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Good "guest" articles
on the theory or practice of project management welcomed.
See Issacon #1453
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Guest Articles
- The PMBOK® Guide Fourth Edition: An Analysis -
Part 2 by Muhamed Abdomerovic
- In this Part 2, Muhamed describes his findings in detail and offers suggestions for improvement in the next update. 07/09
- The PMBOK® Guide Fourth Edition: An Analysis
- Part 1 by Muhamed Abdomerovic
- An in-depth analysis of the PMBOK® Guide Fourth Edition. In this Part 1 Muhamed describes his systems approach and the tools he uses. Is it better that the 2004 version? Apparently. Could it be better? Definitely. 06/09
- The Mysterious S-curve by David Garland
- The S-curve is a powerful project management control tool. This paper explains
what the mysterious S-curve is, why it is an important project management tool,
and how to generate one. 05/09
- The Story Behind the High Failure Rates
in the IT Sector by Robert Goatham
- Studies suggest that failure in IT is higher than in engineering. Given we
use the same basic PM tools, does that mean IT projects are "different"? Robert
explores this question and suggests organizations should look to developing decision-making
expertise. 04/09
- Ten Essential Steps to Delivering Successful
Programs by J. LeRoy Ward, PMP, PgMP
- An organization's ability to execute major initiatives successfully are ripe
with business, leadership, management and technical challenges requiring proficiency
in program management. 03/09
- Project Lessons from The Great Escape: Case
Study - Part 2 by Mark Kozak-Holland
- In this Part 2, Mark examines the Escape saga from the perspective of project
risk management. The paper concludes with five suggested team exercises. 02/09
- Project Lessons from The Great Escape: Case
Study - Part 1 by Mark Kozak-Holland
- Project managers can learn from past projects, even though the examples cited
are not necessarily recognized as projects. The Great Escape is a gripping example.
01/09
- Requirements of the Project Management Office
Thomas B. Clark
- To support their project managers and increase their success rate, companies
create and staff a "project management office". But what are the specific responsibilities
and requirements for such an office? 12/08
- Project Management Career Path Greta Blash
and R. Max Wideman
- There are various levels of project managers, and various sizes and complexities
of projects. As more experience is gained on smaller less complex projects, promotions
to more senior levels become possible. 11/08
- Wellington County Recreational Complex: Case
Study Ron Leduc
- Ron's case study, for the benefit of student's and instructors, is drawn from
a controversial economic development project. The case is, of course, entirely
fictitious but the challenges described are not uncommon. 14 study questions are
included. 10/08
- Prioritization and Scheduling Based on
Value Bob McMurray and Steve Chamberlin
- Bob and Steve emphasize that completing a project in portfolio management
is not the real challenge. Rather, it is choosing the right project in the first
place. Value should be the criterion. 10/08
- Pension Funds and Toll Roads - A Potentially
Good Fit Robert W. Poole, Jr.
- Maintenance or replacement, upgrading and expansion of our infrastructure
in North America are long overdue if we are to meet the needs of an ever-increasing
population. But where will the money come from? Robert Poole proposes long-term
toll concessions. Read how. 09/08
- What is a PM Methodology? A Search for
Efficiency, Consistency, and Performance Stacey A. Goff
- Do you know why you should use a consistent project management metholodoly?
Stacey gives you ten good reasons. 08/08
- Testing Your Judgment in Making Decisions
Lev Virine and Michael Trumper
- Have you ever wondered how good you are at making project decisions? Take
this quiz and find out - then read the book! 07/08
- What is Not a Project? A Primer for Embracing
Project-Based Work Randall L. Englund
- Randy takes us back to project management basics by positing that not much
is not a project and the reasons why. He goes on to draw the analogy in nature
of growing a fruit tree. 06/08
- Portfolio Management - Aligning Projects
with Corporate Strategies and Values Don J. Wessels, PMP
- Don discusses the real key to project selection and prioritization in project
portfolio management: by maximizing business value through a robust business case.
05/08
- DBM & Personality Types: A Supplementary Explanation
Mark Seely
-
- In response to a visitor's question, the authors of the Dynamic
Baseline Model for Project Management answer the question: "How is the DBM
model related to personality type and project leadership?" 05/08
- Making Every Word Count - Sage Advice for Project
Managers Lindsay Camp
- Sound lessons in communicating for project managers - and others. 04/08
- Lessons of Boston's Big Dig Nicole Gelinas
- America's most ambitious infrastructure project inspired engineering marvels
and colossal mismanagement. 03/08
- Good News From Iraq Capt. Steven
J. Lucks (Ret.)
- Building a greenfield data center is a challenge. Building it in an eastern
war zone is an even bigger challenge. 02/08
- The Job of the Project Manager Robert Youker
- A project manager must know his/her specific duties. Bob provides comprehensive
descriptions for on-the-job tasks, Terms of Referece and a Project Charter for
organizational relationships. 01/08
- Developing IT Project Metrics from the Top Down
Michael R. Wood
- "It'll be done when it is done" is just not good enough. Project managers
must know when. Step up to the Metrics Challenge by following Michael's good advice.
11/07
- The Purposes and Methods of Practical
Project Categorization - Part 2 Dr. Russell Archibald
- In this Part 2, Russ describes his project categorization in detail according
to various parameters and concludes that to be useful any categorization scheme
must be hierarchical and directly related to specific needs. 10/07
- The Purposes and Methods of Practical Project
Categorization - Part 1 Dr. Russell Archibald
- Russ recommends a systematic approach to a project classification system,
proposes a matrix, and explains why it is needed. 09/07
- Distinguishing PM Competence in Training
and Development, Organizational Assessment and Certification Stacy A. Goff
- Stacy shares a perspective gained in 24 years of training, coaching, and assessing
factors leading to demonstrated project management competence. 08/07
- In Search of Project Portfolio Management
Processes Stephen Rietiker
- Stephen, originator of The KEY-9 Landscape describes his search for tangible
PPM processes, his findings (not much), goes on to offer an alternative model,
and invites readers to review and contribute. 07/07
- The Value of Project Management Certification
Dr. Lewis Ireland
- Lew makes his case for project management certification based on who benefits,
who provides it, and on what standard. 06/07
- Legal Project Management - Developing and Managing
the Scope of Work, Schedule, Budget and Communications for Legal Transactions
and Dispute Resolution Douglas C. Allen
- Douglas shows how to apply project management to legal matters generally.
05/07
- Applying Project Management to Litigation
and Discovery Management Lauren A. Allen, PMP
- Lauren applies project management to litigation specifically. 05/07
- The Chaos Report - Reality Challenged
Jim Highsmith
- Jim challenges the wisdom of the Standish Group's often quoted Chaos reports
about software project failures. 04/07
- PRINCE2, 2005 Edition: Author Colin
Bentley's Observations on Our Book Review (Part 2) Colin Bentley
- Colin continues his counter arguments with our original Book Review text.
03/07
- PRINCE2, 2005 Edition: Author Colin Bentley's
Observations on Our Book Review (Part 1) Colin Bentley
- Colin takes issue with some of our observations on the PRINCE2 (2005) standard
project management method. 02/07
- Must Project Managers be Subject Matter
Experts? Hessel Friedlander
- Hessel provides his view on this intriguing and controversial question, backed
by his research. 01/07
- Managing Project Scope - Part 3: Control Means
Maintaining Baselines as the Scope Evolves, Walter A. Wawruck
- Walter outlines a framework of principles and procedures for controlling the
scope of a project. 12/06
- Managing Project Scope - Part 2: A Neglected
Dimension of Effective Performance on Diverse Projects, Walter A. Wawruck
- Walter reviews the scope literature of the day and makes observations based
on his own extensive experience, including application and use of WBS. 11/06
- Managing Project Scope - Part 1: A Neglected Dimension
of Effective Performance on Diverse Projects, Walter A. Wawruck
- Walter describes the findings of his landmark research into the importance
of project scope, its meaning and how effective scope management affects time
and cost. 10/06
- Learning from Japan: A Different Approach to Project
Cost Accounting, Om P. Kharbanda
- Project cost accounting, not the same as corporate accounting, is an essential
feature of project management. Could the approach be different? Om describes what
he learned from Japan's cost management practices. 09/06
- Event Chain Methodology in Project Management,
Lev Virine
- Lev explains how Event Chain Methodology is a practical method for modeling
uncertainties in various time-related business and technological processes. 08/06
- PMBOK® Guide 2004 and PRINCE2™ 2005
Compared, Colin Bentley
- Colin is Chief Examiner for UK examinations in the PRINCE2 project management
methodology of which he wrote a major part and its subsequent revisions. He presents
a detailed comparison of the UK and US documents. 07/06
- Project Success: Looking Beyond Traditional
Project Metrics, Brian K. Willard
- Project management has traditionally measured project success by: "On Time,
On Budget and to Specifications". Brian explains the limitations of these metrics
and suggests better ones, especially for IT projects. 06/06
- Markup and its Effect on Project Communications
(Putting an Important Resource in a Historic Light), Barry Schaeffer
- Barry explains "markup" as it applies to modern web page coding,
its evolution in the context of communication history, and its value in today's
information projects and products. 05/06
- Filling the Infrastructure Gap: How Public
Private Partnerships Benefit Taxpayers, Sara MacIntyre
- Money for public projects, especially large infrastructure projects, seems
to be a common refrain these days at a time when the public seems distrustful
of government spending. Sara explains the application and benefits of P3s. 04/06
- Project Miner: Case Study, A. Lathif Masood
- Lathif has kindly provided an interesting and challenging case study for the
benefit of project management students and their instructors. You may need some
personal practical experience to get the most benefit. 04/06
- Holy Grail? Holy Cow More Like - Or What Best
Practice‚ Might Be?, Alan Harpham
- Alan challenges Max's thoughts on the Holy Grail of Pproject Management and
presents some of his own thoughts on the issue of project management best practice.
03/06
- The Dynamic Baseline Model for Project Management
- Part III, Mark A. Seely and Quang P. Duong
- In this final part of Mark and Quang's informative presentation, they describe
five paradoxes that emerge as you move up the scale to Management by Values and
beyond. 02/06
- The Dynamic Baseline Model for Project Management
- Part II, Mark A. Seely and Quang P. Duong
- The DBM model sets expectations at different levels of project complexity.
This Part 2 describes the Lowest Management Level, Expectation of Success, an
extrapolation of the model, and the authors' observations. 01/06
- The Dynamic Baseline Model for Project Management
- Part I, Mark A. Seely and Quang P. Duong
- Mark and Quang's DBM model provides a valuable framework for progressive levels
of learning and practice based on management by rules, by methods, by objectives
and by values. Hence it sets expectations at different levels of project complexity.
12/05
- Why Do We Need Project Portfolio Management (PPM)?,
Harvey A. Levine
- Harvey observes that the questions CEOs want answered are: What is our optimum
mix of projects, how many support strategic objectives and what value do they
bring to shareholders?. Harvey explains how. 11/05
- Community of Practice: Wave of the Future for
Project Management?, Tony Kippenberger
- Tony describes the concept, origins and merits of "Community of Practice",
its link to knowledge management and its three fundamental elements. 10/05
- Virtual Teams: Getting beyond Email,
Brad M. Jackson
- Brad explains why Email and collaborative technologies have not worked effectively
for projects. He describes a Digital Group Memory (DGM) technology that meets
the needs of dispersed teams but users must adopt a new competency. 9/05
- The PMBOK® Guide Third Edition: An Analysis,
Muhamed Abdomerovic
- Muhamed makes a powerful case for immediate amendment of the recent issue
of the Project Management Institute's Guide to the Project Management Body of
Knowledge 3rd. Edition, and states that this should be done in two stages. His
conclusions are based on a thorough and scientific review of the document. All
readers of the document should be aware of the problem areas that he explains
in detail. 7/05
- Powerful Project Management: A Balanced
Blend of Art and Science, Matt Klein
- Matt points to the massive projects of the past and laments the high level
of failure in information technology projects of the present. He asks if that
could be due to a shortage of IT experts knowing the art of getting things done.
6/05
- On the "Cult of Design", Kate Jones
- As an entrepreneurial designer of game puzzles, Kate expresses her views on
the reaction of customers to new products and her insights into managing her own
work. 5/05
- Designing and Installing a Project Management
Information System in a Developing Country's Ministry of Education, Bob Youker
and Ronald Ng
- Bob describes how it was possible to design and install a project management
information system using the Microsoft Office suite of software in a developing
country's Ministry of Education with limited authority and resources. 2/05
- Did Everything Right but Got it Wrong
- A Case Study, Hessel Friedlander
- When you really try to do everything according to best practice, and have
your client's approval all along the way, it is very disappoinging to find that
you have still got it wrong. Hessel provides a real-project case study that should
provide for thoughtful discussion. 1/05
Earned Value Technique Sparks Discussion, - Several writers exchange thoughts on trying to make practical sense of the
earned value technique. If you want to know what all those acronyms mean, this
is a good place to start. 12/04
- Construction Claims and Contracting Strategies,
Bryan S. Shapiro
- Bryan developed this paper for a construction industry audience. However,
the problems and risks he identifies with inappropriately formulated contracts
should be of concern to anyone involved in contracts for any kind of large project.
We are privileged to be able to pass along his professional advice on Guiding
Principles of Risk Allocation. 11/04
- Assignment Revamp: The Challenges of a Chemical
Plant Upgrade, Tim Corman
- In the coming years we can expect to see more and more rehabilitation, renewal,
renovation, or revamp projects. These will replace existing and aging infrastructure
and facilities. These "revamp" projects, as Tim calls them, present a particular
challenge because the site is not "clean and green" to start with and existing
production and services must be maintained during the upgrade. Tim describes the
case of a makeover for a chemical process plant. 10/04
- Strategic Design for Running Projects - Part
2, Lawrence A. Bennigson
- In this Part 2, Lawrence continues his discussion focusing on project integration
and the need for visibility, personal and professional security, strategic trade-offs,
some example success criteria and the selection of key management positions. 09/04
- Strategic Design for Running Projects - Part
1, Lawrence A. Bennigson
- This paper was originally presented in Innovation magazine in 1971, but recently
brought to our attention by Bob Youker, World Bank (retired.) Even though written
over three decades ago, we think that Lawrence's advice is just as relevant today.
Part 1 includes managing the project, strategic design of a cost management system,
success criteria and system evaluation. 08/04
- Project Management State of the Art - 2004
Part 4: Project Management in the Next Five Years, Russell D. Archibald
- Russ completes his paper with his projections for project management in the
next five years, the prospects for competition and his perspective on relevance
and variations in the application of project management around the world. The
paper includes a comprehensive list of references. 10/04
- Project Management State of the Art - 2004
Part 3: Project Management and People, Russell D. Archibald
- Russ continues his paper with a discussion of practitioner capabilities, working
in project teams and issues surrounding project management as a discipline or
a profession. 09/04
- Project Management State of the Art - 2004
Part 2: Applications, Practices & Tools, Russell D. Archibald
- This month Russ Archibald looks at areas of project management application
within industries, different project categories and their respective project life
cycles. He also looks at the nature and current status of project management control
tools. 08/04
- Project Management State of the Art - 2004
Part 1: Project Management within Organizations, Russell D. Archibald
- Long-time project management guru, Russ Archibald, provides us with sweeping
coverage of the international project management scene. In this Part 1 he looks
within organizations at the characteristics of projects, programs, and portfolio
management, as well as organizational capabilities and maturity. 07/04
- Risk Management for the Sigmaphobic: Managing
Schedule, Cost, Technical Risk & Contingency, Harvey A. Levine
- Harvey has a problem with the sigma character and suggests a more pragmatic
approach to managing schedule, cost, technical risk and contingency. 06/04
- Impediments to Defining Stakeholder Needs,
Cyril Souchon
- Based on the experience in his practice, Cyril discusses the challenges of
capturing and defining stakeholder needs and how he deals with it, especially
where those requirements are vague or even contradictory. 05/04
- Manage Software Development Better: Implement
a Weekly Build and Smoke Test, Mohan Srinivasan
- On a major software development project, Mohan faced the typical risk of schedule
and/or effort overrun. His team recognized the need to do something radical. They
devised a "Weekly Build and Smoke Test" tool and succeeded in delivering
a productivity improvement of 50%. 04/04
- Choosing the Wrong Portfolio of Projects:
And what your organization can do about it - Part 6, Lee Merkhofer
- In this last part of his six-part paper, Lee presents his summary recommendations
and describes the two pitfalls that must be overcome to successfully introduce
effective portfolio management into the organization. 03/04
- Choosing the Wrong Portfolio of Projects:
And what your organization can do about it - Part 5, Lee Merkhofer
- In this fifth of a six-part paper, Lee discusses the fifth reason: Inability
to arrive at the portfolio with the highest risk-adjusted value within the available
resources, and how to go about it. 02/04
- Choosing the Wrong Portfolio of Projects:
And what your organization can do about it - Part 4, Lee Merkhofer
- In this fourth of a six-part paper, Lee discusses the fourth reason: Lack
of attention to risk, and what to do about it. 01/04
- Choosing the Wrong Portfolio of Projects:
And what your organization can do about it - Part 3, Lee Merkhofer
- In this third of a six-part paper, Lee discusses the third reason: Lack of
the right metrics, and what to do about it. 12/03
- Choosing the Wrong Portfolio of Projects:
And what your organization can do about it - Part 2, Lee Merkhofer
- In this second of a six-part paper, Lee discusses the second reason: Failure
to see the forest for the trees, and what to do about it. 11/03
- Choosing the Wrong Portfolio of Projects:
And what your organization can do about it - Part 1, Lee Merkhofer
- This is the first of a six-part paper of considerable interest to senior
executives. Lee will describe reasons why organizations typically fail to arrive
at an optimal project portfolio. Later, he will show how to implement practical
selection processes to return maximum value as a whole. 10/03
- Change Management and Projects, Steve Slusarenko
- Steve discusses change management as a project in its own right and how that
relates to the successful delivery of projects. 09/03
- Quest for the Cup - Project Management Parallels
in the Hockey World, Rob Nelson
- Why should we think of project teams as only those who manage and actually
perform the tasks that build the deliverables? 08/03
- Ready for a Change? Select the Right Style
of Leader, Jan Katz
- Turnaround is a painful process which requires an organization willing to
license the leader to take necessary action. 07/03
- First Principles of Project Management,
Lauri Koskela and Gregory Howell
- This thoughtful review and commentary on Max Wideman's original First
Principles paper makes interesting reading and useful suggestions for improvement.
06/03
- A Rationale and Structure for A Project Management
Body of Knowledge - Part 3, Eric Jenett
- In Part 3, Eric presents his proposal for a globally acceptable PMrBoK structure
07/03
- A Rationale and Structure for A Project Management
Body of Knowledge - Part 2, Eric Jenett
- In Part 2, Eric goes on to define the job of project management, the customer
for a PMBoK, what that customer does and structural considerations for a related
body of knowledge. 06/03
- A Rationale and Structure for A Project
Management Body of Knowledge - Part 1, Eric Jenett
- In some carefully-considered thoughts, Eric provides a background to this
topic, describes what projects are, and are not, and discusses the project life
span. 05/03
- The Glory of Pisa - A True Parable of Project Management,
Kimberly Gerson
- Max first wrote about the Leaning Tower of Pisa
in a tongue-in-cheek Max's Musings. Now, Kimberly
Gerson has done some serious research on the "Pisa Project" and presents
it here for your enlightenment. 04/03
- Defining the Hierarchy of Project Objectives
- Linking Organizational Strategy, Programs and Projects, Robert Youker
- Having a clear and concise definition of project objectives early in the life
cycle is an important ingredient for success. 04/03
- Bridging the Gap between Corporate Strategy and
Project Management
Alan Harpham
- This paper explores the development of program management out of project management
and defines program management as "a set of related projects with a common strategic
goal or aim". Pt1 02/03, Pt2 03/03
- Globalization of the Project Management
Profession,
David H. Curling
- A brief review, insights into professional certification processes, standards,
world wide professional organizations and thoughts on the challenge, opportunities
and impediments to a global project management profession. (Original presentation,
1998) 10/02
- Can A Project Manager be a Servant Leader? A Reflective
Critique, Barbara A. White
- Can a project manager be submissive to those on his or her project team, and
still be a leader? The author looks at the definitions, characteristics and responsibilities
of a leader, manager, a project manager, a servant, and a servant leader and draws
some interesting conclusions. 07/02
- Expert Project Management - An Improved Project Lifecycle
Model, Edmund Fish
- The project lifecycle is a pivotal concept in the understanding of projects,
mapping out the progress of the project from birth to death. However, there seems
to be an almost endless confusion over what the project lifecycle is. 04/02
- Expert Project Management - The Difference
between Different Types of Projects, Robert Youker
- The dictionary defines "classification" as the systematic grouping
into categories by shared characteristics or traits. Project management needs
a classification system for different types of projects so that we may communicate
effectively. 04/02
- What CEOs Must Demand To Compete and Collaborate in
2005, Russell D. Archibald
- This paper is intended to provide chief executive officers and other senior
executives with the understanding of what they must demand regarding project management
within their organizations, today and in coming years, to compete and collaborate
effectively within the realities of the Internet Age. 08/01
- Does Your Company Need A CPO? A Case for the Central
Project Office and a Chief Project Officer, Harvey A. Levine
- Project Management is one of the fastest growing, widely recognized trends
of the last decade. But it has been accompanied by increasing frustration about
the way that project management is being implemented in those organizations that
have recently come to embrace this discipline. 07/01
- Economic Development, Social Spending and
Project Management, Andre Philip van der Merwe
- Social development in conjunction with economic development must be balanced
by education in project management. Project management that brings people together
from diverse cultures, religions, social levels, and education levels to effectively
and efficiently reach set objective. Project management, where people are managed
so that they can manage their work, is the key to our future. 06/01
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