David Cotgreave

If you like David's blogs - he is now a published author - Straight Talk on Project Management (VOLUME III)- Free eBook. Why not download your copy today. http://www.stoneseed.co.uk/ebook David Cotgreave MBA, BSc (hons), PRINCE II, is Professional Services Director at Stoneseed, with over 20 years’ experience in IT Consulting. David has worked with organisations such as BT Engage IT and KPMG, before founding Stoneseed in 2009 and has gained considerable business experience whilst working with a wide range of organisations across the UK and Europe carrying out a range of strategy, review and implementation projects. David is currently responsible for leading the Programme and Project Management services offered by Stoneseed. Project Management as a Service (PMaaS) from Stoneseed offers clients access to Project Management staff, resources and tools at a flexible and predictable cost via a fully Structured Managed Service. www.stoneseed.co.uk

Written Articles

Man juggling

The IT project jugglers guide to achieving the evolutionarily impossible

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According to Multicosts of Multitasking by Kevin P Madore and Anthony D Wagner: “We have a hard time multitasking because of the ways that our building blocks of attention and executive control inherently work. To this end, when we attempt to multitask, we are usually switching between one task and another. The human brain has evolved to single task.”

an image with an orange background that says 'Skills Stock Take'

Taking stock! How to identify and fill IT project talent skills gaps

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If I were to ask you what skills, presently, your IT project team has, could you open a skills matrix and show me?
Could you articulate which skills your IT projects will need in 6 or 12 months? Could you align these with your current inhouse talent?
Do you know how frequently your organisation will need specific skill sets?

3 people gathering around a laptop

IT projects: postpone or press ahead?

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With the UK facing rising employer NICs, against a backdrop of other rising costs, most businesses and organisations are tightening their belts

Whether it’s seemingly small changes (like reviewing janitorial products you purchase) or larger, strategic decisions, like staff layoffs, each of the choices you make now has an impact.

someone looking at their laptop

An IT project leader’s guide to rebooting a failing IT project: post-its, PMaaS, possibilities and p-p-p-enguins!

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Your IT Project is heading off course, out of control and heading at speed to become part of those often-quoted failure statistics … what do you do?Panic? Head to the nearest bar?Do nothing and hope for the best? Or … implement a cunning plan that saves the day (Editor’s Note: Then head to the nearest […]

Blood bag

With A.I. mainlined into its veins, why IT project management needs heart, mind, body and soul

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As an industry, we are using AI more to deliver IT Projects (not just our blogs) and it’s only going to ramp up! That “mainline AI into the veins” announcement by Sir Keir Starmer talked about billions of pounds of private sector investment, government support and that he wants Britain to be “the world leader” in AI.
Of course, a major reason for implementing AI is to save money! Even those that say that it’s about automating the mundane tasks or freeing talent to focus on other more strategic areas concede that, deep down, it’s really about the bottom line.

plants in the soil.

Five Green Shoots of IT Project Led Growth

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When the Financial Times asked nearly 100 economists about the UK economy in the year ahead, their responses were mixed – uninspiring even.
There will be growth, albeit fuelled by higher Government and some consumer spending, and the UK will perform better than other European countries where political instability threatens to destabilise their economies.

Christmas crackers

The best IT project themed Christmas cracker jokes and festive earworms

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In the New Year, we’re back on a more serious trajectory with more Straight Talking on IT Project management with the top IT Project Management trends for 2025, and a January blog that will turn you from worrier to warrior!

Right now, though, tis the season for letting your hair down and we’re in full festive mode! Welcome to our party!
There are some brilliant IT project cracker jokes at the end (That’s subjective – Ed) and … as well as laughter … there’s music too!

Did you know that many traditional Christmas songs are IT Project Management anthems? It’s true!!
So … put on your Christmas cracker crown and kick back with some festive favourites.

Man with head on fire

Avoiding Burn-Out: Five IT Project Management Self-Care Tips 

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We invest a lot of time, energy and budget on the “self-care” of our IT projects, in terms of robust governance, strong PMO (Project Management Office) and world-class processes, etc – but do we pay enough attention to our individual or team’s self-care?

Given the anecdotal stress, work-overload and burn-out in our industry, I’m thinking – NO.

pointing fingers at a hand

In I.T. Together: How and Why to Lead Blame-Free I.T. Projects

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How an IT Project Management team handles and learns from mistakes and setbacks can significantly impact success, not just for the current project but across your whole current portfolio – and future projects too.

Women sitting at her desk

A Day In The Life Of An IT Project Business Analyst

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A Stoneseed BA’s day will vary depending on the client’s requirements and project type. Whether it’s an Agile, Waterfall or Hybrid environment and whether its product, Infrastructure, software or digital transformation project for example. The life of a Stoneseed Ba is very varied, on this particular day, it is a for a client who is delivering an Agile software upgrade and development project.