Personal thoughs « A PM's workshop

“Leaders are great simplifiers”

By Eugenio, on January 13th, 2010

The introduction must contain the message core. Then, an outlined index will offer different paths either in viewpoint (areas of interests) or [...]

Governance and fun

By Eugenio, on November 23rd, 2009

Templates are one of the most tangible things of the governance. They are conceived as the interfaces to operate the system. There are many sorts of tools for collecting data and release information. The

Vision and fun

The people are still the most important resource of the project. However, a project cannot be manned by a bunch [...]

Time-boxes and risk proximity

By Eugenio, on November 20th, 2009

I’m reviewing the templates in order to complete the End stage/project and then move to the plans. This strategy is based on the need to offer the best of my competence. Therefore, plans are left at the end of the first series. They are the most discussed item in the project management.

The appeal of the [...]

Project Brief – 2.0 Communications

By Eugenio, on November 10th, 2009

Tools like “IM” can increase the speed of transmission and then improve the sensation of mimicking a conversation; however, when the information is left to each person’s memory, it has lost most of its [...]

Soft: gloves and fists

By Eugenio, on November 2nd, 2009

In my experience, finding the reasons of the problems (delays, poor output quality etc.) is not very difficult. Usually, the easiest symptom to spot is the gap between people and the rules they [...]

Risk – lack of “personal” awareness

By Eugenio, on October 26th, 2009

“People living in glass houses cannot throw bricks”

Therefore, there is “my” interpretation of the Emotional Intelligence tenets:

Self-awareness
“Am I conscious of my usage of the rules? This consciousness implies the ability of gauging the receivers’ acceptance of our “message”.
It could range from hiding behind the role, from bending the rules in order to gain some points.
Self-management
“Have I evaluated the required effort/skills for maintaining the promise?” The negotiation is useful for its opportunity to gauge the counterpart’s interest on the topic. With no metric to measure the goal, it is almost impossible to have a shared evaluation of results.
Relationship-management
Once my part of the deal has been assessed, “am I able to involve the other people? This needs that everyone accepts – at least – the previous rule.
Social-awareness
“Do I know the written and unwritten rules before to start any other activity?” The power of the “fait-accompli” (already done things) exists only if the others can reckon our done. This means to share the same set of metrics. [...]

Quality importance in report

By Eugenio, on October 23rd, 2009

A workplace is an ideal fabric woven by rules. Some of them are clearly set (taking the form of documents – e.g. RACI) others are to be read in each person behavior. The latter are much more important. It is amazing how much information can be retrieved just asking for them with no other intention that understand the person’s [...]

Vision and mistakes

By Eugenio, on September 24th, 2009

Vision helps us in two complementary ways. What we are doing and why.
Everything that does not match with the vision (duly translated into the daily reality) can be labeled as error. Without a clear and shared concept of what is needed for reaching the target, there is no way for defining, measuring and repair the [...]

Just back (to the basics)

By Eugenio, on September 7th, 2009

Average and colors

This pause, perhaps longer than planned, offered me a chance for chatting with a customer about the importance of the correct data management.

The nub of the matter was about “undervaluation” of the use of the basic statistical functions.

Reviewing the toolbox

These are the “tools” that cannot miss in any practitioner. A useful notice: [...]

A short vacation

By Eugenio, on August 28th, 2009

Dear reader,

Just to inform you that I am taking few days off. Just before the opening of hunting season, when walking in the woods is not healthy.

Thank you for your support, advice and friendship.

Warmest regards

Eugenio