Author's posts
Oct 13
PPM and Agile dont mix.. Right?
Let me give a blatant but well deserved plug to the PM Podcast – An excellent podcast on all aspects of project management. Catch it at http://www.thepmpodcast.com . The recent one that has caught my ear in particular was PPM and Agile dont mix.. Right? with a really good discussion of how you can combine …
Sep 25
What have we got to loose?
Let’s develop some consequences of the cone of uncertainty – in particular the high risk and uncertainty at the start of the project. All is not lost down the cone of uncertainty. Although the inaccuracy is high at the start, the stakes aren’t high because you have no investment in the project. We’re talking here …
Aug 07
Passing the point of no return
Pilots will know that when you are taking off there is a speed called V1. The plane has reached such a speed that there is not enough runway ahead of you to stop. So you are committed to take-off. Unfortunately V1 is usually less than V2 – the speed at which the plane can safely …
Jul 27
Labour Saving Devices
Very occasionally an IT project will be producing something totally new and innovative which hasn’t existed before. But the vast majority of IT change is all about improving business efficiency. The business case for the projects will have the costs of the projects which are offset by the benefits of reducing costs – most of …
Apr 07
Increase Sales! and other lies to justify IT
“The website for the ten million pound sales campaign with this partner will take just two days effort to develop!” appealed the sales leader to the Star Chamber for technology project justification. “This is not going to increase our revenue by one pound” said the CEO. “Our web developers’ time is better spent on other …
Mar 17
See if you go for the lease option..
“It’s inexplicable, but the low-cost system I sold you seems woefully underpowered. You could replace it with another vendor’s system, thus showing everybody you made a mistake. Or you can pay my outrageous upgrade fees.” says Catbert to Pointy Haired Boss. Pointy Haired Boss replies: “How big a fool do you think I am?”Catbert: “I …
Feb 17
“No Brainers” don’t mean no brains needed.
A not unusual scenario, that has been repeated countless times:The EVP Technology of the parent company had a successful first week visiting their new subsidiary declaring: “I have never seen a company with such a good fit to our system.” As he headed back to the airport with the integration team, the newly acquired company …
Oct 14
Tree Swing Requirements
This was shown in a lecture during by engineering degree so it must be out of copyright by now! Still as true as the day it was first shown :-