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

Prioritising IT projects has never mattered more

Prioritising IT projects has never mattered more

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IT Project prioritisation is crucial for your organisation. Selecting the wrong projects, which don\’t deliver strategic value or the required ROI can impact the bottom line and mean that your business reduces its chance of hitting targets and achieving goals. You should take a day or two (or longer if your portfolio and budgets demand […]

stop office politics killing your IT projects

7 Silver bullets to stop office politics killing your IT projects

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Office politics! Working in IT Project Management, given the profession\’s prominent role in the facilitation of business strategy and driving business change, you\’d think we\’d be above it! Project managers and leaders are among the most intelligent individuals you could hope to work with and yet many IT Projects are still scuppered by workplace politics. […]

straight talk on project management

7 Reasons why IT Project Managers were born to blog

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\”You\’re so passionate about Project Management, you should write a blog about it,\” one of my colleagues said a couple of years back. That\’s how it started. I wrote one blog and then, having found it quite enjoyable, I wrote a second and then a third. I got some nice feedback, got shared, had a […]

Are you the manager of projects or peace?

Are you the manager of projects or peace?

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Do you spend all your time handling internal politics and conflict? Here’s how to avoid it. My friend Steven, an IT Project Manager with that all important sense of humour, told me this week that he was considering adding to the job description on his business card. Now, it\’s not the first time that he […]

how to waste less on it projects

How to waste less on IT projects

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Reading The Project Management Institute’s (PMI) 2017 Pulse of the Profession report something jumped out and really grabbed my attention. It\’s something that should be celebrated. As a profession, the Project Management industry is less wasteful. Specifically, more projects are achieving original goals. they\’re coming in within budget and they are aligned with business strategy. […]

Never blow an it project budget again

Never blow an IT project budget again

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Most of my friends, colleagues and clients are forecasting that IT budgets will increase during 2017 but according to a recent survey, many CIOs say that managing and implementing those budgets is getting tougher. Which, I suppose, stands to reason. With greater budgets comes greater responsibility and every organisation wants the best possible return on […]

Value your BA

‘I pity the fool’ that doesn’t value their B.A.

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OK, the Mr T reference may be wasted on anyone under 30 but in IT Project Management your ‘B.A.’ is as much a key part of the A-Team as B.A. Baracus ever was! Often, I’ve seen the holder of the role of Business Analyst be the positive difference between success and failure – so why […]

IR35 – how to avoid Public Sector IT talent shortages

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When the Government announced changes to IR35 and off-payroll working rules for public sector workers like IT contractors, a wave of confusion rippled through online forums used by contractors and hirers alike. There are some great online resources that explain the changes, not least the one published by Stoneseed, in this post we\’ll explore ways […]

why you need a cio on the board

Why you need a CIO on the board

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Only four specialist IT professionals have made it into the boardrooms of the UK\’s FTSE 100 companies. Put that another way ninety-six of the UK\’s biggest firms have no tech representation on their board! I think this should be a major action plan for EVERY company or organisation. OK, a technology professional recommending that technology […]

would santa be a great project manager?

Would Santa be a great Project Manager?

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<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5229" src="http://projectaccelerator.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/pulse-Would-Santa-Be-A-Great-Project-Manager-.jpg" alt="would santa be a great project manager?\” width=\”700\” height=\”400\” />Santa delivers his project on time every year, despite its scope increasing year after year due to increased numbers of children – naughty or nice. Sure, the big man has a year to prepare to make sure he nails it and […]