It makes sense doesn’t it? Which exercise DVD are you going to buy? The one that features 50 different gruelling exercises or the one that promises you’ll drop a dress size in a week? Harvard Business School professor, Theodore Levitt, once put this beautifully, “People don’t want to buy a quarter-inch drill. They want a […]
Pitching an IT project? Benefits sell, details don’t Read More »
I have come to a conclusion this week … most IT Project challenges are not solved by theoretical, intelligent design. Now, I make a living delivering project success through proper planning, processes, governance, etc. … in other words theoretical, intelligent design – so let me explain what I mean. After I’d written my blog for CIO.com
Every IT Project fail is a step to success Read More »
Interviewing an IT Project Management candidate this week, one of my colleagues heard an answer to one of those ‘standard interview questions’ that made us all think. The question was … “Where do you see yourself in five years?” The answer was … “I have no idea!” Back in the day, this may have led
Is Your IT Recruitment Strategy Leveraging Transferable Skills? Read More »
Thanks to a reader of my CIO.com column, Gareth, who wrote to me with an idea for an IT Project Management blog. “Hi David,” he writes, “Have you ever written a blog along the lines of ‘you’re only ever as strong as your weakest link.’” Gareth was inspired to get in touch after a train journey home
Your IT Project is only as strong as your weakest link Read More »
Can certain words cast a negative shadow on Project Management thinking? Originally published on CIO.com I walked into a Project Management Office recently, and on the wall, in large letters above the Project Leader’s desk was the phrase ‘No “Ifs”, “Buts” Or “Maybes”‘. At first, it looked like one of those platitudes that you often
If, buts and maybes. Mind your IT Project language Read More »
Because the terms “project” and “project manager” are open to so many different interpretations, employers are naturally wary of candidates who confidently call themselves project managers, while being unable to produce any evidence that they are indeed project professionals. This is why most project organisations, businesses and public sector programmes, specify project qualifications as a
How do I become a Project Manager? Read More »
Interesting perspective this week from my friend and fellow IT Project Leader Malc. Malc emailed to tell me that he had recently reframed his team’s thinking on post-project delivery analysis. What he has done is pretty interesting and he says it is adding demonstrable value to the process. “We always used to look back at
IT Project Management. Where did it all start to go right? Read More »
Originally published on CIO.com A very novel way for CIOs to increase effectiveness A poster of Lord Alan Sugar just appeared on the wall of a CIO I know. As it does every year, in fact. Lord Sugar is the central figure in the UK’s version of TV show “The Apprentice”. Of course, had my
‘You’re fired!’ One CIO’s strategy for greater effectiveness Read More »
It caught my eye. I cannot find robust research that backs it up, but I have to agree, that when you look through the ‘situations vacant’, you do see a lot of basic errors in grammar and spelling. Also, there’s often a lack of focus on who hirers are actually trying to attract. So, for
If 8 out of 10 job ads ARE badly written. How to be one of the other two Read More »
“Be open to collaboration. Other people and other people’s ideas are often better than your own,” so said comedian and actress Amy Poehler. She’s right. I heard a great story this week that highlighted the value of collaboration. A radio station, I think in Australia (but don’t quote me), was brainstorming ways to improve its
IT Project Collaboration. When 1+1 equals more than 2 Read More »
