Dark Matter One of the biggest risks that software project managers face is “Dark Matter”. On a software project it is defined as “The entity that we know exists but cannot see”. It is most prevalent on projects where you require an intimate knowledge of business processes. At the beginning of a project, the Subject […]
Projects From working on many projects over the years one can become accustomed to the culture of a project in terms of delivery, habits and work ethic. We can take a lot for granted in terms of what has become the norm for us. On a recent assignment with a client we had found it […]
Teams While working recently with a client, they asked for some specific advice for managing small project teams when delivering software projects. Previously their project teams were quite large, but the nature of their work now needs small project teams completing software modules in less time. This is to enable them to support ever-changing market […]
Definition With so many different variations of MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) in use today, it can be difficult to define exactly what MES is and how it is used. The use of the system will vary from company to company. Manufacturing Execution Systems can be defined as systems that record and control the execution of […]
PMSummit Dublin PM Summit is an annual event that takes place in Dublin, Ireland hosting a global community of project, program and portfolio managers regardless of whether they use traditional, lean and/or agile approach to their projects. Unlike other project management events, the PM Summit catering to all sectors of industry, from engineering to pharmaceutical, […]
Distractions One of the biggest sources of distraction in the workplace today is technology. Phones, tablets, laptops, messages, emails all have the capability to cause even the smallest disruption. More often than not when running meetings and workshops I have to remind people about these distractions. There are a couple of basic rules that I […]
The Project Sponsor What is a Project Sponsor? Simply put, a project sponsor is the clients representative on a project. As a project manager one of the many challenges we face is working with and seeking support from the project sponsor. The role of a project sponsor starts before the appointment of the project manager. […]
Project Managers Many people aspire to become a project manager early in their career. There may also be a scenario where their company needs a project to be managed and therefore an opportunity presents itself. What normally happens is some training in the organization’s project management procedures followed by some formal training by a third […]
Project Scope Creep Although our organization specializes in the rescuing and salvaging of troubled or failing projects, we spend a lot of time reviewing performance and results to understand where the project when wrong in the first instance. Saving a project before it needs to be saved is a much more positive experience than arriving […]
The PM Role and BA Role on a Project One of the main challenges in setting up a project is defining the roles. No two roles’ boundaries are as close and in some areas overlapping as the roles of the Project Manager and the Business Analyst. Both the PM and BA play leadership roles—the PM […]
