentation, and being prepared when interviewed by the media. These suggestions can help you become better at project management presentations as well as day-to-day speaking with others. Visual Aids Once you have put your content together as we discussed in Part 1, you need to determine what visual aids you want to use during your presentation. As part of the planning process you...

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Motivational Theory in Project Management

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:14:41 +0000

Josh Nankivel has graciously agreed to be a guest blogger on the subject of Motivational Theory in Project Management. Besides being a well-respected and well known contributor to the Project Management online community, Josh is a Project Planning & Controls Control Account Manager and contractor for the ground system of the LDCM mission, a joint project between the USGS and NASA. Josh writes about project management at http://www.pmstudent.com/, the University of California SC Extension in Silicon Valley at http://www.svprojectmanagement.com/, and The International Community For Project Managers at http://www.theicpm.com. I recently studied Frederick Hertzberg‘s article on his motivational theory, in the Harvard Business Review. The title is “One More Time: How Do You Motivate Employees?” Read it here. I’ve heard about the theory before of course, vaguely referred to as the hygiene/motivator theory and it usually managed to earn about 1 slide in a...

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Podcast episode 032: project management presentation skills (part 1 of 2)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:01:20 +0000

In today’s first of two podcasts in a series on project management presentation skills, we welcome backJoe Friedman, of the consulting group Zehren-Friedman Associates, Ltd. Joe holds a BSBA and MBA from Ohio State University and has over 25 years of sales, sales management and training / consulting experience. With many years providing sales and management training programs at Northeastern Illinois University, First National Bank of Chicago, and The Executive Technique, a firm specializing in presentation skills training, Joe teamed up with David Zehren in 1993 to create Zehren-Friedman Associates, Ltd. Their 13-person firm is entering its 18th year in business and specializes in teaching the “persuasive arts” of selling, presenting, negotiating and influencing. Clients are in a wide variety of industries, from banking to healthcare to printing to advertising to services to manufacturing and everything in-between. Joe is responsible for client development,...

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Uncertainty in estimates of software projects, fort building, and anything including a toddler

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:03:17 +0000

Today’s guest poster is Dina Garfinkel, PMP, from Flightpath.com. After earning a degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton, Dina went on to build her eclectic resume with stints as an educational technologist, webmaster, Ford Motors analyst, and goalkeeper for the Jerusalem women’s soccer team. These days, when she’s not managing the United Jewish Communities account at Flightpath, she’s a youth group leader, novice tri-athlete, and mother of two future Mia Hamms. Early in a project, so many of the specific details of the nature of the software being built, specific requirements, project plan and staffing details are all very unclear. Because there are so many variables early on in the project, it is crucial to include a large degree of uncertainty or variability in the project estimate. This is not about being purposely misleading or avoiding commitment to an exact number with your stakeholders, this is about accepting the reality of...

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Podcast episode 031: PMOs and portfolio management

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:10:25 +0000

Recently I interviewed Nayan Patel, PMP, who works as a Corporate Manager of Portfolio Management for a major Healthcare Network. I talked to Nayan about his role in creating and supporting project management, project management reporting tools, and project governance within his organization. Nayan Patel, a 16-year veteran of Information Technology, currently serves as the Corporate Manager of Portfolio Management for Baylor Health Care System, Information Services. In this role he is responsible the project management and reporting tools, time reporting, and project governance. Among his project management roles, Mr. Patel also serves as a consultant for strategic business processes solutions for the healthcare system, which includes value model realization for the electronic health record, the executive portfolio management, and has developed departmental logical-physical work flows of all system interfaces for the Baylor clinical infrastructure. Prior to joining Baylor, Mr....

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Are you influencing or manipulating your team?

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 18 May 2008 03:11:45 +0000

I believe that you cannot change anyone’s mind. And no one can change your mind. Only you can decide to change your own mind. But, you can influence others to decide to change their minds. It is also possible to manipulate people to decide to change their minds. A website chocked full of examples of both techniques is ChangingMinds.org. I am pretty intrigued with the art of influencing others and I am constantly looking for new ways to do so. However, this is different than manipulating others. I make a conscious effort not to manipulate others. So what is the difference between influence and manipulation? Merriam-Webster defines influence as “the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command”, whereas manipulation is “to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one’s own advantage.” David Maxfield states in The Influencer Blog that a good check for...

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Podcast episode 030: Pink Floyd project management

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:50:43 +0000

The British rock band Pink Floyd has held a significant place in my life. I discovered Pink Floyd when the line “We don’t need no education” from “Another Brick in the Wall” was ubiquitous on the radio waves and it definitely seemed to make a lot of sense to me as a rebellious 10 year old. Later while I was in junior high, my rather conservative father took me to my first R-rated movie, which was “Pink Floyd: The Wall” This somewhat awkward outing between a man and his son had a dramatic effect on me. It wasn’t just the darkness behind the music, the visuals, and the tormented rock star who began his decent into madness. It was mostly because I actually saw my father in a whole new light – he could actually be pretty cool. So, after having Pink Floyd shape my early adolescence, it really came to be no surprise to me when I discovered much later in life an interesting (and somewhat eerie) connection between project management...

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Podcast episode 029: Project cost budgeting

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:59:02 +0000

furniture VidenovToday, I have a special treat in store for you. Today I am going to let you preview one of the 89 PM PrepCast episodes that we offer through The pm411.org Project Management Podcast! Today’s episode is on Project Cost Budgeting which is, of course, one of the many PM processes within PMI’s Cost Management Knowledge area. During this episode, Cornelius Fichtner, of the PM Podcast, walks us through the difference between Cost Estimating and Cost Budgeting. Then discusses using the project schedule, the WBS, parametric estimating, the cost baseline, project funding requirements and other topics you need to understand to successfully pass the PMP. Cost Budgeting is concerned with rolling the cost of individual work packages up to a total project baseline cost that can be monitored as part of the project’s overall performance. Cost Budgeting Process Inputs In order to estimate the project budget needed successfully, Cost Budgeting uses several process...

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Podcast episode 028: Project management in the real world with Elizabeth Harrin

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:40:00 +0000

Get the pm411.org Project Management Podcast delivered by email for free! – Your email address and personal information are confidential and will never be sold or rented. I recently had the opportunity to speak with author and blogger, Elizabeth Harrin, of London, England. Elizabeth is the author of the book Project Management in the Real World and has nearly a decade of experience in managing projects. She is a PRINCE2 practitioner and is trained in the Six Sigma process improvement methodology. Elizabeth has led a variety of IT and process improvement projects including those involving e-commerce, communications, and managing business change. In addition to writing books, Elizabeth also writes the irreverent and popular blog A Girl’s Guide to Managing Projects. During our conversation Elizabeth and I chatted about her book, her blog, and lots of other great stuff… like extreme ultraviolet imaging space mass spectrometers! Project Management in the Real World...

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Having a robust governance process

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:35:32 +0000

Our guest blogger Ron Rosenhead helps people deliver projects. He is a professional speaker, trainer, coach and author all in the field of project management. He can be contacted at http://www.projectagency.co.uk/contactus.html or on +44(0) 208 446 7766. To get your free e-course, go to www.projectagency.co.uk So, you are organised, have identified the stakeholders as well as project risks (and you are actively managing both), you have planned the project and you are all ready to deliver….. But, have you developed a monitoring and control process for your project – an essential part of project management and work generally? One person who attended one of our project management training courses suggested that: “A project goes over its deadline a day at a time, a day at a time a day at a time. We have no excuse for not knowing. We should actively monitor and control our projects from business case through to closure.” This person had had some really bad...

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Quantum mechanics, Buddhism, and projects

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:55:33 +0000

Rolf Goetz graciously agreed to be a guest blogger on pm411.org and discusses below how the triple constraint can be harnessed to create zen power plants through the use of nuclear fission. Well, not exactly, but science is getting closer! Rolf works in the IT department at Deutsche Post World Net and is interested in requirements engineering and systems engineering. Rolf is also the blogger extraordinaire at www.clearconceptualthinking.net, where he helps more and more IT people gain clear conceptual thinking. You can reach Rolf at rolf.goetz@gmx.de. Every once in a while I run into colleagues who seem to ignore the fact that the holy project objectives trinity of Time, Budget, and Scope is all about interrelated, inseparable ideas. Why are they ignorant? After I heard about recent insights from quantum mechanics, an explaining theory formed in my head. I will add a little cognitive science and Buddhism to support my argument. “Time, Budget, Scope: pick any two.”...

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Podcast episode 027: 12 steps to better team organization

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:30:26 +0000

In today’s podcast we talk with Suzanne Babb of the Let’s Talk Organizing podcast to find out how project managers and their teams can become more organized. For over 20 years, Suzanne has been helping people organize their lives so that they can spend more time and energy doing the things that are most important to them… Like listening to the pm411.org Project Management Podcast or mastering “Slow Ride” on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock! As an organization consultant, public speaker and former radio talk show host, Suzanne has been fortunate enough to work with individuals and corporations throughout America, Canada and Scotland. Suzanne has been running her Let’s Talk Organizing business for six years. Suzanne’s business focuses on organizing home-based to Fortune 500-sized businesses by looking at their systems and customizing the systems to the individual. Let’s Talk Organizing goes beyond just implementing a set system for...

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Be accountable

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:57:59 +0000

Lazymale is our first guest blogger on pm411.org. But don’t let his name fool you – he keeps busy as a Program Manager at a software services firm where he manages a team of 50 people both offshore and in the United States. Yet he still has time to keep up his own blog at www.lap31.com! Lazymale describes his lap31.com blog as being about ”laps in this race of a lifetime… of the laps we covered and the laps that remain… of struggles, commitment and leadership… of teamwork and trust… of learning from mistakes to creating success stories and winning… Are we prepared for what’s ahead? Are we ready to lead?” You can reach Lazymale at lazymale@lap31.com. I’d like to think that I am a very good driver, if not an expert. Even then once in a while, I miss a red light, I over speed and sometimes even make a wrong turn. Does that mean I should quit driving altogether? I don’t think so. I need to be aware of these...

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The front fell off

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 07:26:29 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcU4t6zRAKg Communicating bad news is usually not easy. Matter of fact, it never is. But, it is a imperative to be able to communicate bad news to your stakeholders without trying to paint an unrealistic rosy picture. Through communicating bad news with honesty and sincerity, you and your team can grow and learn from your mistakes or less than stellar results. Here are some tips on how to communicate and explain bad news well. 1.) Stick with the facts Focus on facts and reliable data rather than opinions, emotions, or finger pointing. Otherwise, circular logic and miscommunication can be the result. 2.) Take responsibility when appropriate It takes a good deal of self-confidence and character to admit when you make a mistake. But, respect and trustworthiness can be solidified by accepting accountability when you are the one responsible for the mistake. 3.) Communicate solutions, not just problems Now that you know what went wrong, how will it be prevented...

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Podcast episode 026: The meaning of life or at least of process groups

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:18:27 +0000

So, do you know what the difference is between project phases and project management process groups? I recently received an email from Emmanuel, and guess what? Emmanuel wants to know what the difference is between project management phases and project management process groups! Wow, Good question, Emmanuel, and thank you for your email! I like getting email, and I like getting email concerning project management topics even more. I guess I am just kind of silly in that regard. But, before talking about the differences between project phases and process groups, we need to first understand the difference between Project Lifecycles and Product Lifecycles. Product and Project Lifecycles A product lifecycle includes everything from a product’s first concept to the point when the product is eventually discontinued and made into that EBay collectable that you are sure your Aunt Sally would love! And within the product lifecycle, we have the project lifecycle. The...

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Podcast episode 025: successful negotiation skills (part 2 of 2)

show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 04:54:01 +0000

In today’s second of two podcasts in a series on project management negotiation skills, we continue our discussion on principled negotiation with Joe Friedman, of the consulting group Zehren-Friedman Associates, Ltd. Joe holds a BSBA and MBA from Ohio State University and has over 25 years of sales, sales management and training / consulting experience. With many years providing sales and management training programs at Northeastern Illinois University, First National Bank of Chicago, and The Executive Technique, a firm specializing in presentation skills training, Joe teamed up with David Zehren in 1993 to create Zehren-Friedman Associates, Ltd. Their 13-person firm is entering its 18th year in business and specializes in teaching the “persuasive arts” of selling, presenting, negotiating and influencing. Clients are in a wide variety of industries, from banking to health-care to printing to advertising to services to manufacturing and everything in-between. Joe is responsible...

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