Comments for Thomas Juli's Weblog http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com Thomas Juli Empowerment Partners Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:28:52 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Out on a limb? Working for difficult clients by Dieter Dödel http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/out-on-a-limb-working-for-difficult-clients/#comment-41 Dieter Dödel Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:28:52 +0000 http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/?p=246#comment-41 Dear Thomas, this situation tastes as a more or less similar experience I'm making at the moment... in my opinion you should try to convince the PM that it would be valuable to work together. How to do this? I would ask him to decide: a). come together and work together b). you will leave the project right now (that's the nice advantage of being a consultant) - and he has to face the challenge completely by himself I would expect that he would choose a). 'cause it would mean a risk and workload share between you and him. And guys like he seems to be one doesn't like taking over responsibility, they are always looking for possibilities to move risks and responsibility to other people. Let us know how the story continued. Dieter ;) Dear Thomas,

this situation tastes as a more or less similar experience I’m making at the moment… in my opinion you should try to convince the PM that it would be valuable to work together.

How to do this? I would ask him to decide:

a). come together and work together

b). you will leave the project right now (that’s the nice advantage of being a consultant) – and he has to face the challenge completely by himself

I would expect that he would choose a). ’cause it would mean a risk and workload share between you and him. And guys like he seems to be one doesn’t like taking over responsibility, they are always looking for possibilities to move risks and responsibility to other people.

Let us know how the story continued.

Dieter ;)

]]> Comment on Out on a limb? Working for difficult clients by Lex van Gelder http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/out-on-a-limb-working-for-difficult-clients/#comment-40 Lex van Gelder Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:15:46 +0000 http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/?p=246#comment-40 Thomas, Seems you just been trapped in the traditional “hiring paradox” for consultants. Each time we go through a risk analyses for any project we always identify the following risk with management: 1). awareness of the problem. AND 2). commitment to solving the problem. In truth we would not have been hired if management was not aware of the problem AND we would not have been hired if they had been committed to solving it themselves. Al the advice you have been given to now has been good solid constructive advice. However whatever you do, be sure to think of your reputation first, because nobody else will. Lex CTP 99 - 01 Thomas,

Seems you just been trapped in the traditional “hiring paradox” for consultants. Each time we go through a risk analyses for any project we always identify the following risk with management:

1). awareness of the problem.

AND

2). commitment to solving the problem.

In truth we would not have been hired if management was not aware of the problem AND we would not have been hired if they had been committed to solving it themselves. Al the advice you have been given to now has been good solid constructive advice. However whatever you do, be sure to think of your reputation first, because nobody else will.

Lex CTP 99 – 01

]]> Comment on Agile Project Management: The Natural Way by Rakesh Chandra Goyal http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/agile-project-management-the-natural-way/#comment-37 Rakesh Chandra Goyal Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:50:43 +0000 http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/?p=92#comment-37 Friends Firstly Project Management is all about managing activities during the life cycle of the project i.e. from start (project initiation) till end (project closure). The project can be for any domain/industry. Project Life Cycle hence can be independent of the methodolgy of executing the project activities. In case of software development project the activities are governed by the SDLC. Agile defines one of the SDLC and definitely Agile (ways) has some unique advantages. Waterfall is actually visible in all the methodologies (SDLC) because requirement-design-development-verification are intrinsic steps and these are also visible while executing development for one or the set of story (card). This is how I personally feel. Regards rcgoyal@gmail.com; goyalrak@aol.com Friends

Firstly Project Management is all about managing activities during the life cycle of the project i.e. from start (project initiation) till end (project closure). The project can be for any domain/industry. Project Life Cycle hence can be independent of the methodolgy of executing the project activities.

In case of software development project the activities are governed by the SDLC. Agile defines one of the SDLC and definitely Agile (ways) has some unique advantages.

Waterfall is actually visible in all the methodologies (SDLC) because requirement-design-development-verification are intrinsic steps and these are also visible while executing development for one or the set of story (card).

This is how I personally feel.

Regards rcgoyal@gmail.com; goyalrak@aol.com

]]> Comment on Sacking a non-performing team member – this, too, can be a sign of leadership by Compromising in ailing projects – or – the acceptance of mediocrity « Thomas Juli’s Weblog http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/sacking-a-non-performing-team-member-this-too-can-be-a-sign-of-leadership/#comment-32 Compromising in ailing projects – or – the acceptance of mediocrity « Thomas Juli’s Weblog Mon, 11 May 2009 19:12:57 +0000 http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/?p=142#comment-32 [...] sub-project manager 5 months earlier or, if nothing changed after a few weeks, replace him (see my blog post on sacking a team member).  Bottom line: the sub-project continued to be behind schedule, deteriorated overall delivery [...] [...] sub-project manager 5 months earlier or, if nothing changed after a few weeks, replace him (see my blog post on sacking a team member).  Bottom line: the sub-project continued to be behind schedule, deteriorated overall delivery [...]

]]> Comment on Book recommendations on Introduction to Project Management by Greg Haugan http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/book-recommendations-on-introduction-to-project-management/#comment-31 Greg Haugan Mon, 11 May 2009 11:24:16 +0000 http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/?p=175#comment-31 Hi Thanks for including my books. I think my section on the methodology is very useful as a basis for teaching. Best wishes Greg Haugan, PhD PMP Hi

Thanks for including my books. I think my section on the methodology is very useful as a basis for teaching.

Best wishes

Greg Haugan, PhD PMP

]]> Comment on Sacking a non-performing team member – this, too, can be a sign of leadership by robertmisch http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/sacking-a-non-performing-team-member-this-too-can-be-a-sign-of-leadership/#comment-22 robertmisch Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:08:57 +0000 http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/?p=142#comment-22 This article is one of my favorites in the whole blog! Written in an enjoyable way the reader gets an interesting view of what leadership means in project management. Concerning Neil Whitten's statement I agree: Needing a "benevolent dictator" in project management may sound strange and uncomfortable at first, but there is truth in Whitten's words! Great BLOG: Keep on sharing your knowledege with us! This article is one of my favorites in the whole blog! Written in an enjoyable way the reader gets an interesting view of what leadership means in project management. Concerning Neil Whitten’s statement I agree: Needing a “benevolent dictator” in project management may sound strange and uncomfortable at first, but there is truth in Whitten’s words!

Great BLOG: Keep on sharing your knowledege with us!

]]> Comment on Busy December: a new project, 1 presentation, 5 prepared presentations, 1 publication by thomasjuli http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/2008/12/20/busy-december-a-new-project-1-presentation-5-prepared-presentations-1-publication/#comment-15 thomasjuli Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:14:03 +0000 http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-15 yes! Please visit http://www.corporatebold.com/cb. yes! Please visit http://www.corporatebold.com/cb.

]]> Comment on Busy December: a new project, 1 presentation, 5 prepared presentations, 1 publication by Oscar Pragor http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/2008/12/20/busy-december-a-new-project-1-presentation-5-prepared-presentations-1-publication/#comment-14 Oscar Pragor Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:27:12 +0000 http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-14 Is there a website for the Corporate Bold book that you're working on? I'd like to keep myself in the loop on this publication. op. Is there a website for the Corporate Bold book that you’re working on? I’d like to keep myself in the loop on this publication.

op.

]]> Comment on A Recession = The Best Time to Start by Cornelius Fichtner, PMP http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/a-recession-the-best-time-to-start/#comment-13 Cornelius Fichtner, PMP Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:26:40 +0000 http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/?p=127#comment-13 Thomas, I completely agree. I became a self-employed project management consultant / podcaster / trainer in April of 2008. It was one of the best decisions in my life. When I saw the economy stumble I decided that this was the moment for strong visions and bold actions . I have been able to build my brand and keep my income steady. Recently, I was told that about 12 people in my former department have been let go. While I am sorry that they lost their jobs I am happy that I had the courage to make it on my own. Because now is the time. Until Next Time, Cornelius Fichtner, PMP <a href="http://www.thepmpodcast.com" rel="nofollow">The Project Management Podcast</a> Thomas,

I completely agree. I became a self-employed project management consultant / podcaster / trainer in April of 2008. It was one of the best decisions in my life. When I saw the economy stumble I decided that this was the moment for strong visions and bold actions . I have been able to build my brand and keep my income steady.

Recently, I was told that about 12 people in my former department have been let go. While I am sorry that they lost their jobs I am happy that I had the courage to make it on my own. Because now is the time.

Until Next Time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
The Project Management Podcast

]]> Comment on Agile Project Management: The Natural Way by thomasjuli http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/agile-project-management-the-natural-way/#comment-10 thomasjuli Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:40:36 +0000 http://thomasjuli.wordpress.com/?p=92#comment-10 It is true that waterfall advocates have the above mentioned prejudices about the agile approach. Indeed, those are prejudices based on incomplete information. Fact is that agile projects have probably a higher success rate of being finished on time and in budget than regular waterfall projects. Most importantly they are better aligned with business objectives of the company / org. Especially long waterfall projects have a hard time in this alignment. Regarding the second claim that developers have to act as project managers it is simply false. Developers are responsible for their work as it should be. Their responsibility may be greater than in waterfall projects. However, greater responsibility or shall we say greater identification with their own work is a prerequisite for success. For team work to be effective every team member needs to know her/his role and responsibility to begin with. By creating an open learning environment synergy effects become possible leading to effective team work. This holds true regardless of the approach, waterfall or agile. My experience shows that agile constitutes a better starting point though. Last but not least, is the waterfall approach linear or not. It is linear. When you have to go back to the planning phase in complex projects to replan and you have to do this more than once, you basically follow an agile RUP approach. This implies that the more you add dynamic elements to a waterfall approach the more you are actually following an agile approach. You may not call it "agile" but fact is, it is. It is true that waterfall advocates have the above mentioned prejudices about the agile approach. Indeed, those are prejudices based on incomplete information. Fact is that agile projects have probably a higher success rate of being finished on time and in budget than regular waterfall projects. Most importantly they are better aligned with business objectives of the company / org. Especially long waterfall projects have a hard time in this alignment.
Regarding the second claim that developers have to act as project managers it is simply false. Developers are responsible for their work as it should be. Their responsibility may be greater than in waterfall projects. However, greater responsibility or shall we say greater identification with their own work is a prerequisite for success. For team work to be effective every team member needs to know her/his role and responsibility to begin with. By creating an open learning environment synergy effects become possible leading to effective team work. This holds true regardless of the approach, waterfall or agile. My experience shows that agile constitutes a better starting point though.

Last but not least, is the waterfall approach linear or not. It is linear. When you have to go back to the planning phase in complex projects to replan and you have to do this more than once, you basically follow an agile RUP approach.
This implies that the more you add dynamic elements to a waterfall approach the more you are actually following an agile approach. You may not call it “agile” but fact is, it is.

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