project management

Software team working on a failing project Achieve Success by Joining a Failing Project

We all want to be associated with success, so when there’s a failing project, most of us want nothing to do with it. However, if you’re looking for a way to give your career a boost, you may want to rethink that. If you’re not afraid of a challenge, here are some ways embracing a failing project can help your career.

Richard Estra's picture
Richard Estra
Asphalt with painted arrows pointing in three directions The Good, the Practical, and the Expedient

When a process isn't working, you'll have to make a choice that will help move things along. However, some choices are less about inspecting and adapting than about getting things done quickly, and that incurs risk. To manage this risk you need to be aware of the differences between "practical" and "expedient."

Steve Berczuk's picture
Steve Berczuk
Computer, calendar, projections, and business paper all laid out on a table Making Decisions at the Right Level of the Organization

Decision-making in a climate of ambiguous responsibility is a no-win situation. If you're in a position of some authority, how can you define exactly what that authority allows in order to better secure sponsor support for your decisions? It involves considering some scenarios and asking the right clarifying questions.

Payson Hall's picture
Payson Hall
Project manager working with her team 5 Common Mistakes Project Managers Should Avoid

When you're responsible for leading a new software project, of course it’s impossible to steer clear of every single mistake. But there are plenty of common mistakes project managers fall into that can be easily avoided simply by being mindful of them. Here are five common mistakes PMs make that you should be wary of.

Freddie Tubbs's picture
Freddie Tubbs
Business analyst performing analysis on a new project domain “It Was More Complex Than We Thought”: Why Business Analysis Is Essential

Many new project fields look simple from a distance because we only see the outputs and interfaces. But corner cases, bad data, users with special needs, regulations—getting inside a new knowledge domain and teasing out the special cases and unhappy paths is a skill. This is why business analysts are so important.

Payson Hall's picture
Payson Hall
Agile team members refining the product backlog Refine Your Product Backlog Continuously to Improve Flow

One way to address poorly defined product backlog items is to spend time refining the items as you go. Refining the backlog continuously helps the team deliver consistently and can lead to shorter planning meetings at the start of the sprint. It can even help improve reliability, velocity, and the quality of work.

Steve Berczuk's picture
Steve Berczuk
Software team working on a new project The 6 P’s of Getting Started on a New Project

Ideally, when an employee is transferred to an existing project, there would be at least one team member designated to train the new person. However, this isn’t always the case, and you may be left to fend for yourself. If you suddenly find yourself on a new project, take control and get started with the six P’s.

Richard Estra's picture
Richard Estra
Project manager writing on a sticky note next to a planner and laptop 3 Myths about Software Project Managers

People often have the wrong impression regarding the activities and responsibilities of project managers. You'll hear them say that managing a software project is all about delegating work and keeping the crew in line, but it's more than that. Let's debunk three common, pervasive myths about project managers.

Jacob Dillon's picture
Jacob Dillon