Agile transformations tend to focus on teaching team members new approaches and behaviors, neglecting to address how managers must also change. But even with self-organizing teams, managers have a crucial role to play and need some guidance to do it right, says Ron Lichty, technology leader and author of Managing the Unmanageable. [23:47]
Creating a few questions to ask yourself (or a trusted peer) at the end of each day is a great way to stay on track with your goals, and to align them with your values. This habit can also help you escape ‘fire-fighting mode’ and gain fresh perspectives on handling persistent challenges.
Reflecting an enterprise-wide view, a common language model and expanded perspectives that include Agile, the third version of the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK Guide) has been released by the International Institute of Business Analysis for review by practitioners worldwide.
Timothy Gallwey's seminal 1974 work "The Inner Game of Tennis" showed that quieting mental interference can unlock higher performance — more so than sheer effort. Russell Healy, creator of a popular Kanban game and now a new work management tool, says Kanban can help knowledge workers minimize distraction and focus attention. [10:30]
David Anderson discusses this week’s Modern Management Methods conference in San Francisco, which focused on helping executives and managers make better decisions in the face of 21st Century complexity and uncertainty, including tracks and interactive workshops on Lean, Kanban, risk and more. [16:30]
Focused on adopting Agile at the enterprise level, the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) has generated a lot of buzz. Here, consultant-trainer Peter Saddington discusses why he pursued the certification, what he learned along the way, and how it (like any methodology) must keep evolving to make a real difference. [19:00]
Project Management Institute has expanded its attention to requirements management with the launch of a new business analysis credential and an online knowledge hub for practitioners and organizations. A new practice guide and practice standard are in the works.
If you have failed the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, approach the setback as you would any other failed project: analyze what is going wrong, make changes to your plan and bring it to a successful close. Start by understanding six reasons why you may have failed the exam, and what to do about them.
by Andrea Brockmeier Elizabeth Larson Rich Larson Vicki James
Project managers and business analysts share many challenges and concerns, particularly in the areas of requirements, communication, stakeholders and professional development. Here are seven emerging trends, ranging from smaller projects to fewer emails, that BAs and PMs should be tracking and leveraging in 2014.
Two things can and will screw up the practice of Kanban in the workplace — and they’re the same things that have screwed up so many Agile adoptions, Jim Benson warns. But the antidote is fairly straightforward, if not simple: always pay attention to the work. (Plus: Kids and Kanban.) [15:30]
