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

Horses for courses – Why your consultant should match your project and your culture

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I just spent some time with an exasperated CIO. Frustrated by IT Projects that were failing time after time – completing late and over budget – despite his Project Management Office being staffed by experienced Project Managers each with an impressive track record of success. \”Could buying in Project Management As A Service be an […]

IT Project Management

Remote control: how to support a virtual IT project

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I remember reading a report called \”The Challenges of Remotely Managing A Project\”. It must be more than ten years ago now and it\’s interesting thinking back to how I felt reading it. I and many others were already enjoying benefits in working collaboratively with colleagues who were not in the same office, the same […]

Tell IT Project Stakeholders what they need to hear… Not what they want to hear

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Three IT Projects have recently been almost scuppered by the same thing. A crippling, debilitating disease that lies dormant for months before inevitably and painfully killing the IT Project it has infected … ‘Yesitis’. Sufferers of ‘Yesitis’ are unable to say \’no\’, perhaps because of a poor corporate culture, or fear, or maybe just a […]

IT Project Management

The Perfect IT Project Planning Tool For You!

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I\’d only just arrived on a client visit this week and already this was my kind of conversation. \”But Scoro has a real-time dashboard for monitoring KPIs!\” said a voice from inside the meeting room. My ears pricked up. \”Yeah but Basecamp has great performance reporting too and the collaborative tools are way better!\” replied […]

IT Project Management

Leaders are learners. How the best IT Project Leaders constantly improve

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\”When did you finish training to be a Project Manager?\” asked the new member of a project team I work with from time to time. We\’d been comparing our backstories, him fresh from college, ink just dry on his certificates and excitedly starting his first placement, hence the question. With a few more years under […]

IT Project Management

Why you should stop saying sorry in IT Projects

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I was in a client\’s office kitchen with a project manager I was working with who with was making us both a cup of tea. He was standing in front of the drawer that contained all the cutlery when a colleague entered in search of a fork. \”Excuse me, John, can I just get in […]

IT Project Management

Aligning IT Project And Business Strategies. Why You Should. How You Can.

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Previously published on cio.com Everything that your business does should be aligned with your business strategy. Here’s why.. My friend\’s business is delivering financial services and he ensures that all his staff are suitably trained to provide the best advice, another friend\’s business is carrying bus passengers, his drivers know the local roads, what time […]

IT Project Management

Since when did BA stand for bloomin\’ amazing?

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Previously published on CIO.com A great BA is worth their weight in gold, here’s why…… The IT business analyst role has traditionally been one that facilitates communication between IT and business stakeholders. Subsequently, business analysts have always had great skills in this area, adept at both verbal and written communication. Which is why I am […]

Straight Talk on Project Management VOLUME II – Free E-Book

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With the success of my first eBook, I am delighted to publish Volume II. The book covers a wealth of topics from Stonseed\’s Project Management as a Service and our IT services, to an array Project and Programme Management issues. Volume II of Straight Talk on Project Management is now available for download as an […]

Fake news! How untruths, half truths and lies really hurt IT projects

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In recent weeks, I\’ve observed that there seem to be three ways of communicating \’news\’ in IT Projects. i) To communicate the news, update or information half as big as it is in reality. ii) To communicate the news, update or information twice as big as it is in reality. iii) To communicate the news, […]