Leadership Inspirations – Intentions versus Results

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“One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results”

Milton Friedman

Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the National Medal of Science

StrategyDriven Project Management Forum

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“A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result.”

Project Management Body of Knowledge
Third Edition
Project Management Institute

To many, project management represents their worst nightmare. The mere mention of the term conjures images of bloated bureaucracies, large consultant-laden teams, and endless meetings where decisions are seldom made and status is often reported as being behind. Executed properly, project management can be an effective tool for aligning the organization to the successful implementation of simple and complex initiatives.

An art and a science, project management is most effective when implemented with a rigor correlated to the scope and complexity of the work to be performed. Regardless of intensity, the management of projects consists of five phases:

  • Initiate – initial, high-level project definition and authorization
  • Plan – project scope refinement and approval; task identification and sequencing; resource to task allocation; schedule development; project cost estimation and budget development; project plan creation and baselining
  • Execute – project plan execution
  • Evaluate and Control – project plan execution performance monitoring and reporting; project scope and plan change control; project risk management
  • Close – final project activity documentation; financial closeout; overall project performance assessment and lessons learned development; product evaluation; project administrative closure

Focus of the Project Management Forum

Materials in the Project Management Forum are dedicated to discussing the leading practices of companies effectively managing projects for the efficient achievement of mission goals. Additionally, all project management information presented will be aligned with, compliment, and expound on the project management processes described by the Project Management Institute’s A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. The following articles, podcasts, documents, and resources cover those topics critical to the effective management of consequential projects.

Articles

Principles

Best Practices

Warning Flags

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor Articles

StrategyDriven Podcasts

StrategyDriven Podcast – Special Edition

Documents

Whitepapers

Resources

Books

To supplement the project management information found on the StrategyDriven website, our contributors recommend the Project Management Institute’s A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Third Edition (PMBOK Guides). This book is a complete process reference covering all aspects of project management including:

  • Project Integration Management
  • Project Scope Management
  • Project Time Management
  • Project Cost Management
  • Project Quality Management
  • Project Human Resource Management
  • Project Communications Management
  • Project Risk Management
  • Project Procurement management

You’re Invited! …to Join the StrategyDriven LinkedIn Networking Group

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On behalf of the StrategyDriven contributors and staff, I would like to invite you to join the StrategyDriven LinkedIn Networking Group!

In addition to the many benefits of LinkedIn membership (see the Tools for Professionals post, LinkedIn), members of the StrategyDriven LinkedIn Networking Group will have the opportunity to more easily communicate with other like-minded professionals seeking to create greater alignment and accountability within their organizations.

To join the StrategyDriven LinkedIn Networking Group, click here. LinkedIn members will be asked to “Sign-in and join this group” and non-members to “Join LinkedIn now.” Once you have accepted the invitation to join our networking group, a member of the StrategyDriven staff will approve your group membership and you will be LinkedIn!

As always, we hope you continue to enjoy the many quality principle, best practice, and warning flag posts found on the StrategyDriven website and that you’ll find membership in the StrategyDriven LinkedIn Networking Group to be of additional benefit to you and your organization.

I’ll look forward seeing you on LinkedIn!

All the Best,

Karen Juliano
Editor-in-Chief
Director, Communications and Marketing
StrategyDriven

StrategyDriven Resource Projection Best Practice Article

Resource Projection Best Practice 6 – The 45 Week Year

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There are 52 weeks in a year. So a full-time employee works 52 weeks in a year, right? Wrong!

Hi there! Gain access to this article with a FREE StrategyDriven Insights Library – Sample Subscription. It’s FREE Forever with No Credit Card Required.

Sign-up now for your FREE StrategyDriven Insights Library – Sample Subscription

In addition to receiving access to Resource Projection Best Practice 6 – The 45 Week Year, you’ll help advance your career and business programs through anytime, anywhere access to:

  • A sampling of dozens of Premium how-to documents across 7 business functions and 28 associated programs
  • 2,500+ Expert Contributor management and leadership articles
  • Expert advice provided via StrategyDriven’s Advisors Corner

Best of all, it’s FREE Forever with No Credit Card Required.

Access the Article Now!

LinkedIn

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“LinedIn’s simple philosophy: Relationships Matter”

LinkedIn
www.LinkedIn.com

About the Resource

LinkedIn is a free online networking service connecting 24 million experienced professionals worldwide. Members create biographies viewable by the internet community that include as many of the following attributes as desired:

  • background summary and photo
  • current and past employment experience including company, position, and job description
  • education including school, degree conferred, years attended, special activities, and recognition
  • membership in professional groups and associations
  • honors and awards received
  • industry affiliation
  • personal, professional, or business website links

LinkedIn allows members to build their networks by connecting with other members they know through current or past business, school, or personal relationships. Members can further expand their networks by joining one or more corporate, alumni, and/or professional LinkedIn groups and by getting introduced to other members through people they know. LinkedIn also offers paid subscriptions that give premium members tools for finding and reaching people outside of their network.

Benefits of Using this Resource

Networks are an increasingly important part of every professional’s career. LinkedIn helps members build and maintain their network as well as affording them the opportunity to:

  • find potential clients, service providers, subject matter experts, and partners
  • post and distribute job listings
  • find high-quality passive candidates
  • be found for business opportunities
  • search for employment opportunities
  • leverage inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals

The quality of these opportunities is further validated by the recommendations members provide for others with whom they have a relationship.

Final Thought…

Relationships, not business card networks, are a cornerstone of every successful professional career. LinkedIn is a premier tool for helping experienced professionals stay connected with those in their network, however, it cannot create or maintain relationships. Professionals must personally develop and nurture the relationships within their network. It is through active relationships and quality interactions with others that the full measure of LinkedIn’s benefits can be realized.