enweave

Hyperbole

2011-10-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

Hyperbole is the downfall of requirements, proposals, and status reports. Posted by: William W. (Woody) Williams Subscribe

2011-10-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

For most business endeavors, too much success is just as disastrous as complete failure. Posted by: William W. (Woody) Williams Subscribe

I am a project manager

2011-10-03T16:28:00.000-05:00

I am a project manager: At its most basic, that means knowing "how" to get things done. That "how" stands, primarily, for "process." Many, but not all, my thoughts here share that focus on process. I am deeply involved in both program and portfolio management. That means not just"how" but "what" and "why" and "when." "What" is to be accomplished could be referred to as "the ends." "How" the

Quotable: Disaster

2011-08-25T16:03:00.000-05:00

Disaster Quotes Page 2 - BrainyQuote "If a sufficient number of management layers are superimposed on top of each other, it can be assured that disaster is not left to chance." ~Norman Ralph Augustine Posted by: William W. (Woody) Williams Subscribe

Why do projects succeed?

2010-04-23T05:54:00.000-05:00

We've all seen "top ten" lists and read "why projects fail" rants. Here, we've discussed project failure as well as on Twitter #pmot, and LinkedIn. It may be (creating another "top ten") the number one item of discussion among project professionals. If not, it's certainly near the top. Projects fail for every reason... all reasons. At some level there may be value in knowing what all those

Similarity and Success

2010-04-22T05:54:00.000-05:00

In my work with large corporations, I began to realize remarkable similarities among organizations. In fact, there were more remarkable similarities among successful, large corporations than remarkable differences. In smaller organizations I found this not to be the case at all; quite the opposite. The differences among younger, smaller organizations and particularly between them and their

People or Process

2010-04-20T06:43:00.002-05:00

Committed people can succeed despite a flawed process. A world class process without committed people can fail.

Process Improvement Opportunity

2010-04-19T08:17:00.001-05:00

Common business plan: Hare-brained Idea > Foregone Conclusion = Instant Wealth

Contact with the enemy...

2010-04-16T06:15:00.001-05:00

Planning is often followed by blind adherence to a plan. The first leads to success; the second to failure. Plan accordingly.

Friday Epiphany

2010-04-09T19:31:00.001-05:00

Friday Epiphany: The biggest obstacle you will face is the one you never expected.

Engage

2010-04-09T06:40:00.001-05:00

Talk isn't cheap when it leads to understanding. Engage.

Complexity and risk

2010-04-08T06:45:00.001-05:00

As system complexity increases, predictability--even of a small change--decreases while probability of its harm increases.

People Problems

2010-04-05T06:02:00.001-05:00

"People problems" are caused by people, not technology. People are also the solution.

Be careful who you wish for...

2010-03-31T05:46:00.001-05:00

A group -- no matter how well formed -- of managers and sales people nodding agreement to requirements should not make you feel safe.

Fill the gap

2010-03-30T06:02:00.001-05:00

Projects fill gaps between organizational goals and current status. If not, question why.

Change yourself and change the world

2010-03-29T06:05:00.001-05:00

The ability to change yourself is precursor to effectively changing others.

Do it all yourself... or be a leader.

2010-03-27T09:46:00.001-05:00

Those who must do everything themselves never become great leaders.

Influence or control?

2010-03-26T05:02:00.001-05:00

Influencing is not "controlling."

Social Studies

2010-03-24T05:39:00.001-05:00

Innovation, transformation, and change are fundamentally social.

Changing

2010-03-23T06:25:00.001-05:00

To change, we must overcome peoples fear of losing status, power, control, security, and comfort in newness.

Is it a plan... or a schedule?

2010-03-22T13:49:00.001-05:00

A schedule is not a plan but a plan always has a schedule.

So... it's been a while

2010-03-19T19:48:00.005-05:00

So... it's been a while. One of the "features" of blogging, I suppose. Perhaps one of the traps. The ability or need to walk away sometimes. Need, in this case.I've been *doing* a lot of project management over the past several months. And program management. And portfolio management. As the "Senior" in the Enterprise Program Management Office for a smaller organization, the hats change

Simple Problems...

2009-10-23T05:24:00.001-05:00

Simple problems can be made confusing, complex and insoluble if enough meetings are held to discuss.

Instant Destruction

2009-10-22T05:23:00.001-05:00

Credibility and trust take a long time to develop; are destroyed in an instant.

Focus for Accountability

2009-10-21T05:10:00.001-05:00

IT projects focused on implementing a system instead of a business goal lack accountability.