When it comes to project management, a project charter is an essential document in which you should outline the objectives, scope and stakeholder details that are pertinent to your project. These are necessary when it comes to guiding and aligning the efforts of your team. The resulting charter is a form of contract that will […]
The importance of creating a robust project charter Read More »
This blog, while perhaps inspired by, is not about the Horizon scandal per se – but we can all learn from it. This post is more about the importance of accountability, taking ownership of those moments when something is not right and embracing a “for the greater good” culture.
It was Steven Covey who coined the phrase “begin with the end in mind” in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I’ve always loved that simple idea – have clarity about what the outcome must look like before beginning any endeavour.
In IT Project Management, as tech advances exponentially, it’s important that we take a leaf out of Covey’s book – and start every IT project with the END USER in mind.
Over the years, I have seen project teams asked to do it the other way around, to crowbar a new technology into their organisation’s operations, to be “of the moment”, ahead of the curve, cutting edge. It rarely ended well.
Your 2024 IT Project management mantra: start with the end user in mind Read More »
Is it “National Clear Your Desk Week” or something?
My social media timelines are full of IT project management friends and acquaintances announcing new positions.
On LinkedIn resumés are being refreshed and updated, meanwhile Instagram and Facebook are full of photos of leaving dos (I’m even in some of them) and leaving gifts and “Good Luck” cards! And cardboard box makers must be rubbing their hands together with the amount of pot plants and “You Don’t Have to Be Mad To Work Here, But It Helps” signs that are on the move!
TREND-SPOTTING
At Stoneseed, we provide IT Project resources via an on-demand model. Sometimes they’re long term and sometimes short, sometimes proactive (planned and booked way ahead) and other times reactive (it’s your PM that’s posting photos of flowers, balloons and Moonpig cards and you need a replacement now); sometimes it’s a full team and end to end PMO and other times just a single project manager or business analyst.
Top 3 ways to retain IT project talent and remain effective when you can’t Read More »
“No. We don’t have a Business Analyst, with budgets as they are, we can’t afford one.”
If I had a pound for every time, I hear something like this, I could buy EVERYONE a Business Analyst!!
What can’t you afford? A requirement gathering guru? A risk management master? A quality assurance authority? A change management and adaptability artist? A communication connoisseur? A cost controlling crackerjack? All rolled into one superstar!?
Given that budgets are tight, I’d suggest IT Projects can’t afford not to have a Business Analyst!
More BAng for your buck! How having a Business Analyst adds up Read More »
It’s in our Project Management DNA! When we’re on the ropes, we come out fighting and often end up punching way above our weight! Problems, challenges, dilemmas, even apparent failure all inspire us to think at a higher level and come up with solutions that we would never have conceived had everything been plain sailing. I can’t wait to hear what innovative response is triggered by your current challenges.
It’s amazing how many great innovations, that we take for granted, were a response to a problem or a challenge. Just looking around where I’m sat writing this: I have Dropbox open on my laptop, which was a response to someone forgetting a flash drive; my wallet is on my desk with crisp banknotes fresh from the ATM, the ATM being a response by John Shepherd-Barron to the problem of forgetting to withdraw cash during banking hours (he was in the bath – he had a true eureka moment!!!); even the Dyson vacuum in the corner of my office was a response to the issue of a vacuum clogging and James Dyson having to bend down to pick things up.
Why It’s GOOD That You Have IT Project Management Problems. Wait, what?! Read More »
The right project management methodology (PMM) lays the foundations for a successful IT Project, it’s that simple. The correct methodology creates structure and governance, defines communications and documentation, and establishes principles that guide the team and help them stay on track, on the same page and on time.
But … how do you know what’s right? Right?
This is a question that keeps popping up in conversations with new and existing customers alike – WHAT’S THE BEST IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY?
IT’S KINDA THE WRONG QUESTION.
Why “what’s the best IT project management methodology?” Is the wrong question Read More »
More and more companies are making the move to Agile project management. With an estimated 52% of companies using Agile for around half of their projects, and with a success rate of around 64%, it isn’t hard to see why. The Agile approach uses short development cycles, called sprints, which offer a focus on improvement
How to transition to an agile project manager Read More »
Experts in project management, such as those at Parallel Project Training believe that there is no reason to choose just one leadership technique to follow. They all have their merits, and different styles will help you to achieve the best results depending on the project that you are working on. Managing a project team can
Leadership techniques: mixing different styles for the best results Read More »
Stoneseed engagements tend to fall into two categories – “Operate” or “Advisory”. Or as a colleague put it this week … “operational” or “inspirational”. Stoneseed employs a team of Project Management and Technical Professionals, delivering services through a flexible, on-demand resourcing model PMaaS (Project Management as a Service). From strategy to service delivery, this cost-effective
Operational? Inspirational? Which Stoneseeder best fits your need? Read More »
