Tag Archives: Project Management

CV Tips, IT Project Management, Project Management, Project management CV, Project Management Lessons Learned

Rainy days in projects – Project Manager CV Tips

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Inspired by the never ending rain at the moment I have decided to share a really interesting piece of work a client has worked on and it ties nicely into PM CV tips, as it is a great example to talk about on the CV. I have spoken about how important it is to include project war stories in the CV as it adds another dimension to the document and really helps to demonstrate your management style. War stories are the bits about the projects which are often left out of the CV but they are important in demonstrating how you overcome major issues when delivering projects.

The story….

Sarah* is an Interim Project Manager who was tasked with implementing a data centre and quick reference application on all products for a large organisation. On arrival to the new assignment she found that the stakeholders were less than receptive to the change and being particularly difficult when it came to sharing information which they “held close to their hearts”.  It was these stakeholders who were the key to all the product information and as they had always held their own information in pocket books, they felt the information belonged to them and not the business. Sarah worked very closely with the stakeholders to gain buy-in through a number of means, such as one to one meetings and group workshops. She had to sell the change in a way which didn’t threaten the team but demonstrated just how useful it would be moving forward. Forming individual relationships and finding out personal “likes” etc Sarah managed to crack the core issue and was able to deliver a robust application which all the stakeholders finally agreed would be an asset and essential tool to cataloguing products.

You like coffee, yes

Now it would be easy to state in the CV that Sarah delivered on time and to budget blah blah blah, but knowing the issues she came up against and how she overcame them says a great deal to the reviewer of the CV. Therefore some subtle changes to the remit talking through difficult stakeholders and gaining buy-in, coupled with a strong, concise key achievement highlighted at the top of the CV, really brings so much more to the document.

As a former project manager, I know only too well that delivering projects isn’t always straight forward and it is the people skills and management style which can make the difference between a successful project and another statistic for a failure. When you are putting together your CV, always pause to think about the extra mile you go to achieve success.

 

*name changed for the purpose of the blog
guest blogger, Project Management Software, Risk Management, Technology

The Top Five Benefits Of Risk Management Software

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Managing risk is a vital part of any business operation today, just as it has always been, since merchants opened their first businesses untold years ago. Nowadays, though, business owners and managers have many more powerful tools at their fingertips to help manage risks, whether they are a small business or a multinational corporation. There are many benefits that these modern tools provide, some of which will be explained in the list below. First, it’s important to discuss what risk management is, and what tools we use to accomplish this today.

What is Risk Management?

There are many ways of going about risk management, but in general, we can define it as a process that ensures the achievement of objectives, reduces the likelihood of any negative consequences of the actions taken to achieve those objectives, decreases the risks involved with the processes of achieving those objectives and increases the likelihood of a beneficial end result. Basically, the risk management process makes good things happen while preventing bad things from happening. This could mean many different things to different businesses, though. Something that one business views as a negative result could in fact be a positive result for another business in a different industry. The specific objectives of a risk management system may change, but the general idea remains the same – managing risks to help assure the least negative impact of any action taken by the business.

How Do Businesses Manage Risk Today?

Most businesses turn to software in this day and age, which has made it much easier to manage risks for businesses of all sizes and in all industries. A software program can be used to manage risks, report risks and decrease risks – all with minimal effort once the system is securely in place. This can mean a safer environment for employees when the system is used to manage workplace accidents, injuries, spills and other internal hazards. For a company that works with harmful substances, it can mean a safer environment for people in the community with reduced likelihood for harmful emissions, meltdowns, leakages and other dangers. It can also mean a reduced possibility of inefficiency. A good software system can help boost profits, employee morale and customer satisfaction, all while reducing expenses, excess waste and dangers of all sorts.

What are the Top Benefits of Risk Management?

If implemented and maintained effectively, a risk management software program can provide countless benefits, some of which should already be clear. These are arguably the top five benefits of this type of program:

  1. Reduces the likelihood of unexpected, negative surprises
  2. Allows companies to take advantage of new opportunities more quickly
  3. Helps ensure effective business planning and strategy
  4. Supports ongoing improvements to the company
  5. Makes better use of the company’s resources

Many people find that after they learn a bit more about risk management and the tools that are available to modern businesses, they feel it is a good time to think about implementing such software systems within their companies.

Craig is a risk analyst for a large corporation. He uses this type of invaluable software in his everyday work, and hopes his recommendations help other professionals mitigate risk in their corporate operations.

A bit of fun, CV Tips, Halloween, No, Project management CV

Skeletons in the Closet – PM CV Tips

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As it is All Hallows Eve, far be it for me to pass up on a ghoulishly themed article, last year we looked at all things scary when it comes to job applications.  Something  I came across recently was a CV which seemed to say all the right things in regards to areas covered within the roles, but on asking questions about different aspects such as change management (which had been listed) it became clear that not all was as it seems. As a former PM recruiter I know only too well that candidates will be vetted on the detail supplied in their CV – usually at the point of contact with a recruiter but sometimes not until interview. Regardless of when this happens, rest assured it halloweenwill happen and if you have not got examples to back up your statements then you will be rejected for the role. Therefore it is important to keep it real, when I asked why the candidate had stated areas which they hadn’t actually touched on the response was “I thought it was what the employers want to see on the CV”. I pointed out that it would soon become clear there was no evidence to substantiate the claims and pointed out that they actually have some great experience despite the lack of exposure to particular elements. Why paint an untrue picture when you can create a masterpiece which is true and will gain interviews for the right roles? Scary to think some still believe it is OK to include untruths and not be found out. As tempting as it may be to try and boost your CV, don’t! Leave the dramatics and masks for Halloween parties and going out playing Trick or Treat with the kids.

Here’s a short guide to getting it right:

  • Nightmare on Elm Street or more Elmo on Sesame Street – don’t embellish situations / assignments to make them sound more interesting.
  • Pumpkin Carving or more pumpkin soup – think about how you make your mark within an organisation, are you carving the way or just mixing in with the soup.
  • Skeletons in the closet – lying is lying, you will not only jeopardise your job application by making false statements.
  • Witches and Warlocks – does what you clam sound like magic, or a little too good to be true? This will get questioned; it is about striking a balance between selling yourself and being realistic.
  • Devils and Ghouls – don’t become one of these! You will soon get a reputation with recruiters who will not touch you in the future and certainly won’t thank you if you have ruined a relationship with their client.

Skeleton

Have a fantastic All Hallows Eve and get the need to dress up out of your system – you might get some sweets and will certainly gain a more positive response than doing it in your CV.

Project Management, Project Management Software, Technology

10 Sharepoint Tips to Help Make Your Project Successful

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SharePoint is an excellent tool for site creation, enterprise collaboration, project management, and portal publishing. It is probably one of the best framework for group activity applications out there. Microsoft has put a lot of thought and effort into making sure that businesses have all the tools they need to put projects together without restricting them to a narrow tool specific focus, allowing for infinite possibilities.
This is great for allowing teams to tailor project scope and design to their own specific needs, but it also creates a need for tighter control on the developer and user ends so that projects do not take on a life of its own due to the framework’s open ended nature. Using these ten tips for making your SharePoint project a success may save you time, money, and hassle in the long run.
sharepoint infographic

 

 

 

1. Engage Stubborn Customers
Understanding difficult clients and meeting their needs puts customer service above and beyond the norm. This will usually be noticed, and rewarded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Assign A Project Owner
Give the power to control the projects overall trajectory over to someone who is capable and authorized to make decisions at all levels of your project organization.
3. Provide Proactive Training
Let’s be honest, hardly anyone reads the manual anyway. Getting in there and letting people know how to use offered products and services is a must. The alternative is that they won’t.

 

 

4. Don’t Let IT Run SharePoint
If the SharePoint collaboration system is not being designed for developers, why turn over the creation of your project to the IT department?

 

 

5. I dub Thee … Sir SharePoint … Er Uh I Mean Framework Project
Give the project a name that befits it. Don’t use the word SharePoint.

 

 

6. No end in sight
Make sure that the project is future proof by allowing for an open ended time line. You should always be improving and building upon your success, or the project will soon slip behind or even become obsolete.

 

 

 

7. Go With The Flow
SharePoint projects are made for real users. Save all information they provide and measure everything. Making sure you have this ability from the beginning will allow teams to take the project in the ever changing direction it needs to.

 

 

8. Manage Expectations
Letting management get the idea that it will cost nothing and be ready tomorrow is not realistic and won’t work. They probably want this, but it is very important that projects gauge delivery and cost information so that realistic expectations are the norm, not the exception.

 

 

 

9. Project Steering Group
Project managers are a must to guide broad project progress, but they are not the end all in direction planning. Getting other users who are integral to project success can provide insights on several levels and lend ideas that one person can not.

 

 

 

10. Don’t overdose on rules
Simplicity is the glue that makes project collaboration hold together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rules are important, but an overabundance of restrictions kill creativity and progress.

Making sure that your SharePoint project brings the right information and participants together in a comfortable and productive environment can be a tough task. Hopefully these 10 tips from Evokeit.com may help make the process a lot easier.

Via – EvokeIT