Ask Cadence: The Project Management Podcast

In part 3 of our special, “19 Techniques for managing people who do not report to you,” Jay Christensen and Rod Sharman discuss issues and concerns, with special focus on how to manage resolution of issues in a visible way.

In part 2 of our special, “19 Techniques for managing people who do not report to you,” Jay Christensen and Rod Sharman discuss roles and responsibilities on your projects, ensuring that commitments are clear and visible through the Responsibility Matrix and Schedule.

This is part 1 of our special, “19 Techniques for managing people who do not report to you.” Jay Christensen and Rod Sharman discuss the importance of goal statements, clear objective statements, and a well-publicized project profile in getting the support you need to deliver project results.

You can help your organization understand the roles and skills required for the project management function — you just have to know where to start. Jay Christensen helps outline the planning elements you’ll need to add to communication what will and will not be done on your project — and by whom!

When working to build your team, you may find yourself in a sticky political mess when you find different groups in your organization are prioritizing your project differently. Consistent prioritization is key to alignment on projects and requires the right mix of authority, will, and communication. Jay Christensen points you in the right direction as you help your organization master project prioritization.

You have a problem. You escalate to your sponsor or steering committee. Their response? Don’t worry, they’re sure you’ll be able to solve the problem without impacting Cost, Schedule or Performance! As frustrating as this response may be, listen in as Jay Christensen unravels the motivation behind this typical response, and gives you the tools you need to present the right solutions, just the right way!

Are you a project manager seeking support from the functional managers who have their employees on your teams? Are you a team member looking for more support from your functional manager as you work on projects? TJay Christensen takes on both of these issues and give you the strategies you’ll need to solve a tricky political puzzle.

It’s one of the most common things we see on troubled projects, and sometimes the trickiest to navigate: No sponsor or steering committee supporting your projects. Jay Christensen dives into the issues that lead to this on your projects, and how you can find the support you need to get your projects back on track.

The problem card this week says it all: “Three project teams working on mandatory compliance projects to 18 countries, all three high priorities. Tasks from all three due all the time. How do I manage projects and priorities across overlapping critical projects?” It’s a question for all over-worked project people, and John Patton joins Jay Christensen to tackle it on the show.

It may seem like stakeholder meddling, but external influences competing for attention on your project can be a symptom of a much larger problem. This week, John Patton and Jay Christensen help you focus on the lifecycle, using a few key tactics to ensure all your project stakeholders are working with you to keep the project focused — not distracting you from getting your project work done.

Any number of challenges can slow a supplier delivering a complex product on your project. From engineering challenges to methodological roadblocks, it’s your job as project manager to keep resources flowing into the project smoothly. This week, John Patton and Jay Christensen dissect this issue and give you a clear process to help keep your external suppliers on track.

From the problem cards this week, “The project is off to a slow start — how do we gain traction and get this project moving?” Turns out, it’s all a matter of focus on the life-cycle. This week, John Patton and Jay Christensen take to this issue with Pete Wright and give you a path to a solution that will help you get your project started on the right footing.

Thinking about Agile and how it might help your development projects? Looking for more detail on how the Agile approach maps to the Cadence Methodology? Coming in August, Cadence’s Jay Christensen will be delivering a one-hour webinar dealing with the detail of Agile development with the Cadence Methodology. In today’s show, Jay gives us a preview of his research and teaches us where misunderstanding in the Agile process can lead to poor implementation and sub-par results.

If you’re facing an abrupt career change, you have a wide road before you. You’ve crafted your resume. You’ve done the networking. But have you really positioned yourself to be the perfect candidate for that perfect project management job? This week on the show, Jay Christensen and Wil Mercer join host Pete Wright to talk about how to develop sharp skills and jumpstart your work in project management.

If your teams have suffered as a result of layoffs or reorganizations, you’re weathering the project economy. If you are juggling scope changes and resource reallocation, you’re weathering the project economy. If you are faced with delivering difficult news more often than results, you’re weathering the project economy. This week, join Jay Christensen, Wil Mercer, and Pete Wright as they discuss the issues facing today’s teams and give you strategies to help you weather the project economy.

We have been getting this question with great frequency: what is this Agile thing, and how does it map to the Cadence project management methodology? As it happens, Agile maps cleanly to the Cadence Methodology and — if implemented appropriately — can yield benefits on certain projects. Listing to Jay Christensen and Wil Mercer discuss this issue on this week’s show.

Passing the PMP exam and earning the coveted certification that results is becoming increasingly important for project management practitioners. In celebration of our own Wil Mercer’s newly minted PMP, we thought it appropriate to sit down and ask about the process and share some tips and tricks for studying for — and passing — this exam.

Wrapping up our discussion on implementing a project management methodology in your organization, this week John Patton and Scott Lissit join host Pete Wright for a final discussion on just what it takes to get the job done. How long will it take? What barriers will you encounter in the process? How to you create and manage a sound implementation plan which leads to success and adoption by the organization?

If you’re considering implementing a project management methodology, it is important to know where you stand against the standard set by the Project Management Institute. This week, John Patton and Scott Lissit join host Pete Wright to provide a framework around what it takes not only to implement a methodology, but to create a path for governance in the organization that will provide for long-term growth in institutional excellence in the process.

Part 2: Every team has them. They may be well-intentioned, but for some reason or another, they’re blocking progress on your project. Whether they are raising inappropriate questions in your status meetings or just refusing to get their work done, you have to find some way to deal with them to avoid losing control of the project. This week, John Patton and Scott Lissit join host Pete Wright to provide the tools and techniques you’ll need to keep your project moving full steam ahead.