Complexity versus Scarcity

According to Peter Drucker, “Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed.” He didn’t say that time is easier to manage than budget or scope. Depending on the project, the most complex thing to manage could be the budget, the scope, the quality, or the people. However, you … Read more

We’ll Ask for Estimates and then Treat Them as Deadlines

When can you deliver this project? Before you answer that question, ask a few questions yourself: is there a sponsor? has the budget been approved? solution designed? vendor selected? What you’re trying to communicate by asking a few questions is: A project sponsor is critical to success; Without a budget, you can’t start, and that … Read more

Lowest Bidder, Highest Cost

Often, a project is awarded to the cheapest provider who underestimates and underbids to win the job. They stretch their means, usually their people, to deliver the ends. When the sponsor negotiates for a lower price, they should also be asking if they are also getting discounted scope? They probably are. If re-work is required or the … Read more

Project Manager Salary United States

Project Manager Salary United States: Guide, Trend and Analysis Are you being paid what you are worth? In this guide, I will dive into project manager salary United States numbers published by the Project Management Institute (PMI), provide some analysis and trend information. PMI categorizes Project Manager jobs into three levels. To find out which … Read more

Project Manager Salary Canada

Project Manager Salary Canada: Guide, Trend and Analysis Are you being paid what you are worth? In this guide, I will dive into the Project Manager Salary Canada numbers published by the Project Management Institute (PMI), provide some analysis and trend information. PMI categorizes Project Manager jobs into three levels. To find out which level … Read more

Career Development: Prioritize Yourself

There is never a bad time to take a stock of your career and envision your future goals. The end and the start of the year are natural times to do so. Here, I share two exercises to tap into your feelings, creative and imaginative faculties to reflect and shape your future. Once you have … Read more

No December for Project Managers

If you have projects that run on a calendar year, plan as though December does not exist. Plan to deliver your project by November 30, not December 31… unless you want to work between Christmas and New Year. Things start to slow down in mid-December. Key stakeholders and executive sponsors may start taking their year … Read more

7 Questions to Build Your Team’s Resilience

We are in the final two months of the year and it’s peak time for your team to deliver their projects. At this point in time, it’s not only their technical skills and experience that matters, but also their resilience. How can you give your team a boost in resilience? Get them together (virtually perhaps) … Read more

From Full-Code to Low-Code to No-Code

As someone who learnt how to code in high school and spent years coding for work, from programming EEPROMS to developing web applications, I am hesitant to “dumb-down” and explore low-code and no-code platforms. Not surprisingly, it’s a non-coder who introduced me to this movement. I haven’t yet done a deep dive into any one … Read more