Project management resources, tools and training for professional project managers. http://www.projectsatwork.com Copyright: (C) 2012 ProjectsAtWork Wed, 16 May 2012 20:00:02 GMT http://www.projectsatwork.com/images/new4/PAWlogo.gif http://www.projectsatwork.com When it comes to leveraging social media techniques on projects, the most important place to start is frame of mind. It's not about mimicking Facebook in the workplace, but rather removing barriers to communication and information-sharing. Project leaders who do will improve team camaraderie and productivity. http://www.projectsatwork.com/article.cfm?ID=273269 Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT Time-tracking solutions can help you uncover hidden opportunities to maximize your project's value, from more efficient resource allocation to more accurate estimating and bidding. Here's a closer look at how better time management produces more successful projects. http://www.projectsatwork.com/article.cfm?ID=273267 Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT Risk matters because it has the potential to affect the achievement of objectives. By linking risks to objectives, we can distinguish a variety of risks at the organizational, project and personal level, from the strategic to the technical and so on. http://www.projectsatwork.com/article.cfm?ID=273266 Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT Code reviews are not typically viewed as part of a pure Agile process, but some of the technique's benefits, such as collective ownership, are in line with the Agile philosophy, and they can be conducted without slowing your project down. Here are some suggestions for adapting code reviews to work in an agile environment. http://www.projectsatwork.com/article.cfm?ID=273221 Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT Harnessing the power of social media tools can greatly improve the communication and collaboration on your projects. But a test drive is prudent, and you must take into account team skills and location, among other considerations, before you dive in. Here are five pre-requisites for a successful social media deployment. http://www.projectsatwork.com/article.cfm?ID=273224 Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT In the summer of 1979, a young Soviet physicist decided to embark on an all-or-nothing project to obtain his freedom. Alexander Jourjine's inspiring journey features eight lessons that can benefit all project leaders who face great risks, difficult decisions, and seemingly impossible obstacles. http://www.projectsatwork.com/article.cfm?ID=273105 Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT For organizations that are ready to fully commit to the philosophy, the principles of Management by Objectives can provide a strong catalyst for team engagement in its goals. Here is an overview of the method's six stages and five-step process for implementing it, along with potential pitfalls. http://www.projectsatwork.com/article.cfm?ID=273015 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT This free card-based collaboration tool reduces the burden of project management administration with visual-based status updates, personalized task assignments and team activity streaming similar to social media updates. It is ideal for agile teams, but it doesn't support task sequencing or end-date forecasting. http://www.projectsatwork.com/article.cfm?ID=273014 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT Agile projects incorporate a number of techniques that are not easily transferable to traditional waterfall projects. One technique is the estimation of the size of user stories with abstract story points, and the use of story points to determine how much work can be completed in an iteration. http://www.projectsatwork.com/article.cfm?ID=273012 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT Sometimes a pure agile approach is not appropriate for a particular project - the important thing is getting the work done, not strict adherence to a process. Still, a non-agile project can benefit from the inherent values of agile, including strong team collaboration, prioritized, incremental development, and regular progress assessment and adaptation. http://www.projectsatwork.com/article.cfm?ID=273011 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT