Herding Cats

Schedule Margin

I can't tell you number of times I've looked at an IT schedule that had zero (0) margin. In the space and defense this is simply not allowed. Margin and the management of margin is mandated by several guidance documents.... Read more →

Elements of Project Successful

From, June 2006 Capital Programming Guide Supplement A-11, Part 7 OMB Focus on Risk: Without the knowledge of the risks involved managers at all levels—...— cannot make the best decisions for the allocation of resources among the competing investments. Project... Read more →

Quote of the Day

For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong – H. L. Mencken For all those seeking to simplify complex and possibly intractable problems, ask first if there is sufficient understanding of the problem and... Read more →

Quote of the Day

“The place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum.” — Henry Havelock Ellis, British psychologist Read more →

The Old Shall Become New Again

Patrick Richard's blog has become one my favorites for several reasons, not the least of which he states simply and clearly truths about managing projects. he uses words I'd like to. As a former Canadian Forces NCO, he speaks the... Read more →

Leading with the Socratic Method

The method which Socrates employed in his philosophical analysis had five distinct characteristics. Skeptical Conversational Conceptual or definitional Empirical or inductive Deductive Each of these can be applied to managing teams performing project work. They can be used to elicit... Read more →

Actual EV and Lean PM Integrated

This seems to be the week for me reposting other peoples work. On the LinkedIn EVMS group, which has lively discussions about the application of EV - Kym Henderson answered a question about success stories for EV. The title is... Read more →

Nine Project Management Fallacies

I've rediscovered Rick Brenner's site Chaco Canyon Consulting. He article on the 9 fallacies of project management struck a cord. Read more →

We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us

From the Project on Government Oversight, a POGO moment. It just gets worse every day. Read more →

Communities of Practice

At one time there was talk in the Project Management domain of "Communities of Practice." It didn't have legs. Here one that has served me well over the years. Acquisition Community Connection. This site, like all .mil extension sites, will... Read more →

Quote of the Day

The myth of a risk free project is just that - a myth - paraphrased from Alec Baldwin's commencement speech at New York University, May 12, 2010 Why do projects start with a plan, requirements, resources, and all the soft... Read more →

Our Energy Crisis

Before starting any discussion around alternative energy, nuclear energy, any kind of energy, you need to watch Dan Nocera's talk. Not so much for the solution but for a description of the problem. Read more →

Just the facts ma'am

When someone starts talking about this fact or that fact about somewhere in the world. And you're wondering where can you find a source of pretty much everything. Look to The World Fact Book. The CIA. produces this "book" annually.... Read more →

Quote of the Day

Pardon him, Theodotus: he is a barbarian and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature - George Bernard Shaw, Caesar and Cleopatra Read more →

Task Dependencies

Project Management Tips has a contributor, Dana Larson, who posted about features needed in Project Management Software. These include: Collaboration Task Scheduling Multiple-Level Organization File Storage and Sharing Time Tracking and Reporting Collaboration There are numerous ways to collaborate, many... Read more →

Another Version of "What Does DONE Look Like" - This Time Video

The Pad Abort 1 Program Event for Orion has video now. The structure of the Plan and the Schedule to implement the plan follows the standard IMP/IMS topology has been discussed many times here. The Event here is the Pad... Read more →

Quote of the Day

It is possible to measure virtually any activity in the program, but if the measurement does not support a key objective, it is not worth the cost of data collection and analysis. - A caution in The Integrated Project Management... Read more →

Quote of the Day

“It’s no good being on the right track if the train behind you is moving faster than you are.” – Will Rogers Read more →

A Picture of What DONE Looks Like

The Integrated Master Plan / Integrated Master Schedule for the Orion manned spaceflight program has a Program Event (PE) titled Pad Abort I. The Significant Accomplishments (SA) and Accomplishment Criteria (AC) for this PE define how to get to DONE.... Read more →

Quote of the Day

… the basic tenets of the process are the need for seamless management tools, that support an integrated approach … and “proactive identification and management of risk” for critical cost, schedule, and technical performance parameters. ― Secretary of Defense, Perry... Read more →