Companies that perform project after project usually pick a project management methodology, such as PRINCE2 or Agile, and stick with it. That way, all their projects follow approximately the same project management processes. Teams learn what works and what doesn’t, and everyone learns what to do and expect. The approach you choose depends a lot…

In this article I would like to explore a key issue that many Project managers struggle with. It’s an exploration into the term “Micromanagement”. There is a lot you can find on the subject, and I will end the article with some references to earlier articles on MPUG and other sources for you to enjoy….

Every time a new version of Microsoft Project was launched, there were a mix of excitement and enthusiasm to discover, explore and understand the new features that were made available with the new software. Personally speaking, I remember the level of satisfaction I had when Microsoft Project 2013 was first released, because it finally had…

The portfolio and project management area, for the last years, has improved considerably in many aspects: frameworks, processes, methodologies and even the tools, like Microsoft Project and Project Online, which is now supporting agile in the standard product. But even with all these improvements, we are still doing everything in the same way. We are…

Are you interested in or starting your career in project management? Are you looking for a way to gain credibility with project managers and employers? Then taking the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® exam should be on your “to-do” list. The CAPM exam is developed and administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI)® to…

Ever had a manager who is a technical guru but has poor leadership skills? I think we’ve all been there at least once. Technical gurus are rock-solid at what they do. With a unique skillset and “get it done” mentality, they’re the people you love to have on your team. And, it’s probably critical that…

In this MPUG article we’re going to step away from Gantt charts and baselines for a change and talk a bit about documentation. I can think of no project methodology that does away with documentation. By “documentation” I mean documents, Excel sheets, AutoCAD drawings — you name it. But the deal is, where should you…

A work breakdown structure or WBS is a common term in project management. The concept is used each time a new project is designed — and is created before entering any data into a Microsoft Project file. Yet even though the WBS is an important construct to project managers, creating and using a WBS in…

It seems like every other day we read something new about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the ultimate demise of post-industrial work as we know it. It used to be that stories about factory workers being replaced by robots dominated the news. Now, in 2017, its driverless vehicles, clerk-less retail outlets and digital…

Communications in business, generally, should be designed for optimal readability by their audience, to cut risk. Miscommunication in business is bad. This means you we need to put some think-time and design-work into your plan-related communications. If you and your organization haven’t circled back around just yet, to make sure you’re doing it right, this…