Project Management Essentials

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Projects…Start with What & Why

Project Management Essentials

What are we doing? And why are we doing it? These are the first two critical questions that must be asked at the start of every project. However, they often go unanswered! The nominal “what” is often provided. Implement a new system. Launch a new program. Build a road or bridge. However, the “why” is frequently unclear or poorly defined.

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Agile Project Planning

Project Management Essentials

Agile planning should be simple. Agile embraces flexibility, adaptability, and incremental delivery. Therefore, planning processes are designed to be lightweight and time-efficient. Many organizations struggle with Agile planning. Remnants of the predictive project mindset are often the culprits. The result is impractical plans, wasted effort, and compromised value.

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Creating Accountability

Project Management Essentials

At the beginning of my project management classes, I ask participants if they have any big, burning questions. Accountability always tops the list. Project managers face challenges when team members do not complete assignments on time or when stakeholders delay critical decisions. I empathize. Getting people to do what is needed on time is a perennial management challenge.

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Reports of Agile’s Death are Exaggerated

Project Management Essentials

Amid swirling rumors that Mark Twain was gravely ill, a journalist wrote to inquire about his health. The ever-witty Twain responded, “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” Numerous articles, videos, and blog posts have declared, “Agile is dead!” Agile is not dead; it is evolving. Agile is an idea. Ideas don’t die—people do.

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The Economics of Project Management Certification

Project Management Essentials

I earned a master’s degree in economics and worked in the field for a few years before shifting to project management. Despite the shift, I continue to use economics as my primary lens for analyzing the world around me. Recent project management industry changes prompted me to consider its economics. This article aims to provide data-supported context and analysis.

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The Cookie Post…Great Leadership

Project Management Essentials

Sometimes, great leadership appears effortless. The leader’s actions seem intuitive and simple, yet the impact is powerful. I was inspired by US Navy Captain Chris “Chowdah” Hill, who earned the nickname for his thick Boston accent. I stumbled upon him while listening to a podcast on conflicts in the Middle East. Captain Hill commands the US Navy’s nuclear aircraft carrier, Dwight D.

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Earned Work: Measuring Project Performance

Project Management Essentials

Earned Work Management is a new, lightweight, approach-agnostic project performance measurement system.