BPM made simpler
Posted in Project Management on Oct 26th, 2011
Most of my life I have been involved with projects. Many of them large, complex and involving creating innovative software products; my career has not been for the fainthearted. Over the course of these last 25 years a great deal of water has passed over the dam in the development of Project Management methodologies. [...]
Posted in Project Management on Sep 20th, 2011
The squabbling continues Articles abound purporting the benefits and problems associated with one method or another. Agile has been no stranger to this criticism; however the search for innovation does not just lie in technology development, but also in the manufacturing process, itself. The difference being solely one way of doing the work, where in [...]
Posted in Change Management, Project Management on Jun 27th, 2011
At some time in your project the time will come when you have to defend your position or decision on issues. The same thing happens in every project I am involved with, in fact if no one ever questions your decisions or position on issues, there may be something very wrong with the project. That’s [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Improvement, Project Management on Apr 29th, 2011
This weeks summary of posts for your enjoyment. There is no smoke without fire. Is that true in Project Management? Posted in Change Management, Project Management on Apr 28th, 2011 As I write this blog entry, it’s the early hours of the morning in New England, USA. Awakened by the CO2 detector at our [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Discovery, Project Management on Apr 27th, 2011
So it’s a new day and a new project. You have been introduced to the team, and the goals for the project. Now it’s time to get acquainted with your team. Sometimes it’s easier in Business Process Management project to have new team members you don’t know; perhaps they represent groups you will be working [...]
Posted in Change Management, Project Management on Apr 13th, 2011
Patience may be a virtue, but it’s not always in a BPM project. A typical BPM project has a lot of moving parts, decisions, deliverables and reviews. Usually project managers are operating as change agents for the project. This involves a combination of cajoling, communications, nudging, pushing and pulling for the team and those affected [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Improvement, Project Management on Mar 27th, 2011
Listen and access Listening is defined as “hearing with attention”. I like that definition, because some project managers hear but don’t listen to what is being communicated. In some cases the individual may also be nervous about bringing this news to you, and may therefore emphasize certain parts of the problem and not others. This [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Improvement, Project Management on Mar 26th, 2011
Sooner or later some aspect of a project starts to come undone. Deadlines advancing too quickly, budgets getting out of control, team members concerned about quality, all factors that need attention. Even as a new project manager, the first reaction to trouble should not be blind panic. Every project will have stages when things are [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Improvement, Process Mapping, Project Management on Mar 20th, 2011
Chose team members and partners carefully Posted in Project Management on Mar 16th, 2011 One big factor affecting any projects success or failure is the quality and motivation of those on the team. Choosing your team wisely will reduce risks in the project at a stroke. Why The team and how they work together makes [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Improvement, Project Management on Mar 14th, 2011
May seem like an obvious issue, but having the budget in place to complete the project is often overlooked in the enthusiasm to get the project started. Budgets have a habit of getting trimmed, cut back and revisited. As a project manager you need to keep your eye on this ball. The converse also happens, [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Analysis, Process Discovery, Process Improvement, Process Mapping, Project Management on Mar 10th, 2011
What an overused word transparency is today. In recent years it’s banded about like some great revelation to management and self help gurus alike. What monumental balderdash! Suddenly we awake one morning and decide that we will be honest, open, clear with everyone we deal with on a project. We won’t hide that key piece [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Improvement, Project Management on Mar 9th, 2011
It may seem obvious, but better people usually produce better results. Great thinking Einstein! However, we are often not dealt the cards we want when a project team is assembled. The dream team are the best communicators, popular folks for every department affected, you get your pick of course. Reality sets in and assignments are [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Improvement, Project Management on Mar 3rd, 2011
In the business of BPM and projects we are all dealing with change. There are a lot of factors at work that affect how well we can make it occur. Some of those are personal; our management style, experience, empathy, drive and a whole lot more. However, the organizational ones are just as important. Here [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Improvement, Project Management on Feb 26th, 2011
Listening is defined as “hearing with attention”. I like that definition, because some project managers hear but don’t listen to what is being communicated. In some cases the individual may also be nervous about bringing this news to you, and may therefore emphasize certain parts of the problem and not others. This is one reason [...]
Posted in Change Management, Process Analysis, Process Discovery, Process Improvement, Process Mapping, Project Management on Feb 23rd, 2011
In setting up the first meeting it is vital to establish and affirm quality and delivery guidelines; milestones; timelines for tasks within the project and assign roles to each involved. The kick-off meeting should have the ingredients of our meeting planning skills discussion earlier in the book. It should also address all of the following [...]
Posted in Change Management, Project Management on Feb 19th, 2011
Our post of yesterday talked about individuals who cause problems because of their communication habits. These six best practices help avoid these habits occurring in your project. Clearly document the communication process for your project. This may the second most important document in your process. Document the methodology you are using for the project. This [...]
Posted in Change Management, Project Management on Feb 14th, 2011
Budgets are interesting things. In larger organizations almost all decisions are controlled by some sort of budgeting or expenditure controls. Regardless of what process your organization is following, the success or failure of a project is often determined by getting it done on time and on budget. When costs start to get out of control, [...]
Posted in Change Management, Project Management on Feb 13th, 2011
There comes a time in every project that something goes awry. It might be major, it could be minor and our job as project manager is to note, report and get it fixed. When these things happen, there is sometimes pressure to “remain silent”, “sweep it under the carpet”, or “don’t report this to management”. [...]
Posted in Project Management on Feb 6th, 2011
Monthly Archive for February, 2011 Project Management-Assessing the need for Change Posted in Project Management on Feb 5th, 2011 The first stage is to assess the severity of the problem. If it’s not too bad then perhaps additional resources, scope change or some staff increase may solve the issue. In the same way that we [...]
Posted in Change Management, Project Management on Feb 3rd, 2011
Keeping terms simple is one way of ensuring that team members and others understand what is going on with your project. This simple glossary provides most of the terms you will need to communicate project information effectively. Brainstorming Meetings and conferences set up to share ideas in an open and unencumbered way. Budget Cost allocated [...]
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