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Author: Ronald B. Smith, MBA, PMP

Ronald Smith has over four decades of experience as Senior PM/Program Manager. He retired from IBM having written four books and over four dozen articles (for example, PMI’s PM Network magazine and MPUG) on project management, and the systems development life cycle (SDLC). He’s been a member of PMI since 1998 and evaluates articles submitted to PMI’s Knowledge Shelf Library for potential publication. From 2011 - 2017, Ronald had been an Adjunct Professor for a Master of Science in Technology and taught PM courses at the University of Houston’s College of Technology. Teaching from his own book, Project Management Tools and Techniques – A Practical Guide, Ronald offers a perspective on project management that reflects his many years of experience. Lastly in the Houston area, he has started up two Toastmasters clubs and does voluntary work at various food banks.

The INs-N-OUTs of Quality

Learn how IN-N-OUT Orvis, and quality planning, assurance, control, and improvement in IT projects can illuminate the importance of quality assurance in project management.

Ronald B. Smith, MBA, PMP Articles
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Reducing Risks & Boosting Quality with External Evaluations

Learn the importance of external examination by independent testing experts to find defects and ensure quality in software and hardware products.

Ronald B. Smith, MBA, PMP Project Collaboration
Image comparing a maestro to project manager

Comparisons of a Project Manager to a Maestro

Project managers conduct their teams like maestros lead an orchestra: unifying diverse skills, setting the tempo, and delivering harmony to achieve a shared vision. Explore the parallels and improve your project management skills!

Ronald B. Smith, MBA, PMP Project Collaboration
" Project management is the process of planning, organizing, and overseeing the completion of a project. It involves a number of different tasks, including: * **Defining the project scope and objectives.** What do you want to achieve with this project? What are the specific goals and deliverables? * **Creating a project plan.** How are you going to achieve your goals? What resources do you need? What is the timeline? * **Managing the project budget.** How much money do you have to spend on this project? How are you going to allocate the funds? * **Assembling the project team.** Who is going to work on this project? What are their roles and responsibilities? * **Communicating with stakeholders.** Who needs to be kept informed about the project? How are you going to communicate with them? * **Monitoring the project progress.** How is the project going? Are you on track to meet your goals? * **Taking corrective action.** If the project is not going well, what are you going to do to fix it? * **Closing the project.** Once the project is complete, how are you going to wrap it up? What lessons did you learn? Project management is a complex and challenging process, but it is essential for the successful completion of any project. By following a structured approach, you can increase your chances of success."

Understanding and Overcoming Limits of Project Methods

Explore the nuanced landscape of project management methods, uncovering challenges, and discovering strategic solutions to navigate limitations and ensure successful project delivery in the ever-evolving world of organizational priorities and technological advances.

Ronald B. Smith, MBA, PMP Articles
Image illustrates project management is a challenging field, but it can also be a lot of fun. However, there are some aspects of project management that can be downright spooky.

The Spooky Side of Project Management

Explore the eerie parallels between Halloween and Project Management. Learn to adapt, conquer past mistakes, and tackle recurring issues. Embrace the project spirit this October and enjoy a Spook-tacular Halloween!

Ronald B. Smith, MBA, PMP Articles
The visual data shows the increase in the growth of a company over time. The graph shows that the company started with a small amount of growth, but then began to grow rapidly. This rapid growth continued for a number of years, until the company reached its peak. After this, the company's growth slowed down, but it continued to grow at a steady pace.

Consistency Gives Self-Discipline Its Power

Explore the vital role of discipline and consistency in project management, and how these core values drive success.

Ronald B. Smith, MBA, PMP Articles
The USS Enterprise is a fictional spaceship that appears in the Star Trek franchise. It is the flagship of the United Federation of Planets Starfleet. The Enterprise has been featured in several television series, movies, and books. The original USS Enterprise was launched in 2245. It was a Constitution-class starship, and it was commanded by Captain James T. Kirk. The Enterprise was destroyed in 2285, but it was later rebuilt and relaunched. The USS Enterprise-D was launched in 2364. It was a Galaxy-class starship, and it was commanded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The Enterprise-D was destroyed in 2371, but it was later rebuilt and relaunched. The USS Enterprise-E was launched in 2372. It is a Sovereign-class starship, and it is commanded by Captain Jonathan Archer. The Enterprise-E is the current flagship of Starfleet. The USS Enterprise is a symbol of hope and exploration. It is a reminder that there is always more to learn about the universe, and that there is always hope for a better future.

EPM Spelled Out

Understand the basics of Enterprise Project Management and how organizations can determine when to implement EPM for better project success.

Ronald B. Smith, MBA, PMP Articles
The graph shows the Planned Value (PV), Earned Value (EV), and Actual Cost (AC) of a project over time. The PV is the planned cost of the project, the EV is the actual cost of the work that has been completed, and the AC is the actual cost of the work that has been completed. The PV is always increasing because the project is always getting closer to completion. The EV is also increasing, but at a slower rate than the PV because the project is not always completed on time. The AC is increasing at a steady rate because the project is always costing money.

A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Earned Value Management

Learn the fundamentals of Earned Value Management (EVM) and discover how it provides a powerful tool for project managers to measure progress and make informed adjustments.

Ronald B. Smith, MBA, PMP Articles
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