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.
THE TOP 7 TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS SONGS ARE ALL ABOUT IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT
1 – “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” – An Ode To Monitoring, Accountability and Attention to Detail.
Delivering the impossible in such a tight timeframe – are we sure Santa isn’t an IT Project Manager? Santa, making a list and checking it twice, would be perfect at it!!
By keeping a vigilant eye on project progress, checking off milestones, and monitoring team performance, IT Project leaders consistently deliver as efficiently as Santa himself on the big night!
2 – “The Twelve Days of Christmas” – The Iterative Development and Continuous Improvement Anthem
The progression of gifts in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a smashing metaphor for the iterative development and continuous cycle of improvement in IT projects. Delivering increments of value and refining processes based on feedback – whoever was sending all those birds, gold rings and maids-a-milking to their “true love” was deftly deploying Agile methodologies! Iterative approaches, agile practices, the progression of continuous improvement in IT project management, and a partridge in a pear tree.
3 – “O Come, All Ye Faithful” – The Song of Team Collaboration, Trust, Cohesion and Unity:
What is an IT Project, if not a gathering of “All Ye Faithful”! The power of teamwork and collaboration with fellow faithful colleagues is a cornerstone of IT projects. Just like the choir of Baritones, Sopranos, Tenors, and all various instruments in the brass band are harmonised in unity as they sing and perform this song, IT project teams’ diverse skills and expertise are focussed with certainty of purpose towards a common goal – joyful and triumphant, which brings us nicely to …
4 – “Joy to the World” – The Importance of Celebrating Project Success and Celebration:
“Joy to the World” Completing an IT project successfully brings joy and satisfaction to the entire team, end users, stakeholders and anyone who is affected by the change it delivers! Celebrate the joy of all those milestones, reflect on all your project successes, and, most of all, recognise and celebrate any and all project management achievements!
5 – “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” – The Sonnet of Communication and Leadership:
The importance of clear communication and effective leadership in project management cannot be overstated, heralding the good news, highlighting progress, communicating project updates, expectations, and decisions while leading their teams with vision and guidance, and clearly laying out what needs to be done – Project Managers are heralds!
Good communication strategies and leadership qualities have a huge impact on project success.
6 – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – The Embracing of Unique Talents, Diversity and Innovation!
Rudolph’s rather unique red nose was initially a cause for ridicule, but becomes his defining strength, leading Santa’s sleigh through the foggy night. Innovative Santa!
In IT project management, embracing the unique talents and innovative ideas of team members can lead to extraordinary solutions and project success. Encouraging creativity and recognising diverse skills can drive IT projects forward to new levels, especially in challenging situations.
7 – “Do You Hear What I Hear?” – Knowledge Sharing, Effective Communication and the Importance of Feedback Loops!
A message passed from one to another is the basis of this song, emphasising the importance of clear and accurate communication, shared knowledge and feedback loops. Effective communication and feedback loops are essential in IT project management, ensuring that information is accurately documented and shared transparently and understood by all team members and stakeholders helps in making informed decisions and maintaining alignment of project goals with business case.
Let’s end with …
THE TEN BEST IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHRISTMAS CRACKER JOKES
Why are Agile projects better at yoga that Waterfall ones?”
Because they’re more flexible!
What’s the difference between Santa and an IT project manager?
Santa only has to deliver once a year!
What’s a Project Manager’s favourite Christmas entertainment?
A Gantt-o-mime
What do you call a sycophantic list of boundaries and deliverables?
That’s the scope creep.
Why did the project manager ask for a traffic cone for Christmas?
Because they’re always managing roadblocks
How does a Scrum Master get to work?
On a sprint cycle
Who presents the TV show “I’m A Project Manager Get Me Out Of Here”?
Compli-Ant and Project Deck
Why do the best IT Project sponsors, end users and teams never drop their beef?
They’re great steak-holders
What’s a Business Analyst’s favourite Christmas confectionery?
BA Humbug
And finally …
Who is the patron saint of IT Project Management as a Service?
St Oneseed.
That’s enough! (Er … more than enough – Ed)
Have a super holiday from all of us here at Stoneseed.
Like the best IT projects, we hope that Christmas exceeds your expectations, is aligned with your hopes and needs, and that the deliverables under the tree bring joy to you and your family.
Here’s to 2025, and another year of partnering with you to deliver the most successful IT project outcomes.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!