Project Challenges

I just received the latest addition to my project management library. The book, The Wiley Guide to Managing Projects is big (over 1400 pages), comprehensive, expensive, and has more information than I could absorb in a lifetime. While I wouldn't recommend the book for everyone, I would say that it covers just about every aspect of project management in enough detail to make it a book you should consider having on your desk.

I have been very busy with a large enterprise project that has been a real challenge. As project managers we have all been in the same boat regarding managing projects that have taken on a life of their own. We have the knowledge, experience, and lessons learned from past projects to manage these projects effectively, yet our current project(s) aren't going as planned. Are you managing "change"?

Project change and the associated problems/opportunities they create are all part of the project management game. Changes to project scope can improve project results, however it helps if we can anticipate these changes so we can manage them more effectively.

Project change requires that we communicate and anticipate. Failure to manage change can result in project failure and cost overruns. Additionally, relationships can be damaged and careers ruined. Needless to say, these things happen to project managers everyday.

So what do we do when faced with the big project challenges? My advice is to keep plugging away and rely on your experience, knowledge, perseverance, and project management fundamentals to get your projects back on track.

Any war stories you have can be added to the comments section.

Thanks,

Stephen F. Seay, PMP

Keep fighting the good fight.

Good Project Management Websites

The list of useful Project Management links was found on the forums over at http://forums.pmforum.org/

REPOST - Cleaned up Links and Formatting

The new eProject eLounge (A great source of blogs, forums, download, and other info)
http://elounge.eproject.com/

100 Rules for Project Managers (Some great gems of project management wisdom from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.)

http://www.altisinc.com/Links/100_Rules.html

12Manage – Management method, models and theories
http://www.12manage.com/

4PM – Free project management knowledge library
http://www.4pm.com/

AllPM - Project Manager's Resource Center
http://www.allpm.com/

ASAPM (American Society for the Advancement of Project Management)
http://asapm.org/

CapacityPlanning.Com
http://www.capacityplanning.com/

CIO Magazine (Good information for a variety of subjects including project management.)
http://www.cio.com/

CM Today - Configuration Management News
http://www.cmtoday.com/

Cutter IT Journal
http://www.cutter.com/itjournal/

Defense Acquisition University 4 PMs
http://www.dau.mil/pubs/pmtoc.asp

Earned Value Management
http://www.acq.osd.mil/pm/

Effective Meetings
http://www.effectivemeetings.com/

e-Programme - Portfolio Management Web Site
http://www.e-programme.com/

GanttHead - Developed for PMs by PMs
http://www.gantthead.com/

HrGopher - Good HR information for everyone
http://www.hrgopher.com/

Information Systems Specific Interest Group (PMI)
http://www.pmi-issig.org/

IT-Director.Com, information for the IT Director
http://www.it-director.com/

itmWEB, IT Management information
http://www.itmweb.com/

ITtoolKit for Managing Technology, PM Toolkits and information
http://www.ittoolkit.com/index.shtml

The wisdom of Max Wideman
http://www.maxwideman.com/

Methodology.Org
http://www.methodology.org/

MIT's Project Management Resources
http://web.mit.edu/pm/

NewGrange - Center for Project Management
http://www.newgrange.org/

PM Boulevard
http://www.pmboulevard.com/home.jsp

PMI (Project Management Institute)
http://www.pmi.org/

Portfolio Management Forum
http://www.portfoliomgt.org/

PowerPointers - Creating Effective Presentations
http://www.powerpointers.com/

Product Development & Management Association
http://www.pdma.org/

Project Development Disciplines from Paul Allen
http://members.aol.com/AllenWeb/index.htm

ProjectHero - Real World War Stories
http://www.projecthero.com/

Project Magazine - Free Online Resource
http://www.projectmagazine.com/

Project Management Forum
http://www.pmforum.org/

Project Management W3 Site
http://www.projectmanagement.com/

Project Manager Today
http://www.projectnet.com/

Project Smart Resource Centre
http://www.projectsmart.fsnet.co.uk/

Projects @ Work Magazine
http://www.projectsatwork.com/

Service Level Management
http://www.nextslm.org/

The Software Engineering Laboratory (NASA)
http://sel.gsfc.nasa.gov/website/index.htm

Software Program Manager's Network
http://www.spmn.com/

Software Project Management Sites
http://huxley.baz.com/kjordan/swse625/sites.html

SoftwareDioxide - Ecosystem 4 Software
http://www.softwaredioxide.com/

StickyMinds - Resource 4 Building Better Software
http://www.stickyminds.com/

TechGuide - Practical Guidance for IT Pros (BNET)
http://www.techguide.com/

University of Washington Project Management Guidelines
http://www.washington.edu/computing/pm/

Virtual Project Management & Teams
http://www.vrtprj.com/

Workaholic International Network
http://www.workaholic.org/

Software Projects Org
http://www.softwareprojects.org/

IPMA (International PM Association)
http://www.ipma.ch/

In Project Management, Criticism is Inevitable

Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing. Aristotle, Greek philosopher and scientist

Many of you probably know that every now and then I can be critical of a situation or type of person. Evidence of this fact can be seen in last week's posting or others regarding teams, executive apathy, etc. One thing we can all learn about criticism from others - "if you expect criticism, you will seldom be disappointed when you receive it" - Author unknown.

We know that not all criticism is constructive. Many types of criticism are destructive and that is what I want to talk about. Destructive criticism is something you receive that offers virtually no value, and comes from people that don't have your best interests at heart. Sometimes the criticism may have some merit, however when speaking about destructive criticism, the presentation wasn't communicated effectively or was only meant to do harm.

Remember, criticism is just an opinion, but if offered constructively it may be valid and helpful.

Keep an open mind when being criticized. Don't let the criticism control you or change what you think about yourself. Ask yourself, can I learn anything from the criticism? Can I change anything? Should I change?

I don't take criticism well, and I tend to discount those people around me that criticize others too much. I need to take my own advice and learn to be more accepting of criticism, especially when it is constructive.

Some rules we should follow regarding criticism:

Never criticize another behind their back. Keep in mind what Stephen Covey says and have "respect for the absent".

If there is nothing to be learned when you are criticized it is best to ignore it and move on with your life.

Responding to criticism that has no value will only reduce you to the level of the person doing the criticizing.

Don't let deceivers deceive YOU!