Trending Articles

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7 Free Estimate Templates for Excel

ProjectManager.com

Better estimates lead to better projects. An accurate forecast of costs, time and more is essential to creating a realistic project plan and schedule. This is where an estimate template can help set a project up for success. Download these free estimate templates to deliver projects on time, within budget, and according to stakeholders’ expected quality standards.

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Iterating/Done Increments in Consumer Goods, Food & Beverage, Pharma/BioTech and Beyond

Scrum.org

Working Software. Done Increments. Two related concepts in the agile world that people trying to leverage Agile/Scrum’s empiricism outside of the software/technology space struggle with. The intent behind these practices is to achieve transparency to validate/invalidate assumptions—you might call it managing based on evidence. The key idea is to get transparency as early and often as possible to minimize the risk of continuing down the wrong path.

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4 Free & Open-Source Microsoft Project Alternatives: Ranked

ProjectManager.com

Microsoft Project has its critics. The project management software is expensive, complicated and not collaborative. No wonder project teams look for open-source Microsoft Project alternatives. For one thing, it’s (mostly) free. But these products also give Microsoft products a run for their money in terms of features. Let’s look at several open-source Microsoft Project alternatives and see what they have to offer, where they succeed as project management software and where they fall short.

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Should ‘Bugs’ Have ‘Points’?

Scrum.org

A common question for those new to the practice of #StoryPoints: Should we assign points to #bugs? Join me as I break down this problem. 00:27 Brian's question: Should Bugs Have Points? 00:54 Story Points in a Nutshell 01:38 Using points for planning & estimation 02:16 Can points be used to calculate 'velocity'? 02:34 Problems with this… 03:08 For sake of argument… 03:32 Don't like when 'bug' is used broadly 03:45 Escaped Defect 05:12 Defect (pre-release) 06:49 Technical Debt 08:16 An actual

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The Ultimate Guide To Data-Driven Construction: Optimize Projects, Reduce Risks, & Boost Innovation

Speaker: Donna Laquidara-Carr, PhD, LEED AP, Industry Insights Research Director at Dodge Construction Network

In today’s construction market, owners, construction managers, and contractors must navigate increasing challenges, from cost management to project delays. Fortunately, digital tools now offer valuable insights to help mitigate these risks. However, the sheer volume of tools and the complexity of leveraging their data effectively can be daunting. That’s where data-driven construction comes in.

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Transform the Way Your PMO Operates.

The IIL Blog

By Joe Pusz October 9, 2024 This is the time when many people make New Year’s resolutions. Optimism abounds as people write down their goals: “Lose 20 pounds by the summer”, “No more junk food”, or “Exercise at least 4 days a week”. Then February comes. Statistics show that nearly 80% abandon their resolutions by February. Eighty percent! People settle back into their routines and don’t think about changing again until the following December.

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How to Implement Effective Project Portfolio Governance

WorkOtter

Implementing a strong governance framework involves setting up clear processes for project approval, oversight, and review. Governance should be designed to ensure that all projects align with strategic goals and that they are executed according to standardized best practices. According to a 2024 report from PMI , 80% of high-performing organizations have a well-defined governance framework in place, which contributes significantly to their ability to meet business goals.

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How to SAVE MONEY with Scrum: Agile Strategies for Product Development

Scrum.org

Want to save money while building your product? Scrum can help your team cut costs, reduce waste, and boost efficiency. In this Responsive Advisors Lightning Round, Professional Scrum Trainers Robb Pieper , Jason Malmstadt and I explore Agile principles like maximizing the work not done, eliminating unnecessary features, and setting clear Sprint Goals to keep your team focused.

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Project Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid the 12 Most Scary Ones

Online PM Courses

There are many reasons why projects fail. One of the most common is when your plan is at fault. I survey my top 12 project planning mistakes. The post Project Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid the 12 Most Scary Ones appeared first on OnlinePMCourses.

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A Scrum Caretaker’s view on Agility, Scrum and organizational transformation

Gunther Verheyen

In August 2024, the 4th edition of my book “Scrum – A Pocket Guide” was published. I created it because I am continuously uncovering better ways of explaining Scrum and want to help people by sharing these ways. Luckily, my publisher, Van Haren Group , agreed that there was value in making my update available (again) for the many friends of Scrum around the globe.

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How To Align Product Management And Supply Chain Operations For Successful Product Launches

Speaker: Shalini Dinesh

Effective cross-functional collaboration and communication heavily influence product launch success. Research shows that as many as 70% of product launches fail due to inadequate coordination among stakeholders, including supply chain, product management, legal, marketing, and change control teams (Gartner, 2022). The 2023 Supply Chain Insights Report highlights that 60% of supply chain disruptions are caused by poor communication and misalignment among cross-functional teams.

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Inside Stories Podcast Episode 9: Judy Umlas on How Grateful Leadership and the Power of Acknowledgment can Transform Organizations at All Levels

The IIL Blog

With Guest Judith W. Umlas, hosted by Dr. Leon Herszon October 9, 2024 Join Dr. Leon Herszon as he interviews Judy Umlas, a pioneer in Grateful Leadership and the Power of Acknowledgment. In this episode, Judy shares her inspiring journey, from the motivations that led her to her unique focus to her most significant achievements. She delves into the profound impact of genuine appreciation and recognition in the workplace, offering practical advice on how to implement these practices.

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New! Jira Epic and Hierarchy Groups Supported

LiquidPlanner

Latest Release | Support for Jira Epic and Hierarchy Groups Latest Release | October 8, 2024 Grouping items by Jira Epics and Hierarchies has been one of the most popular requests related to Jira Integration. We added support for Epics and Hierarchies in this release, and so now when integrating a Jira instance with Portfolio Manager (formerly LiquidPlanner), you can pull in your tasks and organize them in one of three ways: Flat List : Pulls tasks in a flat list in the project.

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How Is Scrum Simplifying or Adding Complexity to Your Life? (SGE007)

Scrum.org

From the Scrum Guide: “ We use the word “developers” in Scrum not to exclude, but to simplify. ” From Cambridge Dictionary: “to simplify: to make something less complicated and therefore easier to do or understand”. I love this one! Maybe because we have another initiative called learnhow.simplification.works… Has the introduction of the Scrum framework simplified things for your team?

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Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Implementing ISO 27001

Alan Parker Blog

Implementing ISO 27001, the international standard for an Information Security Management System (ISMS), is a significant step towards strengthening an organisation's security posture. However, this journey is fraught with potential pitfalls. I've fallen into many of them over the years, but now I can navigate them like a young springbok leaping over a ravine.

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Building Your BI Strategy: How to Choose a Solution That Scales and Delivers

Speaker: Evelyn Chou

Choosing the right business intelligence (BI) platform can feel like navigating a maze of features, promises, and technical jargon. With so many options available, how can you ensure you’re making the right decision for your organization’s unique needs? 🤔 This webinar brings together expert insights to break down the complexities of BI solution vetting.

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Are We Aligned?

Velociteach

Stakeholder alignment—or lack thereof—can be the difference between project success and failure. In today’s dynamic business environment, projects face multiple stakeholders and constituencies. Often, these groups have competing or divergent interests. Project managers often focus on the “hard skills” to ensure adherence to the triple constraints of scope, schedule, and cost.

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Emotional Intelligence: The Catalyst for Real Change in Project Leadership

Green Project Management

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over my career, it’s that you can have the best framework in the world, but without understanding the people side of the equation, you’re not getting anywhere. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the hidden superpower that change leaders need—and it’s often the missing piece in most project manager toolkits. Beyond […] The post Emotional Intelligence: The Catalyst for Real Change in Project Leadership appeared first on The GPM Blog.

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New feature – track project milestones

Resource Guru

The final deadline is the most important date in any project. But you don’t just arrive there by chance. Leading up to it is a series of significant moments and micro-deadlines that mark your project’s progress and help keep you on track. You can now add these to Resource Guru and track project milestones in your team schedule so everyone stays aligned on important dates and when deliverables are due.

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Strategische Produkt-Ziele: Eine Anleitung, wie du mit einem Produkt messbare Ergebnisse für das Unternehmen erzielst

Scrum.org

Wie wird ein gutes Produkt-Ziel definiert? Stellst du dir auch diese Frage? In diesem Artikel zeige ich dir, wie ich die Business-Modell-Gleichung nutze. Ich erkläre, wie man damit ein Ziel definiert, das auch dem Unternehmen hilft. Aber bevor wir zur Anleitung kommen, räumen wir erst einmal mit einer gängigen Fehlvorstellung auf. Was ist ein Produkt-Ziel in Scrum wirklich?

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How AI Enables Success for PMO and Strategic Portfolio Management Leaders Like You

In today’s rapidly evolving digital business landscape, Portfolio Management Offices (PMOs) and project & portfolio leaders face a multitude of complex challenges, including orchestrating enterprise change; prioritizing and executing on cross-functional investments; and the need for faster, data-driven decision-making. The exponential growth of AI and its new applications is a game-changer.

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Summary and review: Unblock

Henny Portman

Unblock – Clear the Way for Results and Develop a Thriving Organization by Jurriaan Kamer is a practical and easy-to-read book, rich with real-life examples. The title highlights the importance of identifying and removing blockages that hinder an organization’s ability to achieve its goals. These blockages disrupt the flow between different parts of the system, reducing overall effectiveness.

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ActiveCollab 8.0: Assignments Dashboard, Estimates, User Profile, Teams, and Trash

ActiveCollab

Hello everyone, Welcome to the latest recap of ActiveCollab’s updates! In August [[link] we showed the improvements we’ve made to the My Work page and Estimates. Let’s review the enhancements made in September! ACTIVECOLLAB 8: ASSIGNMENTS DASHBOARD Whether you want to get info at a glance or drill down to the details, the Assignments Dashboard gives you the scoop!

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Task Management Best Practices for Project Managers

Celoxis

Task management best practices for project managers to boost productivity, streamline workflows, and ensure project success with top software tools.

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Webinar: Collaborative OKR – Align Strategy with Execution in Slack

NimbleWork

Want to align strategic goals with real-time execution? Learn how to streamline OKR updates directly in Slack for effortless collaboration in our upcoming webinar! OKRs in Slack: Discover how to simplify goal tracking by seamlessly managing updates directly within Slack, avoiding the hassle of switching between platforms. Customizable Views & Notifications: Adapt collaboration tools to match your team’s unique workflow and preferences.

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Enhance Customer Value: Unleash Your Data’s Potential

The complexity of financial data, the need for real-time insight, and the demand for user-friendly visualizations can seem daunting when it comes to analytics - but there is an easier way. With Logi Symphony, we aim to turn these challenges into opportunities. Our platform empowers you to seamlessly integrate advanced data analytics, generative AI, data visualization, and pixel-perfect reporting into your applications, transforming raw data into actionable insights.

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Product Discovery: 5 concrete impacts for your company

Scrum.org

Translation from the original article written in italian by Fabio Panzavolta on www.collectivegenius.it Introduction In today's dynamic business landscape, product discovery transforms organizations in surprising and tangible ways. This innovative approach is emerging as a key strategy for driving success and innovation in modern organizations. In this article, we will explore five tangible impacts of product discovery on your business, drawing on valuable insights from the Professional Product

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Four Things to Look for in EV Charging Deployment Software

Sitetracker

Explore the top 4 features to look for in EV charging deployment software. Discover how the right tools can help you scale infrastructure, manage projects efficiently, and ensure smooth operations. The post Four Things to Look for in EV Charging Deployment Software appeared first on Sitetracker.

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Bayes thinking, Part I

Musings on Project Management

Our friend Bayes, Thomas Bayes, late of the 18th century, an Englishman, was a mathematician and a pastor who's curiosity led him to ponder the nature of random events. There was already a body of knowledge about probabilities by his time, so curious Bayes went at probability in a different way.

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Wrike vs. Jira vs. Celoxis: Best Project Management Tool?

Celoxis

Compare Wrike, Jira & Celoxis for enterprise project management tools in 2024. Find the best software with key features, pricing & benefits for enterprises.

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Your Guide To Transitioning Into Product Management: Essentials For New PMs

Speaker: Leslie Grandy, Product Executive & Drew Weaver, Senior Program Manager

Are you considering a shift to product management or just starting your journey as a Product Manager? Join Leslie Grandy and Drew Weaver for an insightful webinar designed to help you seamlessly transition into this dynamic role. Whether you're looking to pivot your career or enhance your existing skills, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to succeed!