Top 25 management tools for 2007 January 31, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Leadership, Programme Mgt, Project Mgt, Tools , add a comment
It’s common for most of us to try and stay on top of how we can improve ourselves in areas that will enable us to perform better. Whilst core project management principles are enhanced now and then, and the need to communicate well remains a given, there are other ‘tools’ that do change and it’s always good to know what selection we should have in our toolbox and how we use them. Of course our role and the environment in which we operate have a lot to do with our individual needs here. (more…)
ITIL basics January 29, 2007
Posted by Rob in : ITIL , add a comment
Any PM who works in an environment where they don’t know what their next project might entail, could be wise to familiarise themselves with ITIL. To start with the basics, ITIL is the acronym for “IT Infrastructure Library” and it consists of a set of books developed by the UK’s Office of Government Commerce (OGC). (more…)
Flogging dead horses January 26, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Programme Mgt, Project Mgt , 1 comment so far
We all see the statistics associated with project failure. For instance, according to a study by Gartner, almost 40% percent of IT projects fail or are abandoned before completion. Most project managers are afraid of being labeled as quitters or failures. Perhaps it takes more courage to admit that your project is a failure than to accept it (with no choice) when you finally walk over the cliff’s edge. Let’s be frank, continuing with a hopeless project is like flogging a dead horse …and wasting huge amounts of money in the process. It doesn’t make very smart business sense does it. (more…)
62 tips for consulting success January 25, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Consulting , add a comment
If you’re an independent consultant, you constantly need to have your ear to the ground and know how to market yourself. Having a skill to sell is simply not enough. I’ve always enjoyed the marketing challenge, and learning new ways to sell myself and in fact I had a sales and marketing career before entering the IT world. (more…)
Work-life balance January 23, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Attitude , 2comments
If you’re one of the many whose narrowed view of life consists primarily of work and sleep, perhaps it’s time to step back, take a good look at yourself and ‘get a life’.
I find it very sad when I see people devoting virtually all their time to the company they work at. Come on, what sort of life is that? Is that really a life? (more…)
Managing yourself and others January 20, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Project Mgt , add a comment
All managers have a team to manage but all managers have themelves to manage too. It’s tough being a manager. You need to get through the day getting your own work done and looking out for your team. As managers move further up the ladder, they receive less mentoring and training. (more…)
How’s your CV looking? January 19, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Job Hunting , add a comment
I’ve been recruiting quite a few PMs for a couple of clients recently and so I’ve had literally hundreds of PM CVs pour in. Now some of these CVs are very good indeed, but note I say ’some’. If anyone is looking for a change in career, a shift up gear, in a current or new organisation, they need to spend time (real time) on creating a CV that will make them stand out amongst the others, because in the job market the CV is the sales brochure. (more…)
100 Rules for NASA PMs January 17, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Project Mgt , add a comment
These have been floating around the net for quite a few years and I happened to stumble across them again and thought I should share them with you. All credit goes to Jerry Madden at NASA for this compilation. None of it is rocket science but they’re all good reminders for anyone in management. I know it’s a long list and I thought of separating them into easily digested bite sized chunks. But then I thought not, so here they are for your travel reading or for pasting on the walls of the office. (more…)
Managing yourself and others January 17, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Project Mgt , add a comment
All managers have a team to manage but all managers have themelves to manage too. It’s tough being a manager. You need to get through the day getting your own work done and looking out for your team. As managers move further up the ladder, they receive less mentoring and training. (more…)
Share what you know January 16, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Attitude , add a comment
We should always try to mentor people around us who know less than us. They don’t have to know that much less and you don’t need to know that much more. But if you share what you know with others, that can only be a good thing. (more…)
Being an independent consultant January 15, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Consulting , add a commentA consultant is an independent contractor who sells professional expertise in a particular area of specialisation. The consultant performs work for a fee within an agreed time frame with his customer. Note that I’m not talking about consultants who are employed by a consulting firm. I’m talking about people who stand on their own two feet and are independent consultants in their own right, who run their own business. (more…)
Cost of living overseas January 12, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Expats , add a comment
Just over a month ago I wrote about the cost of living and included a survey from 50 cities. Today’s post is similar except that it looks at 144 cities and includes more information. I was intreviewed yesterday by a writer for the PMI magazine in the US about things to consider when looking at overseas opportunities. Cost of living is certainly one of them and this data is especially useful for those considering their first or next role in a new country. (more…)
Why govern a programme? January 11, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Governance , add a comment
One of the authors of the Gower Handbook of Programme Management is Paul Rayner and just over two years ago, he conducted a survey which showed that whilst the world was moving closer to a common theory about what Programme Governance is all about in theory, the reality was very different. (more…)
PowerPoint health warning January 10, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Communication , add a comment
Not many of us can claim not to have fallen prey to ‘PowerPoint’ abuse in our lives. We all know that clutter, small text and dozens of slides are simply NOT good. Just as with alcohol, we know that PowerPoint abuse can make us look rather foolish in front of large groups of people, and yet we still go out and do it. Some more regularly than others! (more…)
Top 10 best & worst communicators January 9, 2007
Posted by Rob Llewellyn in : Communication , add a comment
I just came across an amusing post on Bert Decker’s Communications Blog. It’s the Top Ten (Best and Worst) Communicators of 2006 list. No surprises to see who came bottom of the list! Take a look here and whilst you’re there, have a read of some of Bert’s excellent aticles on communication including “The Five Biggest Mistakes CEO’s Make in Speaking“.
What’s going on? January 8, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Communication , add a comment
I’ve always made a big effort to keep my team members in the picture when it comes to project or programme status. Aside from the usual discussions which go on throughout the week, I’ve used weekly status meetings, weekly messages and intranets for doing this. (more…)
All change January 5, 2007
Posted by Rob in : Change Control , 1 comment so far
A fomer colleague in the UAE asked me for a Change Request Process and Template yesterday. I sent him a change CR log too. By putting a change process in place, you can easily monitor and control the amount of change that takes place, providing the process provides each of the key steps for managing change within projects are included. (more…)
Bring me solutions, not problems January 3, 2007
Posted by Rob Llewellyn in : Attitude , add a comment
“Bring me solutions, not problems” is a phrase that former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was well known for using.
It’s so easy for people to moan and for many, it’s a habit. Managers need to train their staff not to only moan. Sure they can still have their whinge, but insist that if they bring you a problem, they must also suggest a solution. (more…)
21st century leaders inspire January 2, 2007
Posted by Rob Llewellyn in : Inspiration, Leadership , add a comment
My ‘Tony Robbins’ post the other day was about inspiration. I got to thinking a little more after I posted it and I thought that every Leader worth their salt should possess and regularly demonstrate the “ability to inspire”.
21st century leaders do not sit in their ivory office feeling dominant and powerful with their name on a closed door. (more…)
