Agile vs Waterfall Project Management Techniques

Many project managers are now using ‘agile’ techniques and approaches. This originally started in the I.T. sector but has now achieved widespread use throughout the whole of the project management arena. Organisations are now employing agile disciplines at programme level as well as at ‘the coal face’ as its popularity continue to grow.

It is vitally important to understand that combining PRINCE2 with Agile techniques is not just about giving PRINCE2 an agile capability. It is much more important than that. It allows an organization to go about creating a robust and fully scalable agile capability in a controlled way. PRINCE2 should not be seen as a blocker to agile – in fact quite the opposite – it is an enabler, it allows agile to happen in a disciplined way.

It achieves this in a variety of ways. For example PRINCE2 is particularly strong in the areas of project governance and project management. It provides an overarching structure of governance to a project by establishing a Project Board which directs the Project Manager using ‘management by exception’

Which fits well with the agile ethos of empowerment.

The key interests on a project can then give direction when required, in the knowledge that they have created a safety zone for the Project Manager, having established the appropriate stage boundaries and tolerance levels.

Free £30 of Microsoft Bing Advertising Voucher

Microsoft Adcenter are offering £30 of clicks free when you signup for a Microsoft Adcenter account.

https://www.tryadcenternow.co.uk/

Microsoft Adcenter (Bing) vs Google Adwords

Having run a number of campaigns it's clear to me that Microsoft Adcenter (via Bing) offer a much improved click-through rates at a third of the cost in comparison with Google Adwords. The main issue is that the search volumes in Bing obviosuly don't match up to Google so if you need a high volume high value paid search campaign then Google is still the leader.

Project Managers – What are the key personality traits

What is the key personality trait required by a project manager?


Let’s suppose that I need a project manager and I am going through a selection process. You have a number of CV’s from project managers in front of you – what are you looking for in a project manager? For me the key thing I try to find out about someone is do they have a sense of ownership for their work and are they involved in it?

Someone once said to me that to be a good project manager you must feel and display a sense of complete ownership for the project and its outcome. After all the client / employer / manager is giving one person the responsibility for delivering the project (others may take the accountability). If the captain of the ship has a sense of ownership about the project then they will project this passion onto the teams they are managing and the customers they are delivering for.

Sagemcom Releases Freeview HD Recorder

I'm always interested in new ways of Online Marketing, PR and Online promotion and this the video below demonstrates one use for SEO within YouTube. Notice the button in the top right hand corner that provides a link back to the target site.

Freelance. It's Britains Brain Gain

A recent CBI study highlights that UK Freelancing has increased by 14% over the past decade and there are now an estimated 1.4m freelancers in the UK. Freelancers and "micro-businesses" play an increasingly important role in the economy by increasing labour market flexibility. Project Managers are often in demand as freelancers and interim's given the interim nature of the project life-cycle.

Titanium Consulting are a member of the Professional Contractors Group which is an independent association that represents, supports and promotes the freelance community in the UK. PCG membership has grown steadily to encompass over 19,000 freelancers, contractors and consultants at the beginning of 2010.

The PCG is currently running a campaign to highlight the benefits of Freelancing and Interim Management. The micro-site - Freelancing - Britains Brain Gain - can be found here:

http://www.pcg.org.uk/britainsbraingain/

Where have all the IT Juniors and Graduates gone?

As an Interim Project Manager and Professional Contractor it’s become more apparent to me in the last few years that IT departments are getting older.

IT always used to be considered an industry for twenty-something’s but looking around a few of the IT teams at recent clients sites the average age seems to be around late thirties.

I suppose that agencies require candidates to be highly skilled and experienced for almost all roles these days and that has meant that only older candidates will have the relevant battle scars and certificates….

It seems that the traditional route into a Project Manager maybe via coding to Analyst and then Project Manager is becoming harder for the graduates since the junior level roles are now mostly being outsourced or off-shored.

Every industry needs fresh young talent and Project are always a good place to nurture this talent.

What is the point of Project Management?

Of course it’s perfectly feasible to deliver “projects” without having a formal “Project Manager” or indeed any agreed approach about how best to deliver a project. Many organisations have adopted this approach for years. Indeed it’s probably fair to say that in some organisations it’s only when a project is failing that a Project Manager is appointed.

General consensus indicates that a majority of IT projects fail on one measure or another so what impact can a Project Manager make on the success or failure of the project?

At the end of the day having a Project Manager is a risk mitigation e.g. if no-one is guiding the project who apart from the Project Manager will help ensure that the project is successful and that benefits are delivered? Without a Captain, who will steer the ship?

That one person has a singular vested interest in ensuring that the project goes well, that it is planned, that bumps on the road are spotted beforehand and avoided and that someone is steering the project is often the crucial differentiator between success and failure.

There are many facets to good Project Management, many methodologies to follow, different approaches, to be a manager, a facilitator, a coach, a dogsbody even.

Most organisations have many different and sometimes conflicting priorities; a Project Manager will help navigate these conflicts since they are often the only person who has the accountability and responsibility for making the project happen (even though at the end of the day it has to be a team effort). And a Project Manager will be the main advocate for ensuring the success of the project (sometimes against the odds). And finally a Project Manager will help ensure the delivery of benefits which was the rationale of the project at the outset. After all what is the point in reaching the end of the road only to find you have not arrived at your destination?