IT Project Mechanic

If you have spent time in a few different IT shops, especially project shops, you probably have noticed something about processes. This is something that drives me bonkers about how people implement process. While this is designed to be somewhat humorous, this is potentially hazardous stuff and should be taken seriously…

Some places almost outlaw process – “we don’t need it” is the assertion.
Some places embrace process toward religious extremes – “too much process isn’t possible” is the claim.
Some places take what’s just right – and only what proves to be worthwhile pursuing.  Read the rest of this entry »

Do you know how your project’s performing? Are you sure???

Measuring project results occurs in every project – task completion, performance to schedule, etc. Many PMs, managers and leaders believe that the efforts they are making toward measuring project results are “good enough”. There are, however, potentially fatal mistakes (figuratively) that can be made in managing the data collection and analysis of project measurement results. You can’t manage what you can’t measure is almost a cliché – but this saying has never been more appropriate.

So how do you avoid the 7 deadly sins of measuring project results? Knowing what to avoid or stop doing is half the battle. If any of these sound familiar – stop it! Set out at the beginning of your projects to define a data collection & measurement plan and strategically develop your method to measure your project’s success.

Here they are: Read the rest of this entry »