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From the Editor Featured Article Monthly Premium How-To Course Better Processes Better Decisions Better Insight Corporate Subscriptions & Licensing |
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August 5, 2010, Sponsored by RMC Project Management, Inc.
From the Editor The dark sunglasses and hat brim pulled low aren't fooling anyone, you know. That potted plant won't barricade the office door forever. Besides, the faint sound of weeping from under the desk is a sure giveaway that you're in there. Sooner or later, you'll have to step out into the sunlight and decide. What should we do next? Are these our only options? Is it as complicated as it looks? Do we really have to follow that whole procedure? Doesn't anyone have any better ideas?Don't worry, you're not in this alone. Not only do you have a whole team to help you, we've got some good advice and tools for you this week. Don't miss the August course from Carl Pritchard if you're looking for advice on deciding how (or whether) to respond to everything on that scary risk list you generated. Kent McDonald reminds us that our own assumptions can be our biggest obstacle to project success. Plus, our bloggers hold up light bulbs that will show the way to better process implementation, better decision-making, and better insights when you need them. Come on out and enjoy the sunlight. Featured Article GoldPlater 
In the mid 60's, James Bond avoided hat-throwing henchmen and suggestively named pilots to prevent Auric Goldfinger from inflating the price of gold astronomically (one could say "atomically"). These days, project managers have to fight an equally devious villain, Goldplater, who attempts to atomically inflate the costs of projects. Goldplater usually doesn't reveal his entire plan over a martini (shaken not stirred); rather, he reveals it gradually through casual hints and added features.I bet you're thinking, "Oh, those darn Business Owners, why can't they keep their scope under control?!" But Goldplater is not always a Business Owner. Sometimes he takes form through our assumptions. Cue music and roll credits » Monthly Premium How-To Course NEW – Don't just sit there… Do something! – Deciding How to Respond to Project Risks – 1 PDUCarl Pritchard of Pritchard Management Associates 
Once you know the risks the risks to your project and the potential value of dealing with them, you have to figure out what to do next. Should you spend money on it now, or wait to see if something happens? And how much money is reasonable for dealing with the potential problem?This course by Carl Pritchard of Pritchard Management Associates explains how you can make smart risk decisions for your project, and get the execs on your side. In this session, Carl illustrates the different risk strategies you can employ on your projects and recommends ways to select the best approaches for your situation. Then he shows how you can present alternatives to management based on a thorough assessment of the risks so they can make an informed choice. PDU credit available! Vote for the next telecourse Which course would you like to take next month? We have 4 waiting in the wings. Vote for your favorite and the most popular one will be released in September.
Better Processes Do I Have To?, by Lisa DiTullioAs I child, how many times were you told to clean your room, pick up your toys, or empty the trash? I typically responded to parental requests with a whiny, "Do I have to?" Introducing standardized project management practices can sometimes illicit a similar reaction. Project managers can morph into mavericks before our very eyes when asked to comply with new project management requirements. Hereâs four ways to calm the crowd when introducing project management processes. Read more »
No, Really, This Will Work! – Convincing Process-Skeptical Teams – MEMBER Find out how one company made their PM and development process adaptable and got everyone to adopt and use them. (Really!) It's a Zen Thing – Project Process Philosophy Chart – PREMIUM When teams ask "But why?" this one-page chart can help you convey why the process matters, how it helps, and how specific deliverables support important goals during each project phase. …Step 3: PROFIT! – How to Implement PM Procedures and Develop Skills – PREMIUM This step-by-step guideline helps you introduce new procedures and develop related PM skills as quickly as possible, for fast performance improvements. Better Decisions Project Management and Decision-Making, by Sinikka WaughEvery project team faces countless decisions along the way, and as project managers, we can help make sure the decisions our team makes are good ones by following a few simple steps. Sinikka outlines 5 steps to better project decisions Read more »
I'll Trade You 2 Weeks for 3 Features – Project Alternative Tradeoff Tables – PREMIUM Cut through all the complex decisions with a concise table that allows you to document, compare, and communicate the alternatives, as well as their impacts. Are We Done Yet? – Release Decision Process Guidelines – MEMBER As your project winds down, use this guideline to develop processes for a systematic review of open issues, so you can decide which ones have to be corrected before final release. Talk to the People That Matter – Stakeholder/Influencer Assessment and Communication Plan – PREMIUM Identify the individuals and groups that may influence your project outcomes, assess their potential impact (for better or worse) and document how and when you should communicate with them. Better Insight Seek the Light (Bulb), by Mike AucoinIt is a common image of the moment of insight: a light bulb suddenly illuminating above someone's head. With it come raised eyebrows, a quickened pulse, and an excited, "That's it!" The light bulb is a particularly relevant metaphor because insight releases a powerful burst of energy. If you are looking for energy in your project team, an important source is found in insight. But what exactly is insight, and how do we encourage it? Read more »
My Vacation's Through, and So Is My Creativity You need creative ideas for your next project… now! Carl Pritchard provides ten ideas for getting ten ideas, fast (even if you only need one). It's Always the Quiet Ones – Brainstorming Meeting Techniques – SPECIAL This Premium resource is free to registered Members until August 19, 2010 You never know where a great idea might come from, especially if the same three people are always talking. Use these facilitation guidelines will help you start your next session effectively and avoid common pitfalls. Corporate Subscriptions and Licensing Want your team members to have their own access to templates and how-to resources for their project work? Need to share documents and deliverables beyond your project team? We make it easier with affordable corporate subscriptions and licensing. Detailed information regarding corporate options is available online. Give your whole team, or even the entire organization, cost-effective access to our comprehensive online library of resources. You already know how helpful it's been for you. Now it's time to share with everyone else. Find out more »Not sure if corporate terms apply to you? Check out our licensing terms at the top of our Terms of Service page, in refreshingly ordinary, everyday English. |
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