PMcrunch

We heard it said many times that people skills are very important. However, we do see a great emphasis, whether it is in project management frameworks, or MBA programs, or Six Sigma, or any other approaches that there is a noticeable lack of people skill development embedded in the program.

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On your project teams over time, there surely have been “pivotal performances”. Just like in a basketball game there was something that the winning team did throughout the game, that proved to be pivotal to the outcome of that game. There are things that each team member, and the team as a whole does throughout a project, that are pivotal to the projects success. The question is, how do you find those things, and how do you get your project team to turn in pivotal performances, routinely.

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The title of this post might seem funny to many given that we seem to be living in a tumultuous present. How could things become more tumultuous? Well that’s just many predict is coming our way for the world of work. How might that impact project management work?

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There are many posts in the forums and blogs on the topic of whether it is better to go for a PMP or MBA. I think there is great value in both, but I think they serve 2 different purposes. Having earned both a PMP and an MBA, I have some definite thoughts on this, but of course in the end it is a personal decision.

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There are many great places for project managers to network, keep up with developments in the profession, tune in to new opportunities, and find opportunities for career growth. On a more immediate basis, networking today is also full of helpful opportunities to solve current problems with the assistance of colleagues in the profession. So, in this era of social networking, I thought I would put together a post of where some of the best project management networks can be found.

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PMP exam prep training is available from many sources, but a large number of candidates are seeking online, web-based PMP prep training for its cost and convenience benefits. However, online training can mean a number of different things to people, including web-based classroom training, reviewing visual material online, collaborating with other students, interacting with training, downloading material, and much more.

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How does the emergence of Web 2.0 collaborative capabilities and networks effect the organizational landscape, and how does that effect project and program managers? I think the key to answering this question is to look at what is happening to interpersonal relationships, power centers, and influence within organizations to see how this is changing as a result of this emerging development. I find that we can gain insights into this by observing from the following point of view: a. Organization charts are the way the organization is “supposed” to be, and b. Web 2.0 collaboration reveals relationships, and hence organization structure, as it really is. Let’s explore…

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Techniques for generating ideas have been around for a long time; however, like many other things that have also been around along time, it is a special skill unto itself. Excellence at the skill of generating great ideals can pay great dividends personally and professionally.

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The old adage goes like this: “It is much better to tell someone what to do than how to do it”. Violation of this rule is often the cause for less than optimal performance. Here are some reasons why and some ways to handle this common management miscue.

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There are many barriers to the process of interpersonal communication. In an organization, improving the process of interpersonal communication is as important as other departmental processes or protocols. It is with these communication key sets that people within an organization are able to understand each other regardless of their difference in departments, job functions and personal view or opinions.

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