Entries by Bonnie Biafore

Top Diagnostics for Team Peer Reviews

A team peer review helps ensure project integrity and provides learning moments for project managers and reviewers. After confirming the existence of critical control documents like a schedule, risk management plan, and resource plan, the reviewers can search for these points. If they are missing, project management improvements might be needed. All risks describe the […]

What About Timeboxing a Waterfall Project?

Timeboxing is a powerful feature of agile. Rather than make scope static, you fix time and resources and modify scope to get the maximum value in the minimum amount of time and cost. Instead of estimating task duration, you use fixed time periods and adjust the scope accordingly. Here are the principles you can follow […]

When To Deviate from Project Methodology

Following a project methodology ensures that your project team, customers, and sponsor know what to expect and makes the project team’s efforts predictable. However, there are times when diverging from your methodology may be the best thing to do to ensure project success. Unexpected challenges occur. When market conditions or technological disruptions change suddenly, the […]

Key Qualitative Values in Project Management

The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines value as “the worth, importance, or usefulness of something.” To stakeholders, usefulness is more than quantitative measures of how deliverables satisfy a business case. Qualitative value comes in many forms. Here are several key qualitative values to consider for your projects.  Deliverables must work with existing processes. Project deliverables […]

Skills and Knowledge that Agile Team Members Need

Agile projects rely on different skills than those of traditional waterfall projects. The required skills vary based on team members’ roles. Here are vital skills and knowledge the people on your agile team need.  Communication, especially listening skills. Agile involves the constant exchange and implementation of ideas. As a result, agile team members need refined […]

Dealing with a Micro-Managing Customer

I was recently asked how to deal with a micro-managing customer, especially when the sponsor isn’t standing up to them. Here are a few tips for handling this challenge whether you’re a project manager or team member. Trigger a debate. A stakeholder might micro-manage the project team when they feel that’s the only way to […]

The Project Goal is NOT to Complete Tasks!

It’s important to remember that completing the project Gantt chart tasks or agile backlog items is not the ultimate project goal. Here are the true objectives project managers and their teams must achieve for successful projects. Build capable stakeholders. All products or services a project provides should be easy to use, fit for purpose, and […]

Coming Back Strong from Project Failure

Failed projects damage financial status, discourage creativity and growth, bruise egos, and set back careers. Good news: with time, failure can lead to positive outcomes. Here are some benefits that come from project failure. Learning opportunities. Say an organization spends time and money upgrading an information system, only to have it shut down before producing […]

Exercising Authority Appropriately

The best project managers are stewards of the businesses they support. Part of caring stewardship is appropriately applying the project management authority conveyed by the project charter. Here are tips for ensuring you properly exercise your project management authority.    Use positive influence. Exercising authority can take many forms: forming partnerships or collaborating to accomplish tasks, […]