Your Guide to Project Management Best Practices

Author: Jack Grabovski

PM Framework

Lean Thinking Project Management in Six Sigma & Agile Models

The philosophy of Lean project management teaches us to operate more efficiently by eliminating any defects and waste in products, services, inventory, processing, transportation etc. This philosophy becomes central for Agile software development and Six Sigma process improvement. The principles of Lean thinking and Kaizen management are indispensable for successful Six Sigma implementation. When combined with the DMAIC cycle, Lean-Kaizen contributes to easier identification and quicker resolution of project quality issues. In order to succeed at the largest scale, software development teams combine Agile incremental delivery with Lean-thinking project management.

Top 5 Considerations for Project HR Management

PM Tips & Ideas

Top 5 Considerations for Effective Project HR Management

If you ask successful project managers which task among their duties is most challenging, most likely they will tell you about managing human resources as this task takes much of their time and effort. Trying to allocate right employees with right skills can be extremely challenging, especially if you deal with large project teams. Here are 5 key considerations to help you achieve effective project HR management and maximize success.

Agile Process: Iterative Product Development Aligned with Client Needs

IT & Software

Agile Process: Iterative Product Development Aligned with Client Needs

While Scrum, XP, DSDM, Lean Software Development and other Agile methodologies have caught on in the software development industry, many organizations see achieving agility in project management as problematic, to a certain extent. For those organizations, the traditional project management approach appears to be most effective in managing long-range business plans and creating enterprise-level forecasts. However, at the team level the traditional approach fails as it doesn’t allow the development team to react to rapidly changing circumstances in the project environment and to align with client requirements. In contrast, Agile-driven projects are enabled to effective and efficiently manage changes through iterative product development.

PM Framework

Key Benefits and Common Mistakes of Project Scheduling

Right project scheduling makes it possible to determine when a planned activity is best to start and finish in terms of the resources and objectives this activity relates to. An accurate and complete schedule template captures durations, dependencies (predecessor tasks and their relationships), resource availability, and target completion date of the project, so it becomes easier for the team and other stakeholders to get a clear idea of what work items are to be done, in what sequence and when. The benefits of good scheduling can be also derived by the project manager who is enabled to review work progress, comply the activities with business policies, and reach efficiency in program management. Meanwhile, there are several common mistakes in scheduling that often cause project failure. Let’s find out more about the key benefits and mistakes.

Tips Managing Programs Successfully

PM Tips & Ideas

Tips on Managing Programs Successfully

Success in managing a program greatly depends on how well each related project is performed and whether all possible conflicts with other related projects are resolved early. In my experience in managing programs successfully I see that today’s normal business environment requires team leaders to carry out multiple projects in parallel, while those individuals should also take care of superior customer service and acceptable team performance. And a company that succeeds in managing parallel projects will outpace the competition. Thus, successful program management is a competitive edge and essential for business growth. Here I suggest you 5 tips on how to manage a program successfully.