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Software Project Management Stories
Risk Helps Set Realistic Project Sponsor Expectations Risk Helps Set Realistic Project Sponsor Expectations

This is an article about three ideas: project sponsorship, project wagers, and risk.  Understanding their relationship is critical to becoming more effective as project managers, and organizational leaders.

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Payson Hall
Ding! Project Manager Advances to Next Level Ding! Project Manager Advances to Next Level

In games like Everquest, World of Warcraft, or Diablo there are significant milestones when you accumulate enough experience to “go up a level”.  It’s always rewarding to watch a project manager do that in real life.

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Payson Hall
Change isn't the problem Change Isn’t the Problem

Project managers need to ensure that sponsors, team members, and stakeholders understand that un-managed change is the real bogeyman.

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Payson Hall
Perils of “Ongoing” Projects Perils of “Ongoing” Projects

Projects should have clearly defined goals, schedule targets, and resource allocations. When projects are described as “ongoing” that is often a red flag suggesting that either this isn’t a project, or it is not being well-managed.

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Payson Hall
Implementing New Standards: Should We Push or Pull? Implementing New Standards: Should We Push or Pull?

No one likes process for process’s sake.  Most of us are naturally resistant to change.  Modifying standards or processes is an organizational change task.  How do we encourage people to embrace change?

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Payson Hall
It's Not All Engineering It’s Not All Engineering

IT managers often begin their careers as engineers, problem solvers, and innovators.  If you are a technical person who aspires to a management role you must learn to embrace and work with budget and priority constraints.

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Payson Hall
The Cost of Vendor Delays The Cost of Vendor Delays

Make sure that your change management process is clearly outlined at the beginning of a project and use it when there are unforced errors to get concessions from a vendor when the fault is clearly on their side.

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Payson Hall
Keeping Your Vendor on Track Keeping Your Vendor on Track

Because of vendor firm expertise at blame management, clients need to be vigilant and proactive about managing systems integration efforts.

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Payson Hall