A book review by R. Max Wideman
Introduction
Every now and then it is nice to come across a book that really is packed full of practical and useful advice that you can use on projects. That distinguishes this book from those of authors who just talk about good or new ideas – but you have to figure out for yourself how to apply them! Indeed, as Rita observes:
"In country after country, standard project management practices focus on risk management. Yet, in reality, most project managers and those that work on projects ignore risks by doing nothing about them . . . . After years of working with thousands of project managers from around the world, this book has been written to fill a substantial gap in international risk management knowledge. It will also attempt to correct common errors flagrantly noted and taken as fact in poorly documented articles and project management literature."i
Rita is perhaps best known for her PMP® Exam Prep materials for the Project Management Institute's ("PMI") PMP certification program. However, according to her biography, she has "over 15 years and $2.5 billion of hands-on project experience on hundreds of IS, IT, new product, high-tech, service, engineering, construction and manufacturing projects." Billion? In 15 years? "Hands-on"? As a consultant? That sounds like a bit of a stretch, but we get the general idea.
[ Read Max Wideman's complete Book Review ]
R. Max Wideman
Fellow, PMI
copyright © 2004 Max Wideman
The Government Computer News (GCN) has daily news on US Federal, State an Local Government affairs. A free daily Newsletter will keep you up to date on current affairs in these three levels of US National governance. If you are involved in government project management the GCN is a useful on line resource with hot links to:
Use the GCN Quickfind Search Engine with string "project management" will provide a list of useful archive and background papers and notices on government project management. For example, a paper,that is a companion read and apt description of the problem areas of the March - April Case Study "The Federal Gun Registry Project is listed. That is, "Tackling the challenges in government project mangement" by Shelly Schwartz. This paper identified seven systemic problem area and recommended five fix-it strategies. They are:
The article goes on to state:
"To combat these challenges, the working group recommends:
The GCN states in a recent weekly Newsletter...
"GCN's Project Management Resource Center was the first complete web resource for government IT project managers. With hundreds of links and articles, it's also the easiest way to stay on top of project management challenges."
[ Read the Government Computer News ]
Pamela Palmer Managing Editor of CrossTalk, The Journal of Defense Software Engineering informs the PM World Today that the April 2004 issue is now available at the Journal's website.
She states: "This month we feature "Acquisition," the quest for the best value in building and buying software. As the defense industry appears more often under the acquisition microscope, it is necessary to possess software development insights, processes, and practices that encompass all the parameters for acquisitions.
Our theme articles start with "Improving the DoD Software Acquisition Process" by Lisa Pracchia. This article outlines the Department of Defense's (DoD) implementation guidance for Section 804 of the Defense Authorization for fiscal year 2003. It discusses some of the issues that led to Section 804 being passed, its intent, and some suggestions for implementing it. Pracchia also outlines the approach taken by the Naval Air Systems Command's software acquisition and process improvement program.
Our next author offers some insight into why programs go right or go wrong." Why We Need Empirical Information on Best Practices" by Dr. Richard Turner warns that we should ask some questions before we leap into best practices. Turner proposes that a methodical approach to gathering and analyzing data about best practices can help build tools to select practices that are appropriate for a particular project.
Next in "A Project Risk Metric," Robert W. Ferguson presents a risk metric that can be applied early and throughout the project to provide management visibility into project uncertainty.
We begin our supporting articles this month with "Agile Software Development
for an Agile Force." Author John S. Willison identifies some components
of an effective approach to implementing agile development. He uses the Army's
Maneuver Control System as an example that is leading the way to a more
agile force.
Software reuse criteria are our next topic in "Applying Decision Analysis to Component Reuse Assessment" by Michael S. Russell. This article proposes a methodology for applying decision analysis to support component reuse assessment.
Next Michael J. Hillelsohn explains how a miscommunication of requirements can exist between acquisition and development organizations. In "Better Communication Through Better Requirements," Hillelsohn discusses several techniques that can be used during project analysis to assure that all stakeholders reach a common level of understanding on the meaning of the requirements.
In "Enterprise DoD Architecture Framework and the Motivational View," D.B. Robi states that we are missing much analysis information for best practices. He describes how a motivational view should be added to the Department of Defense Architecture Framework to capture business, financial, and technical analysis information.
Much of successful software acquisition relies on getting the information needed to make informed decisions and then to oversee a successful project. We strove in our CrossTalk's theme articles this month to provide solid and current information on how to do this. We paid particular attention to Section 804 of the National Defense Authorization Act, as this will increasingly affect your acquisition responsibilities and successes sooner than you might expect."
Pamela Palmer
Managing Editor
E-mail:
karen.rasmussen@hill.af.mil
The STSC Web Site http://www.stsc.hill.af.mil
The April 2004 issue of CrossTalk, The Journal of Defense Software Engineering is available site at: http://www.stsc.hill.af.mil/crosstalk/2004/04/index.html.
PMI Community POST is a electronic newsletter for PMI's global membership.PMI has introduces a new electronic newsletter, According to the PMI press release:
..." the PMI Community POST, is designed to be a valuable informational source and resource for PMI members worldwide. This colorfully designed newsletter, written in a concise, reader-friendly format, will be a timely and consistent information vehicle for global messaging from PMI about programs, products, services, key initiatives at the Institute and a variety of other news items that our members need to know about and from which they benefit. Links will be liberally used to drive readers to sources of more in-depth information."
There will be one issue of the newsletter is the second and fourth Friday of each month.
[ For more on the PMI Community Post ]
Project Portfolio Management
Gerald Kendall
I have been asked by the American Management Association to write a chapter on Project Portfolio Management, containing today's best portfolio management practices and their impact on organizations. To make this chapter worthwhile reading, I need your help in research. Would you please consider what is in it for you and your organization, before you decide? I believe there are four main benefits:
for a copy of the Word document.
The results of this research will be made available to you, which will give you a first hand understanding of where Project Portfolio Management stands, how the work is done and where the biggest challenges and opportunities lie.
I believe that you will also benefit from answering the questions and giving
this important topic your thoughts. In appreciation for your completion of
the survey, I promise to respond to any questions you have on the topic by
email. Your participation will help to make this an important piece of work
in today's project management world.
Gerald I. Kendall
Tel: 850-939-9006 Fax: 850-939-1675
www.tocinternational.com