June, 2021

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5 Pre-Vacation Stress-Busting Tips for Project Managers

Project Risk Coach

This is a guest article by Elizabeth Harrin from GirlsGuideToPM.com. When I’m on holiday I want to be, you know, actually on holiday. Enjoying my vacation time, chilling out with a cocktail and a barbeque and playing ball with my kids. I don’t want to be checking emails, dealing with phone calls from my project sponsor or still doing project reports from the cabin in the woods because no one else can possibly write them in my absence.

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Parametric Estimating: A Project Manager’s Guide with Examples

Rebel’s Guide to PM

What is parametric estimation? Parametric estimating is a top-down form of project estimation that works for time, resource and cost estimates. It uses parameters (characteristics) to create estimates based on what you already know, so in that respect it’s useful for a project manager because it’s reliable. You get accurate data because they are data-based and thought-through – it’ a quantitative approach.

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Back to Basics: A Master Class on the 4 Phases of the Project Life Cycle

Planio

If you build software for a living, you probably don’t think you have much in common with real estate developers, sculptors, or ancient Pharaohs. But every project–from redesigning a website to building the Colossus of Rhodes–follows the same four phases of the project life cycle : Initiation. Planning. Execution (and monitoring). Closing. The project life cycle is the ultimate guide to take you from idea to finished product.

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Root Cause Analysis: A Quick Guide

ProjectManager.com

Issues arise in almost every project. But knowing there is an issue is one thing; figuring out how to resolve it is another. If you’re missing deadlines and the quality of your product or service is suffering, there’s a problem. To fix the issue, you need to use techniques that gives your team a space to be open and honest so that you can discuss ways of solving the problem.

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The 2nd Generation of Innovation Management: A Survival Guide

Speaker: Chris Townsend, VP of Product Marketing, Wellspring

Over the past decade, companies have embraced innovation with enthusiasm—Chief Innovation Officers have been hired, and in-house incubators, accelerators, and co-creation labs have been launched. CEOs have spoken with passion about “making everyone an innovator” and the need “to disrupt our own business.” But after years of experimentation, senior leaders are asking: Is this still just an experiment, or are we in it for the long haul?

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Why Agile Transformations Fail & 3 Things To Start Doing Today

The Digital Project Manager

The post Why Agile Transformations Fail & 3 Things To Start Doing Today appeared first on The Digital Project Manager.

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How to Improve the Performance of Your Project Teams

Project Risk Coach

Watch what happens when new teams are formed? Maybe you’ve seen a new team of baseball players, a music group, a civic group, or a business team. The initial dynamics can be rather rocky and uncertain, even with skilled individuals. Let's explore ways to improve the performance of your project teams. Imagine a new project team that was formed to consolidate customer service centers from 20 locations across the United States to five regional locations.

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9 Essential Project Management Competencies

Rebel’s Guide to PM

We’re almost at the end of the quarter and you’re thinking what a great year it’s been so far at work. Your thoughts turn to what you should be doing for your professional development in the months ahead… and there’s a lot of choice. I don’t have the time (or the requirement) to take a certification course, but I’m always prepared to develop the project management competencies I need to succeed.

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The model might be basic, but it isn’t common

Kiron Bondale

(Photo by Moose Photos from Pexels ). George Bernard Shaw said: “ The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place ”. This quote came to mind while I was contemplating the basic communication model which many of us learn about early in our careers. If you are unfamiliar with it, do a quick Internet search and you will find two variants.

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Project Manager Job Description (with free copy+paste examples!)

ProjectManager.com

Project managers are the point person in charge of a specific project or projects within an organization. We regularly feature project management resources to help train PMs to land jobs in the industry or develop better skills in their current role. So we thought it would be a great idea to take a look at what core qualifications are required of project managers and define their responsibilities and the common job descriptions for several PM roles.

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Breaking Ground on Better Payment Processes: Strategies for Construction Pros

Speaker: Timothy Allsopp

Payment challenges often lead to delayed projects, financial bottlenecks, and strained relationships. With construction projects becoming more complex, outdated processes are no longer sustainable. By refining financial workflow, companies can improve cash flow, reduce error, and foster trust between stakeholders. Discover practical strategies for redesigning payment systems to overcome workflow challenges while creating a smoother, more reliable process for contractors and subcontractors alike.

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Get to Know InLoox: Juline - Executive Assistant at InLoox Headquaters in Munich

Inloox

Juline has been working as an executive assistant for InLoox at our headquarters in Munich since July 2019. Since then, she not only supports our executive management in day-to-day business, but also our sales department. In addition, Juline manages the accounting as well as all human resources matters at InLoox. 1. What motivated you to apply for a job at InLoox?

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[VLOG] Habits of Highly Effective Scrum Masters

Scrum.org

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is an awesome book. It is one of the biggest inspirations in my life! It is written by Steven Covey. Maybe Steven is sometimes dogmatic or even a bit sectarian as if he was enlightened and the only one who knows how the world works. Maybe sometimes he uses language which is a little bit too "coaching" for me like: "Emotional Bank Account" or "I don't care how much you know until I know how much you care" or my favorite: "The Miracle of The Chinese Bamboo

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Five Ways to Improve Project Communication

Project Risk Coach

Communication is the vehicle for successful projects. From the beginning to the end of a project, the project manager and team must plan, execute, and deliver the required products and services while interacting with stakeholders. What are you doing to improve your project communication? Project managers are not lone rangers. Projects involve interdependent relationships such as the sponsor and other leaders, the project manager and the project team, and users interacting with the systems.

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Project Communication Management: What is it all about?

Rebel’s Guide to PM

Did you know that 56% of your project budget might be at risk due to poor communications? Perhaps that number (from research by PMI ) surprises you, but I’m sure you aren’t surprised by the fact that good communication management on projects leads to higher success rates. We know that all projects use finite resources to achieve an objective. One of the most valuable resources in a project is the people (developers, engineers, subject matter experts, etc.) who support it.

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15 Modern Use Cases for Enterprise Business Intelligence

Large enterprises face unique challenges in optimizing their Business Intelligence (BI) output due to the sheer scale and complexity of their operations. Unlike smaller organizations, where basic BI features and simple dashboards might suffice, enterprises must manage vast amounts of data from diverse sources. What are the top modern BI use cases for enterprise businesses to help you get a leg up on the competition?

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Before checking if your team is agile…

Kiron Bondale

(Thanks to Don for giving me some fodder for this week’s article). I’ve written previously about my three tests for assessing agility: are we delivering value to our stakeholders early and regularly, are we progressively improving quality, and are we helping our customers, team members and key stakeholders to be awesome. When it comes to values and principles, whichever flavor of agile you subscribe to, they all promote the importance of respect, focus, communication, learning and tr

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8 Free Excel Construction Templates

ProjectManager.com

Any construction project, no matter the size or scope, requires a wide range of documents. These documents must be thorough and clear, and using construction excel templates guarantees each document includes all the information it needs. . The following are our top 8 Microsoft Excel construction templates for better construction project management. Use them as needed, and combine them all for a cohesive set of documents owners and team members will appreciate. 1.

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Perfecting The 30 60 90 Day Plan – Uses, Benefits, And Tips

nTask

The first 3 months of your new job are usually the most demanding. These 90 days play a fundamental role in defining your future in the company. To make the most of these crucial months, you can take help from the infamous 30 60 90 day plan. 30 60 90 day plan is your gateway to successfully adapting to your new job. It is a detailed roadmap that guides you on how to form a firm foothold in the new environment.

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Differences between Scrum and Kata

Scrum.org

Earlier this week, I shared a doodle-style video about how you can use an Agile Approach to an Agile Transformation with a Kata. Yes, you heard right, we have seen so many agile transformations that are planned top-down and waterfall. The Agile Transformation Kata can not only help with that, it also creates a culture of autonomy and self-organization while going through the agile transformation.

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Prepare Now: 2025s Must-Know Trends For Product And Data Leaders

Speaker: Jay Allardyce, Deepak Vittal, Terrence Sheflin, and Mahyar Ghasemali

As we look ahead to 2025, business intelligence and data analytics are set to play pivotal roles in shaping success. Organizations are already starting to face a host of transformative trends as the year comes to a close, including the integration of AI in data analytics, an increased emphasis on real-time data insights, and the growing importance of user experience in BI solutions.

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8 Ways You Can Better Respond to Unrealistic Demands

Project Risk Coach

This is a guest post from Colin Gautrey , an author, trainer and executive coach who has specialized in the field of power and influence for over ten years. He combines solid research with deep personal experience in corporate life to offer his audiences critical yet simple insights into how to achieve results with greater influence. We’ve all been there.

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The Best PRINCE2 Exam Simulators

Rebel’s Guide to PM

I remember studying for my PRINCE2 exam and taking plenty of sample papers and mock tests. They were all on paper back then, and learning to deal with the style of questions and the time management required to get through the exam was as important as knowing your way around the manual. These days, the best exam prep I can suggest for PRINCE2 certification is to use online exam simulators.

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Project Business Case: How to Create the Perfect Project Proposal

Online PM Courses

Why should anyone sponsor and fund a project? It is your Business Case - or Project Proposal - that sets out the answer. The post Project Business Case: How to Create the Perfect Project Proposal appeared first on OnlinePMCourses.

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Schedule Performance Index (SPI): An Introduction

ProjectManager.com

If someone asked how much value you get from a day of work, what would you say? Odds are, you’d give one of the customary responses — a fair amount of value, not much value, a lot of value, etc. Unfortunately, these answers aren’t helpful and aren’t valuable to projects. The schedule performance index was created to eliminate the guesswork and give a specific, quantifiable answer to the question, as well as show where improvements need to be made for maximum efficiency.

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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10 Best Project Management Software With Invoicing

The Digital Project Manager

The post 10 Best Project Management Software With Invoicing appeared first on The Digital Project Manager.

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How to become a Product Owner – 5 Simple Steps

Scrum.org

How to become a Product Owner – 5 Simple Steps. The Product Owner is a critical role in Agile and Scrum. And although the Scrum Guide doesn’t give much guidelines around great product ownership, the role is still absolutely necessary for great Agile and Scrum Teams. There is a lot to do to become a great Product Owner and this role is not for the faint of heart.

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The Path to Troubled Projects

Project Risk Coach

Every project manager wants to be successful, right? We start each project with intentions of delivering value for our organizations. So, how do projects fall into troubled waters? One day at a time. It's a gradual process, one that's often unnoticed. Slowly, but surely, troubled projects lose momentum. Team members become distracted and fail to complete their activities.

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6 Real Project Managers Show You How To Manage Multiple Projects

Rebel’s Guide to PM

Managing lots of projects at the same time is tough. Here’s how 6 project managers stay on top of multiple projects – and keep their sanity. It was fun to talk to them to find out more about their tactics – the tip from Christine about diary management is definitely going to change the way I plan my week. Helen Curel. Get organized, if you’ve got a good system for keeping all your project documentation in one place, use it and block out time either at the end or the beginning of each week to giv

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Navigating Chaos in Project Management

This text offers practical guidance for project managers navigating diverse frameworks. It covers topics like centralized reporting, standardized metrics, communication, training, risk management, and alignment reviews. By implementing these strategies, project managers can improve efficiency and achieve their project goals.