The Critical Path website is in the process of being moved today. If you get a timeout, it is hopefully just the IP address changing. This will be a true test to see if the backup and recovery procedures work. See you all on the other side.
Did you learn your lesson?
I'm going to be facilitating a second lessons learned session later today. As part of the project closing processes, all project managers should collect and document lessons learned. But, as many will attest, you need to be able to implement approved process improvement activities or you will just continue to revisit history at the end of each cycle or project.
Do you learn from your mistakes? You should be able to at least be aware of them if you document them at the end of each cycle or project. Revisit them at the beginning of the next project or cycle.
Corrective Action: Document your direction for executing future project work. Bring expected performance of the project work in line with the project management plan.
Preventive Action: Document your direction to reduce the probability of negative outcomes associated with project risks.
Defect Repair: Document a defect in a project component with the recommendation to either repair it or completely replace the component.
Twitter and a Challenge to Communicate
Twitter allows us to share the time and prevents us from trying to explain how to build the clock.
This morning, Dave Garrett, CEO of Gantthead.com and I were attempting to communicate via Twitter on the topic of PMI and Agile Scrum.
We were both finding it difficult to compress everything we wanted to say into 140 character posts. I highly doubt Twitter is going to replace the telephone or email as a central method of communications. It is, however, a great tool to capture the timeline and get your thoughts out quickly to like-minded people. Regardless of the constraints, it's always good to read Dave's viewpoint or see what he'll post next. If you want to find an excellent Project Management resource, I recommend you check out and join Gantthead.com. If you want to see the world from Dave's perspective, minute by minute, I recommend you follow him on Twitter.
140 characters aside, we were able to get our points across to one another.
(Image courtesy of Twitter)
Creating an iPhone Application and Project Management
Before you begin designing and creating the next greatest iPhone application, it’s critical to define exactly what you plan your application to do, so says the iPhone Human Interface Guidelines. A great way to do this is to write a product definition statement. It is a succinct affirmation of your application’s core purpose and its intended audience. I believe Apple understands, in order to be successful, you have to have a plan. Developers of iPhone applications are not necessarily project managers. Perhaps Apple is giving them better odds of success, by encouraging them to write a project definition statement. I once worked with a very knowledgeable developer, Kent Lynch, who spoke out during a managers meeting saying, "People don't plan to fail; they just fail to plan". He could not have been more right. A project mission statement is no different. No project should be attempted without first capturing a mission statement. Traditionally, mission statements contain:
- Project Name
- Description
- Purpose
- Primary stakeholders
- Responsibilities towards these stakeholders
- Products and services offered
If you can articulate a mission statement that satisfies these few bullets, you're on you way to understanding what you need to do to have a successful project.
(Image by jaapoost on flickr)
Responsibility Assignment Matrix
As a graphical depiction of a more detailed perspective of responsibilities, the responsibility assignment matrix should reflect assigned responsibility by functional role for key project deliverables. An example of roles detailed below could include (1) Project Manager, (2) Project Sponsor, (3) Implementation Manager, (N) Team Lead
| Project Deliverables | Role 1 | Role 2 | Role 3 | Role N |
| WBS 1.15.10.1300 - Project Charter | E | A | C | I |
| WBS 1.15.10.1301 - Project Schedule | E | A,C | A | I |
| WBS 1.15.10.1302 - Project Budget | E | A,C | E | I |
| WBS 1.15.10.1303 - Status Reports | C | C | A | E |
| Legend E = responsible for execution (may be shared) A = final approval for authority C = must be consulted I = must be informed | ||||
I use this matrix in a few of my project artifacts, to include the Lessons Learned. You can download a free copy here
Contribute for the better good
I just posted an update to the Agile Scrum definition on Wikipedia. It has been a while since I've made updates to this definition and others on the free online encyclopedia. It's actually quite cathartic to contribute to something like Wikipedia, for no other reason then to help others. I've been asked a lot of questions recently about Agile Scrum and its applicability to my current project. Though I'm happy that people value my opinion, I figured it was time I revisited Wikipedia and make sure the items I've edited in the past still pass muster. Sure enough, without telling anyone that I am one of the contributors, I've received two emails linking to the Wikipedia definitions with notes like "You should check this out". I hope by continuing to make contributions and updates to publicly available PM related topics, people will be exposed to my work if they know it or not. Have a great day and feel free to leave a comment!
Regards, Derek
(Image by drewpreston on flickr)
Innovate and Monetize
I thankfully found a developer to create three of my Apple iPhone/iPod Touch applications. Is one going to be the greatest thing since sliced bread? I don't know. When an idea comes to me, I quickly write it down. I think my wife gets tired of hearing of my daily revelations and seeing post-it notes litter my desk. Still, there is always potential to monetize an idea. That can't hurt. It's time I practice what I preach. I'm the SME, sponsor, AND the project manager for this. Do we have schedule, scope, and budget? Yes. Do we have requirements, assumptions, and constraints? Yes. No gold plating these applications. Let's get them to market and fulfill a need. How much would you pay for a Derek Huether idea?
Publishing a book with a PMI blessing
Yesterday, I contacted PMI to get a green light for a book I've been writing. Because it's referencing the PMP, I'm taking several steps to ensure I follow the rules. My first step was to agree to abide by the PMI Intellectual Property Proper Use Guidelines. My second (indirect) step was to request permission to link to their site. You'd think they would want every PMP linking to their site. Still, a link does not constitute an endorsement from them. If anyone out there has already published materials with a PMI blessing, I would love to hear from you.