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The dumpster fire of 2020 is slowly being extinguished. Project management, like many professions, has undergone a transformation in the past 12 months. Project managers (PM’s) have experienced disruption and needed to adapt. The way they, and their teams, have worked shifted. MORE
“Do you commit to commit? Do you commit to getting it done?” ” I didn’t understand the COO’s question. I just told him I would get his request completed. Sure, I had a lot going on, but could try to squeeze this in. Seeing a perplexed look on my face, the COO made it clear. “Jason, when you say you commit to doing something, you commit to getting it done. You commit to commit. You’re now accountable for its completion. MORE
I friend of mine, who is also a project manager, has a knack for taking the most boring topic and turning it into an interesting story. Want to be riveted by the importance of Python programming in the mid-90’s? Get ready for a 20 minute history lesson plus some predictions for the future. Want to know more about scrum? You’ll be glued to every word as he tells stories of its early beginnings and how its processes have saved many a project. MORE
Recently, I have seen a more online posts asking questions about what project management tool(s) a company should buy: What tool does everyone recommend? My company would like a project management tool? What should we get? I’d like your opinion on a project management tool that is cloud-based and easy to use. PM tool recommendations please! Within 24 hours, there are a number of responses. They range from asking for more information, to recommendations, to sales pitches. MORE
This is blog post #101. I didn’t have much of a goal when I started blogging. The idea of sharing ideas, frustrations, losses and wins seemed like a good idea. In many ways, it’s been therapeutic! I started because someone asked how if PM’s are so damn good, how come projects keep failing? Good question! They do keep failing. PMI stats prove it. I’ve had failures. My peers have had failures. What could a person do to reduce the failure rate? MORE
At the end of 2019, I had a completely different view of what was to come in 2020. The new year started with a trip out of the cold and snowy conditions of North Dakota, to the sunny and warm golf courses of Phoenix, Arizona. MORE
There is a presentation I have given where I talk about a “Supportive” stakeholder. These stakeholders understand WHY a project is important and will assist in its execution and completion. MORE
If you watch American football, you understand the concept of the “2-minute drill” It’s essentially a hurry-up offense in the last two minutes of a half. When I played high school football, we practiced the two minute drill every day. We knew the plays to run so we could do a “no huddle” and keep the defense on their heels. It required a lot of physical ability and more importantly, focus. I still do 2-minute drills today. MORE
40 
I have one kiddo that still believes in the magic of Santa Claus. His little friends and our neighbors are also young enough to believe jolly ol’ St. Nick will be dashing through the snow and the skies on his annual trip around the globe next week. Their eyes light up with excitement and anticipation for what’s to come. There are also lessons us older folks can take from Santa, too. Did you know Santa is probably one of the best PM’s out there? MORE
I enjoy being part of project management panel discussions. Just when you think you’ve heard it all, someone asks a question or talks about a situation that blows your mind! In a recent panel discussion, one such comment came up. This person asked us how many of our projects have had issues because according to her PMO manager, NO project should EVER have issues if you’ve planned sufficiently. The answer from us panelists was unanimous; every project we could remember had an issue! MORE
Now, I’m not ripping on everyone at Boeing. I’ve met and worked with folks from Boeing in my career and they are good people. Some employees, though, made some poor communication decisions regarding the 737 Max that have now gone public. Some lines pulled from Boeing employee communications: “Would you put your family on a MAX simulated trained aircraft? MORE
“Jason, we’d love it if you could join our committee. With all the changes in the community and our work to get ready, you’d be a great addition!” ” Though I appreciated being asked, I was hesitant. MORE
Water. By itself, it’s inorganic, tasteless, odorless and colorless (most of the time anyway). It has no calories. There are no nutrients. However, all forms of life need it to survive. Water on its own is important. But, do you know what happens at 212 degrees Fahrenheit? It boils. MORE
“Well, that conversation didn’t go as planned!” ” This is something I’ve said to myself a few times in my career when working with creative teams and team members (including very recently, working with a website & marketing team). MORE
Open up your go-to news site and you’ll see it. An outbreak that shows no signs of slowing down. Death tolls on the rise. Elected officials debating. Alcohol use up. Domestic violence increases. Children hungry because they’re not at school. Parents stressed because they’re trying to help teach their kids. Elderly dealing with loneliness in isolation. Worried about friends and family. Mounting job losses and the fear of losing the one you have. MORE
43 “We need Todd on this project. He’s critical!” ” “What’s Todd’s role? What other roles do we need? Does Todd have the tools he needs?” ” “I don’t know, but Todd needs to be on this. He’s on all projects.” ” There was a couple problems with this conversation. First, Todd (who was a senior developer) was assigned to all projects. Second, not his role, or any others, were clearly defined. MORE
In my last post, I talked about “ Project Get Fit ” that may or may not be on your 2020 resolution list. You set goals, you make a plan, and you execute. Sounds simple, right? But once you start, you quickly realize you’re going to have to grind, work and deal with discomfort to be successful. I’m normally a 5-6 day a week gym attendee. However, now that I’m training for a triathlon, I’m at the gym 7-9 times a week (before and after work a couple of days)! MORE
I’m a bicyclist. I’ve been cycling consistently for almost 15 years and participated in a number of rides and races. It’s relaxing and depending on where you go, can see some unique sites. MORE
“Doc, my right knee’s been hurting for a while. When I run I have to slow down after about 15 minutes. Do you know what the problem is with my knee?” ” My chiropractor is really good. A former Ironman, he understands the human body and the stresses it can be put under. MORE
It was somewhere between mile 21 and 22. I’d felt it coming and was trying to prepare myself. My legs went from feeling OK to jelly. My body started to hurt in ways I’d never experienced. This marathon had to end. I wanted to be done. I hit the “Wall” If you’re a runner, you probably know what I’m referring to. You get to a point where you feel physically, and usually emotionally, spent and don’t want to move forward any more. MORE
Tis the season for being thankful; the time of year when we take a step back and appreciate that which is around us. From family, to friends, to career, it’s time to take stock of what we’re thankful for. I’ve been in project management for over 20 years. In that time I can say I’ve seen and learned a lot, though I also know I have a long way to go! For that reason, I’m thankful for this career and wanted to share what I’m thankful for. For Governance. MORE
Tis the season to make New Year’s Resolutions! This time-honored tradition happens when a person resolves to change undesirable habits, or, more commonly, accomplish a personal goal. Yes, we hear them every year, and probably make a couple ourselves. MORE
I’ve always believed your career is in your hands. Your boss wants you to do a good job and deliver value in your day-to-day role. Exceptional bosses take an interest in your career. But, they’re also busy and don’t have time to shephard you through the process of figuring out your long-term goals. People who are successful have a goal in mind. Once they have a goal, they develop a strategy, or an action plan, that is wholistic, specific and distinctive. MORE
“I want to get in shape, so I got a gym membership. What should I do?” ” I thought about what she was asking for a second. Many questions started popping into my head. Though I’m not a fitness instructor, I’ve helped a handful of friends run their first races and get in better shape. Being someone who works out 5-6 days a week, I’ve gotten some great tips from trainers that I work with regularly. “Well, what is your goal? MORE
“Holy s**t, what have I gotten myself into?!?!” ” I had literally joined my local Project Management Institute (PMI) chapter 72 hours ago and already I was on my second conference call talking about a registration system for PMI events. The person at the volunteer desk at the event I attended told me there wouldn’t be a huge time commitment. So, I signed up for the team I felt best suited for, expecting a meeting here and there. MORE
If you drive or ridden in the passenger seat of a vehicle and looked at the side mirror, you may have noticed the little sticker that says “OBJECTS IN THE MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.” ” When changing lanes, we check them (most of the time anyway). Sometimes, even though the car we see looks like it’s far enough back, we’re met with a honk and a one-finger-wave when we attempt to move over. Guess they were closer than they appeared! MORE
If you’re a runner and had a race calendar planned out for 2020, it probably fell apart sometime mid March to early April. Races postponed, postponed again, or outright cancelled. It’s sad, but a reality we all face. MORE
Competition is all around. Your business is competing for clients and market share. We compete against co-workers to be on a new team or get a promotion. Pro sports teams compete to be the best in their divisions. We may even encourage our kids to compete hard and win. Everything seems to be a competition. Even in the most collaborative of environments, some competition is prevalent. But what about your project? Sure, you negotiated with all types of managers to get the right people. MORE
“Every project manager in your PMO must become expert level in each process group and knowledge area to be successful.” ” That’s interesting, I thought. I replied back on the professional message board that though I agree every PM needs to understand and show competence in each process group, I don’t agree with the concept of being “expert level.” MORE
I’m running in a 50+ mile race in September. It will be the hardest thing, both physically and mentally, I have ever done. Race start is at 5:15AM and on average takes over 12 hours to complete. There is 25,000 feet of elevation change and a number of rivers to cross and mud to trudge through. When I tell friends I’m doing this, they say it sounds miserable. When I research posts about the race, I hear past participants talk about the misery they were in. MORE
Technology will continue to evolve and take repetitive tasks away from humans. This was highlighted on a call with a sales person recently. They were demoing a finance software. Every question was met with: It does that automatically. You don’t have to do a thing. The system does it for you. No, trending analysis is done and delivered to you daily. Our embedded AI will tell you what’s needed. With a couple clicks of a button, the platform did everything we needed and then some. MORE
“Why would I want to hire a project management consultant? I’m trying to build a family within my company and to rattle everyone with bringing in someone from the outside, only for them to leave again, would be detrimental. I just don’t see the point.” MORE
We’ve all been there. You have a sponsor who wants all the glory for a successful, enterprise-changing project. However, when you ask them for a simple definition of what “done” looks like, they respond with a lot of ums and ahs. MORE
A peer of mine (who wishes to remain anonymous) has been a Scrum Master for a number of years and previously worked at a company that valued organizational agility and agile methods. Unfortunately, her role ended but was able to find another position with a company that has been wanting to be “agile” for some time. This company likes the thought of Scrum, but putting it into practice has been hindered by slow adapting managers, stakeholders and a few team members. MORE
Bridge the Gap Consulting
JANUARY 13, 2021
“Doc, my right knee’s been hurting for a while. When I run I have to slow down after about 15 minutes. Do you know what the problem is with my knee?” ” My chiropractor is really good. A former Ironman, he understands the human body and the stresses it can be put under.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
DECEMBER 28, 2020
Tis the season to make New Year’s Resolutions! This time-honored tradition happens when a person resolves to change undesirable habits, or, more commonly, accomplish a personal goal. Yes, we hear them every year, and probably make a couple ourselves.
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Bridge the Gap Consulting
DECEMBER 15, 2020
The dumpster fire of 2020 is slowly being extinguished. Project management, like many professions, has undergone a transformation in the past 12 months. Project managers (PM’s) have experienced disruption and needed to adapt. The way they, and their teams, have worked shifted.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
DECEMBER 21, 2020
At the end of 2019, I had a completely different view of what was to come in 2020. The new year started with a trip out of the cold and snowy conditions of North Dakota, to the sunny and warm golf courses of Phoenix, Arizona.
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Does your analytics solution work with your current tech stack and DevOps practices? If not, any update to the analytics could increase deployment complexity and become difficult to maintain. Learn the 5 elements of a DevOps-friendly embedded analytics solution.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
NOVEMBER 17, 2020
There is a presentation I have given where I talk about a “Supportive” stakeholder. These stakeholders understand WHY a project is important and will assist in its execution and completion.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
OCTOBER 30, 2020
“Jason, we’d love it if you could join our committee. With all the changes in the community and our work to get ready, you’d be a great addition!” ” Though I appreciated being asked, I was hesitant.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
OCTOBER 17, 2020
I’m a bicyclist. I’ve been cycling consistently for almost 15 years and participated in a number of rides and races. It’s relaxing and depending on where you go, can see some unique sites.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
JULY 30, 2020
If you’re a runner and had a race calendar planned out for 2020, it probably fell apart sometime mid March to early April. Races postponed, postponed again, or outright cancelled. It’s sad, but a reality we all face.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
MAY 8, 2020
“Holy s**t, what have I gotten myself into?!?!” ” I had literally joined my local Project Management Institute (PMI) chapter 72 hours ago and already I was on my second conference call talking about a registration system for PMI events. The person at the volunteer desk at the event I attended told me there wouldn’t be a huge time commitment. So, I signed up for the team I felt best suited for, expecting a meeting here and there.
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Bridge the Gap Consulting
NOVEMBER 10, 2019
Recently, I have seen a more online posts asking questions about what project management tool(s) a company should buy: What tool does everyone recommend? My company would like a project management tool? What should we get? I’d like your opinion on a project management tool that is cloud-based and easy to use. PM tool recommendations please! Within 24 hours, there are a number of responses. They range from asking for more information, to recommendations, to sales pitches.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
APRIL 3, 2020
I’ve always believed your career is in your hands. Your boss wants you to do a good job and deliver value in your day-to-day role. Exceptional bosses take an interest in your career. But, they’re also busy and don’t have time to shephard you through the process of figuring out your long-term goals. People who are successful have a goal in mind. Once they have a goal, they develop a strategy, or an action plan, that is wholistic, specific and distinctive.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
APRIL 20, 2020
Open up your go-to news site and you’ll see it. An outbreak that shows no signs of slowing down. Death tolls on the rise. Elected officials debating. Alcohol use up. Domestic violence increases. Children hungry because they’re not at school. Parents stressed because they’re trying to help teach their kids. Elderly dealing with loneliness in isolation. Worried about friends and family. Mounting job losses and the fear of losing the one you have.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
JANUARY 11, 2020
In my last post, I talked about “ Project Get Fit ” that may or may not be on your 2020 resolution list. You set goals, you make a plan, and you execute. Sounds simple, right? But once you start, you quickly realize you’re going to have to grind, work and deal with discomfort to be successful. I’m normally a 5-6 day a week gym attendee. However, now that I’m training for a triathlon, I’m at the gym 7-9 times a week (before and after work a couple of days)!
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Bridge the Gap Consulting
JANUARY 5, 2020
“I want to get in shape, so I got a gym membership. What should I do?” ” I thought about what she was asking for a second. Many questions started popping into my head. Though I’m not a fitness instructor, I’ve helped a handful of friends run their first races and get in better shape. Being someone who works out 5-6 days a week, I’ve gotten some great tips from trainers that I work with regularly. “Well, what is your goal?
Bridge the Gap Consulting
APRIL 24, 2020
If you watch American football, you understand the concept of the “2-minute drill” It’s essentially a hurry-up offense in the last two minutes of a half. When I played high school football, we practiced the two minute drill every day. We knew the plays to run so we could do a “no huddle” and keep the defense on their heels. It required a lot of physical ability and more importantly, focus. I still do 2-minute drills today.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
JULY 24, 2019
I’m running in a 50+ mile race in September. It will be the hardest thing, both physically and mentally, I have ever done. Race start is at 5:15AM and on average takes over 12 hours to complete. There is 25,000 feet of elevation change and a number of rivers to cross and mud to trudge through. When I tell friends I’m doing this, they say it sounds miserable. When I research posts about the race, I hear past participants talk about the misery they were in.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
DECEMBER 19, 2019
I have one kiddo that still believes in the magic of Santa Claus. His little friends and our neighbors are also young enough to believe jolly ol’ St. Nick will be dashing through the snow and the skies on his annual trip around the globe next week. Their eyes light up with excitement and anticipation for what’s to come. There are also lessons us older folks can take from Santa, too. Did you know Santa is probably one of the best PM’s out there?
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Bridge the Gap Consulting
NOVEMBER 17, 2019
I friend of mine, who is also a project manager, has a knack for taking the most boring topic and turning it into an interesting story. Want to be riveted by the importance of Python programming in the mid-90’s? Get ready for a 20 minute history lesson plus some predictions for the future. Want to know more about scrum? You’ll be glued to every word as he tells stories of its early beginnings and how its processes have saved many a project.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
MARCH 13, 2020
“We need Todd on this project. He’s critical!” ” “What’s Todd’s role? What other roles do we need? Does Todd have the tools he needs?” ” “I don’t know, but Todd needs to be on this. He’s on all projects.” ” There was a couple problems with this conversation. First, Todd (who was a senior developer) was assigned to all projects. Second, not his role, or any others, were clearly defined.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
OCTOBER 3, 2019
Competition is all around. Your business is competing for clients and market share. We compete against co-workers to be on a new team or get a promotion. Pro sports teams compete to be the best in their divisions. We may even encourage our kids to compete hard and win. Everything seems to be a competition. Even in the most collaborative of environments, some competition is prevalent. But what about your project? Sure, you negotiated with all types of managers to get the right people.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
OCTOBER 27, 2019
I enjoy being part of project management panel discussions. Just when you think you’ve heard it all, someone asks a question or talks about a situation that blows your mind! In a recent panel discussion, one such comment came up. This person asked us how many of our projects have had issues because according to her PMO manager, NO project should EVER have issues if you’ve planned sufficiently. The answer from us panelists was unanimous; every project we could remember had an issue!
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Selecting the right solution for your embedded analytics is crucial to the success of your application. But with so many solutions and vendors, how do you make this critical selection? Learn about the different approaches to analytics and the pros and cons for each.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
FEBRUARY 24, 2020
It was somewhere between mile 21 and 22. I’d felt it coming and was trying to prepare myself. My legs went from feeling OK to jelly. My body started to hurt in ways I’d never experienced. This marathon had to end. I wanted to be done. I hit the “Wall” If you’re a runner, you probably know what I’m referring to. You get to a point where you feel physically, and usually emotionally, spent and don’t want to move forward any more.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
FEBRUARY 8, 2020
“Do you commit to commit? Do you commit to getting it done?” ” I didn’t understand the COO’s question. I just told him I would get his request completed. Sure, I had a lot going on, but could try to squeeze this in. Seeing a perplexed look on my face, the COO made it clear. “Jason, when you say you commit to doing something, you commit to getting it done. You commit to commit. You’re now accountable for its completion.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
JANUARY 19, 2020
This is blog post #101. I didn’t have much of a goal when I started blogging. The idea of sharing ideas, frustrations, losses and wins seemed like a good idea. In many ways, it’s been therapeutic! I started because someone asked how if PM’s are so damn good, how come projects keep failing? Good question! They do keep failing. PMI stats prove it. I’ve had failures. My peers have had failures. What could a person do to reduce the failure rate?
Bridge the Gap Consulting
JANUARY 15, 2020
Now, I’m not ripping on everyone at Boeing. I’ve met and worked with folks from Boeing in my career and they are good people. Some employees, though, made some poor communication decisions regarding the 737 Max that have now gone public. Some lines pulled from Boeing employee communications: “Would you put your family on a MAX simulated trained aircraft?
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How can project planning that stretches over months or years remain relevant and account for new ad-hoc activities that arrive every day?
Bridge the Gap Consulting
JULY 13, 2019
A peer of mine (who wishes to remain anonymous) has been a Scrum Master for a number of years and previously worked at a company that valued organizational agility and agile methods. Unfortunately, her role ended but was able to find another position with a company that has been wanting to be “agile” for some time. This company likes the thought of Scrum, but putting it into practice has been hindered by slow adapting managers, stakeholders and a few team members.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
AUGUST 5, 2019
Technology will continue to evolve and take repetitive tasks away from humans. This was highlighted on a call with a sales person recently. They were demoing a finance software. Every question was met with: It does that automatically. You don’t have to do a thing. The system does it for you. No, trending analysis is done and delivered to you daily. Our embedded AI will tell you what’s needed. With a couple clicks of a button, the platform did everything we needed and then some.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
DECEMBER 9, 2019
If you drive or ridden in the passenger seat of a vehicle and looked at the side mirror, you may have noticed the little sticker that says “OBJECTS IN THE MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.” ” When changing lanes, we check them (most of the time anyway). Sometimes, even though the car we see looks like it’s far enough back, we’re met with a honk and a one-finger-wave when we attempt to move over. Guess they were closer than they appeared!
Bridge the Gap Consulting
NOVEMBER 24, 2019
Tis the season for being thankful; the time of year when we take a step back and appreciate that which is around us. From family, to friends, to career, it’s time to take stock of what we’re thankful for. I’ve been in project management for over 20 years. In that time I can say I’ve seen and learned a lot, though I also know I have a long way to go! For that reason, I’m thankful for this career and wanted to share what I’m thankful for. For Governance.
Speaker: Chris Von Simson & Nat Venkataraman
Can your users get the data and analytics they need without leaving your application? Watch this webinar with Chris von Simson of Dresner Advisory Services as he shares why user enablement has emerged as the theme in today’s embedded analytics landscape.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
OCTOBER 13, 2019
“Every project manager in your PMO must become expert level in each process group and knowledge area to be successful.” ” That’s interesting, I thought. I replied back on the professional message board that though I agree every PM needs to understand and show competence in each process group, I don’t agree with the concept of being “expert level.”
Bridge the Gap Consulting
JANUARY 6, 2021
“Why would I want to hire a project management consultant? I’m trying to build a family within my company and to rattle everyone with bringing in someone from the outside, only for them to leave again, would be detrimental. I just don’t see the point.”
Bridge the Gap Consulting
DECEMBER 4, 2020
We’ve all been there. You have a sponsor who wants all the glory for a successful, enterprise-changing project. However, when you ask them for a simple definition of what “done” looks like, they respond with a lot of ums and ahs.
Bridge the Gap Consulting
OCTOBER 23, 2020
Water. By itself, it’s inorganic, tasteless, odorless and colorless (most of the time anyway). It has no calories. There are no nutrients. However, all forms of life need it to survive. Water on its own is important. But, do you know what happens at 212 degrees Fahrenheit? It boils.
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This eBook describes the process of managing the project budget and its associated costs.
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