The world is complicated. Almost every project faces variability, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), which makes delivering even the most straightforward project a challenge. Here are 5 ways to increase project success in a VUCA world.
Microsoft project management products come and go, change names, and introduce or retire features, which can be confusing and a bit nerve-wracking. In this article, Cindy M. Lewis and I clarify the current state of Microsoft’s PM tools (with an Ask Me Anything Office Hours to follow on Dec. 11, 2024). What about all the […]
Effective project managers work to understand the diverse perspectives stakeholders have about a project, so they can manage conflicts and keep everyone engaged. Interviews and polling are two standard approaches. Here are other effective methods to gather different viewpoints of a project. Interactive workshops. To identify project perspectives that are otherwise hard to uncover, consider […]
Project integration can be tricky when you combine multiple technical components, processes, or both. Most people focus on the technical side of an integration. Yet, the problems in integrations are often technical errors caused by communication and human elements. Here are some actions that help prevent technical issues with integrations. Specifically assign ownership. Two or […]
The project manager is the primary communicator with the project team. Sometimes, the sponsor’s presence makes a significant impact on the project team. Here are times to leverage the sponsor’s influence. The Kickoff meeting. This meeting sets the project’s direction and confirms the responsibilities of the project manager and the team. Also, the sponsor can […]
Negotiating reasonable compromises with stakeholders is a given in the life of a project manager. But what constitutes a reasonable compromise? Here are things to consider when assessing whether a compromise is reasonable. Multiple solutions were explored. Don’t allow discussion to stop when an initial solution is identified. The best compromise discussions explore alternatives to […]
The SMART (Specific, Measurable, Agreed-to, Realistic, and Time-Boxed) model is a standard for defining effective objectives and requirements, and it can also be applied to project success criteria. Beyond SMART characteristics, effective success criteria should also: Be tied to the business value used to justify the project. The project’s success criteria should reflect the project’s […]
Project management has a clear goal: to deliver business value. As a project manager, what can you do to support senior leaders on that value journey. Be predictable. Project methodologies create a pathway from idea to the realization of benefits. A powerful element of a methodology is predictability — for senior leaders and the team. […]
A team peer review helps ensure project integrity and provides learning moments for project managers and reviewers. After confirming the existence of critical control documents like a schedule, risk management plan, and resource plan, the reviewers can search for these points. If they are missing, project management improvements might be needed. All risks describe the […]
Timeboxing is a powerful feature of agile. Rather than make scope static, you fix time and resources and modify scope to get the maximum value in the minimum amount of time and cost. Instead of estimating task duration, you use fixed time periods and adjust the scope accordingly. Here are the principles you can follow […]
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