PMcrunch

“Performance metrics” is an especially popular topic in management today. The idea is to try to measure everything by some sort of metric that gives a true picture of our degree of success or effectiveness. But like many management techniques, it is subject to misuse. Here are my suggestions for identifying relevant metrics and using them effectively.

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“Performance metrics” is an especially popular topic in management today. The idea is to try to measure everything by some sort of metric that gives a true picture of our degree of success or effectiveness. But like many management techniques, it is subject to misuse. Here are my suggestions for identifying relevant metrics and using them effectively.

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Most of us like the idea of being socially responsible.  Most of us respect our neighbors.  Most of us care about the other guy.  The reality is that this is much easier to do in good times than it is in tough times.  How can those of us in project and program management be highly socially [...]

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Corporate need for stream-lined, large-scale training has prompted many organizations to look to learning management systems (LMSs) and virtual teams. Virtual teams can aid companies in discovering, recruiting, and training talent.

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Project cutbacks are a common theme. In many cases, teams are simply reduced in size. In addition, project scopes are decreased while agile methods are a key way organizations develop software more efficiently. The term agility goes far beyond that.

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There is a simple and basic attitude that we, as leaders on our projects and programs, can adopt that will make all the difference in the world. That thing is the idea of engaging openly and creatively with our team members as opposed to either seeking constant agreement or taking an authoritarian stance.

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In today’s information intensive world, managers are inundated with information from many sources. This presents a world of opportunity, but also a challenge in moving ahead. The opportunity is that there is far more valuable information available upon which to base decisions, and the challenge is how to sort through the information efficiently. Let’s take a look at some ideas on how to cope with all this information.

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As leaders, Project Managers and Program Managers need to communicate clearly. Communication is a tricky thing, and among other things, it is influenced greatly but what we see in the world, and what we see is shaped by what I call the “color or your glasses”.

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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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A moderately lighthearted approach to project management and leadership can be very beneficial. To get the most out of ourselves, we need to strike a balance between hard work and fun. As leaders, we need to be assured that we are facilitating the right balance work and fun for individuals on our team and for the team as a whole. On project teams, where project leaders expect the absolute best from their people, fun on the job isn’t a frivolity, but rather a necessity.

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