October 2009 – Leading Answers

October 26, 2009Agile Project Management, Events, Leadership, Teams

Hiring for an Agile Team

What characteristics do you look for when hiring for an agile team? Our next Calgary APLN meeting is a panel discussion on the topic and looks set be a great one. Some broad characteristics identified in the planning emails for the panel include: Characteristics of a high performing team: Collaborative / effective communicator Willing to cross boundaries Work side by side / discuss work out problems real time A lot of face to face communication required Humility – accept feedback Able to compromise / support team decisions Able to reflect back on events and provide insights (critical for retrospectives) Always looking to improve Think about things rather than blinding moving forward….. Pragmatic – Knows what “just” enough is, Do […]

October 22, 2009Agile Project Management, Books, Leadership, Teams

Zombieland Project Management

Zombies and Project Managers; to many people the images are synonymous, fools blindly shuffling from one goal to the next. Not too smart, but a major annoyance if you are trying to get somewhere, or get something done. Yet, as a project manager I have a weakness for zombie films, they appeal to my inner urge to cut down those who impede progress or just don’t get it. I know you can not really do that, and these feelings are more likely a reflection on my inability to communicate effectively, but none the less, a socially acceptable demographic for outpourings of frustration seems to have wide appeal, and box office success. So, other than some people thinking project managers are […]

October 20, 2009Agile Project Management, Books, Games, Leadership

Scrum, Bikram Yoga and The Attention Economy

What do Scrum and Bikram Yoga have in common? They both cater for the attention economy. Humans derive a lot of their sense of security and confidence, what psychologist Albert Bandura calls “self-efficacy,” from predictable routines. Without these predictable routines we can feel uncomfortable and uncertain. I was talking to a colleague, Mike McCullough, last week who was creating agile training materials and quick-start templates to help organizations adopt agile. I was teasing him on the irony of creating prescriptive templates to guide people through an adaptive process that should probably be tailored for each project. He agreed, but pointed out that definitive models (even if not optimal) are much easier to sell than open-end frameworks requiring adjustment and set-up. […]

October 18, 2009October 3, 2026Uncategorized

PMBOK v4 Process Mappings (large format)

October 14, 2009October 3, 2026Agile Project Management, Books, Events, Leadership, Metrics, Planning, Teams, Travel

Agile Business Conference 2009

I attended the Agile Business Conference in London this week and presented on Tracking Project Performance. I missed this conference last year and so it was especially good to catch up with people again and hear what they have been doing. Also, after working in London for six years, but then living in Canada for the last nine years, it is always interesting to see how things have changed since my last visit. This year it was video screens replacing all the paper billboards going up and down the escalators on the Underground that caught my eye. The conference was very good, and had the general theme of “Agile Grown Up”, focussing on the organizational impacts of using agile. This […]

October 7, 2009October 3, 2026Agile Project Management, Estimating, Events, Games, Leadership, Metrics, Planning, Risk Management, Teams, Travel

PMBOK v4 and Agile mappings

For the attendees of my recent Las Vegas course, below is a link to the PMBOK v4 to Agile mappings we discussed. My previous course material mappings were based on PMBOK v3, and before that the 2000 edition, which are out of date now. Quite a lot changed from the PMBOK v3 to v4; all the processes were renamed into the new verb-noun format. Six of the old processes were merged into four new ones, two processes were deleted, and two new ones added. So it seemed like time to redo the mappings and post them online this time. Cautions Process guidelines and templates are not an acceptable replacement for common sense, thought, dialog, or collaboration. A fool […]

October 7, 2009October 3, 2026Uncategorized

PMBOK v4 Process Mappings

October 7, 2009October 3, 2026Uncategorized

12.4 Close Procurements

Back to Process Group Mappings 12.4 Close Procurements The process of completing each project procurement. Simple Version: Agreeing closure, tying up loose ends, getting closure signoff and documentation. PMI Agile PMBOK, Agile Difference, Comment Inputs Project management plan Procurement documentation Tools and Techniques Procurement audits Negotiated settlements Records management system Outputs Closed procurements Organizational process assets updates Inputs Project management plan Procurement documentation Tools and Techniques Procurement audits Negotiated settlements Records management system Outputs Closed procurements Organizational process assets updates The Close Procurements process involves verification that all the work and deliverables were acceptable. If framed as fit-for-business-purpose, to client or user satisfaction, this can be straight forward. If however, […]

October 7, 2009October 3, 2026Uncategorized

12.3 Administer Procurements

Back to Process Group Mappings 12.3 Administer Procurements The process of managing procurement relationships, monitoring contract performance, and making changes and corrections as needed. Simple Version: Ongoing account management, any commercial relationship that goes on for a while will likely need management. PMI Agile PMBOK, Agile Difference, Comment Inputs Procurement documents Project management plan Source selection criteria Contract Performance reports Approved change requests Work performance information Tools and Techniques Contract change control system Procurement performance reviews Inspections and audits Performance reporting Payment systems Claims administration Records management system Outputs Procurement documentation Organizational process assets updates Change requests Project management plan updates Inputs Procurement documents Project management plan Source selection criteria Contract Performance reports Approved […]

October 7, 2009October 3, 2026Uncategorized

12.2 Conduct Procurements

Back to Process Group Mappings 12.2 Conduct Procurements The process of obtaining seller responses, selecting a seller, and awarding a contract. Simple Version: Receiving proposals, quotes, etc, selecting the preferred choice and awarding contract. PMI Agile PMBOK, Agile Difference, Comment Inputs Project management plan Procurement documents Source selection criteria Qualified seller list Seller proposals Project documents Make-or-buy decisions Teaming agreements Organizational process assets Tools and Techniques Bidder conferences Proposal evaluation techniques Independent estimates Expert judgement Advertising Internet search Procurement negotiations Outputs Selected sellers Procurement contract award Resource calendars Change requests Project management plan updates Project document updates Inputs Project management plan Procurement documents Source selection criteria Qualified seller list Seller proposals Project documents Make-or-buy […]