There is a tile missing in our kids’ bathroom that my wife has been after me to repair. You see, it is about two inches wide and five inches tall, one of those molding tiles along the wall in a corner no one sees. Every time she goes in there it bothers her to see … Continue reading The Eisenhower Box
Communication
Donald Trump Junior’s Meeting Problems
In June of 2016, Donald Trump Junior had a meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya. I think everyone agrees on that point. The lack of clarity on the meeting’s objective and attendees as well as the events that led up to it serve as an excellent case study for project managers. Now if you are interested in maintaining plausible deniability ambiguity is a wonderful thing. For project managers, however, nebulous communication is the enemy of a well-run project. Let me explain…
Big Data Dashboard Design – a Challenge
In a previous, Project Management Dashboard, I wrote specifically about a dashboard for project managers. In that post, I made the point that a dashboard should tell a clear, crisp, story that simplifies any complexity without loss of information. Doing this, creating this clear, crisp story really brings together two different topics I have discussed … Continue reading Big Data Dashboard Design – a Challenge
Project Management Dashboard
The definition of a dashboard is the panel facing a driver of a vehicle or the pilot of an aircraft containing instruments and controls. It’s the thing you look at when you are trying to drive a car or fly a plane. At a glance, you should be able to see the key pieces of … Continue reading Project Management Dashboard
From Data Literacy to Transliteracy
From Data Literacy to Transliteracy Understanding necessary skills for data democratization.
Manage Projects like a Roman Emperor
Our actions may be impeded but there can be no impeding our intentions or dispositions, because we can accommodate and adapt. The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our action. The impediment to action advances action, what stands in the way becomes the way. Marcus Aurelius was the last of … Continue reading Manage Projects like a Roman Emperor
The School of Athens
Recently, I was asked by a friend why I chose The School of Athens as the image for this blog. Frankly, I could not think of anything that could be more appropriate. Let me explain… Between 1509 and 1511, Raphael had been given a commission to paint four reception rooms in the public portion of … Continue reading The School of Athens
The Stoicism of Project Management
“What is quite unlooked for is more crushing in its effect, and unexpectedness adds to the weight of a disaster. The fact that it was unforeseen has never failed to intensify a person’s grief. This is a reason for ensuring that nothing ever takes us by surprise. We should project our thoughts ahead of us at every turn and have in mind every possible eventuality instead of only the usual course of events.”
RAID Logs
Whether you are using a waterfall or agile approach, the RAID log enables managers to bring into focus project matters that should be at the stakeholders’ top of mind. In addition, it documents assumptions and decisions that are made during the execution process.
Don’t Bring Me Problems
“Don’t bring me problems – bring me solutions!” he said pressing his index finger into the table in front of him. A wry smile crossed his lips as if he were the embodiment of the wisdom of Solomon. Uncharacteristically, I could not respond. It wasn’t that I didn’t know what to say, it was that … Continue reading Don’t Bring Me Problems
Meditations on BI and Data Science 