Top 5 Product Design Blogs to Follow
When you talk about product design, you're talking about the numerous processes involved in creating a product — whether physical or digital. It must have functionality that answers a target market's specific needs, and it must have an aesthetically pleasing form. It's a formula that Apple has used with much success. But where does one find the inspiration to build the type of fabulous products that turn casual customers into rabid fans? Below is a list of our top 5 blogs for product design inspiration, chosen by a combination of their Alexa rank and the personal preferences of our team. These websites and blogs post inspiring links to cool product design from around the globe. They also cover a wide spectrum of design topics, including: UI/UX, graphic design, product management prioritization, industrial design, even fashion and architecture. Bookmark them or add them to your RSS reader. There's more than enough here to jumpstart ideas for your hot new product. The Top 5 Blogs for Product Design Inspiration 1. Yanko Design | RSS FeedTagline: Modern Industrial Design News Yanko has been around since 2002 as a web magazine that highlights outstanding examples of modern industrial design, as well as interior design, technology, architecture, and fashion. From its stark black wooden background to the types of futuristic gadgets that they showcase, this website is for those looking for products that are sleek, shiny, and — dare we say it — downright sexy. A must-read for those looking to create forward-looking products. 2. Design You Trust | RSS FeedTagline: World's Most Famous Social InspirationDesign You Trust is more of a crowdsourced platform than an actual curated website, as its menu immediately gives you the option to submit a post. Think of it as a "bloggier" version of Reddit's design-focused subreddits. However, as a general one-stop-shop of design and art ideas, it cannot be beat. Aside from design posts, expect coverage of more popular subject matter such as fashion photography, graphic design, interior decorating, and yes, even makeup. 3. Inhabitat | RSS Feed for ProductsTagline: Design will save the worldIf you're looking for design inspiration that is eco-friendly as well as beautiful, Inhabitat is your go-to source. They feature green design ideas for physical products as well as architecture, technology, and fashion. It's chock-full of the best green design ideas and innovations. A visual smorgasbord for those looking to build products for an earth-friendly future. 4. NOTCOT.ORG | RSS feedTagline: For your ideas+aesthetics+amusement NOTCOT is actually two sites: There is NOTCOT.COM, which is the editorial side — more of a curated web magazine, complete with in-depth feature articles on products, product design, technology, designers, innovations, and trends. Then there is NOTCOT.ORG, which is the crowdsourced bulletin board where creatives post images and links to products that inspire them. Think Pinterest specifically for design. For quick visual ideas, the .ORG offers the viewer much more to absorb. 5. Behance.net Featured Projects | Link to the Product Design Category Tagline: Showcase and Discover Creative Work Since 2006, Behance has been Adobe's platform for bringing talent and creative opportunities together. Although it looks somewhat like Pinterest in layout, it allows creatives to showcase their best work so that clients can come and hire them. Look through their dropdown menus for a wide breadth of categories — from a product management launch plan to product design to graphic design, architecture, motion graphics, photography, and more, all easily searchable by tag. You'll find a specific category for "Product Design" but also check out the "Industrial Design" and "UI/UX" categories. What Product Design Blogs Do You Read Regularly? Yes, we probably missed your favorite inspirational product design blog in the world. But we won't know what it is until you tell us. You know what to do in that comment box below. Set us straight, ASAP! Read Next: Creative Block? 5 Surprising Ways to Spark Creativity
Amazing Online Productivity Resources for Procrastinators
If you're looking for ways to improve your productivity, there are plenty of educational resources to be found online. The hardest part about finding new productivity tips is making sure you're looking at something helpful and accurate. We cruised through tons of online productivity resources and made a list of the best links and sites for you, so that you don't have to spend any extra time searching — that's just one more time-waster you can avoid. Our list of links includes blogs, TED Talks, YouTube videos, podcasts, eBooks, online classes, and more. As for the thousands and thousands of online articles about calculating productivity — there are simply too many; so, we listed some popular websites with "productivity" categories at the end, and you can browse those sites if you prefer reading individual articles. Happy learning! And stay productive, my friends. Productivity-focused websites and blogs These websites talk about productivity, and productivity only. If you're looking for fellow productivity-fanatics, these links are for you: A Life of Productivity: They publish unique experiment results after trying many different methods for increasing productivity. You can also find books, articles, and advice for time management, energy management, focus, and general productivity. Productive Flourishing: Aside from featured articles on productivity, this site also includes a podcast, planners, and more. The Productivity Pro, Laura Stack: A woman with a loyal following of passionate productivity enthusiasts. Her site offers courses to help you increase your productivity, links to her published works, free resources, and a productivity blog. Productive! Magazine: They publish online issues of their magazine, featuring 10 articles on productivity and high-performing teams and individuals. TED Talks about productivity If you've never listened to a TED Talk before, you're missing out. TED Talks bring great speakers onto stages around the world to discuss their wisdom and impart their advice — including advice on productivity. You can browse their website for productivity talks via topics or the search bar. Here are two links to peruse to find the talks you're interested in: https://www.ted.com/topics/productivity https://www.ted.com/search?q=productivity Need a more definite place to start? Here are five productivity TED Talks we suggest: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity with David Allen The Psychology of Self-Motivation with Scott Geller How to Succeed? Get More Sleep with Arianna Huffington Forget Multitasking, Try Monotasking with Paolo Cardini As Work Gets More Complex, 6 Rules to Simplify with Yves Morieux Productivity podcasts Podcasts are a great way to learn while you're on the go. If you're in the car, on a plane, or you're sick of staring at your glowing laptop screen, open your ears and learn about new productivity habits from these business podcasts: Back to Work: Hosted by Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin. They discuss productivity, communication, barriers to getting things done, productivity-enhancing tools, and more. New episode every Tuesday. Home Work: Hosted by Aaron Mahnke and Dave Caolo. A podcast focused on productivity advice for anyone who works from home, freelancers and telecommuters alike. If you want advice on a specific topic, you can submit questions to be answered on the show. New episode every Friday. The 5 AM Miracle: Hosted by Jeff Sanders. No, you don't have to wake up at 5 AM every day in order to be more productive (I shudder at the thought), but Sanders wants to help us be productive all day, every day. His episodes feature advice on making time for your passions, working with unpredictable schedules, and improving your brain to improve your work. He recently signed a book contract based on all the advice he has shared on his blog over the years. Beyond the To-Do List: Personal Productivity Perspectives: Hosted by Erik Fisher. He discusses and interviews people about all aspects of productivity, from creativity and freelancing to being a parent and still hustling at work. New episodes used to come out weekly or biweekly, but have slowed down to about once per month. ProdPod, a Productivity Podcast: Hosted by Ray Sidney-Smith. Listen to the ProdPod for hard-hitting productivity techniques, research, tool reviews, and other topics of interest for the productivity-minded. This show has already shared 90+ episodes at less than 2-minutes each, so you can listen to one right now for a quick break between tasks, or binge on several episodes at time for a nice 15-minute productivity session during lunch. Defeat the Drama: Hosted by Kirsten E. Ross. Her focus is on helping you get more done at work with less drama — that means cutting down on emotionally-charged arguing and excessive back-and-forth in decision-making. New episodes are released every few days. The Productivity Show: Hosted by Zachary Sexton. The "Asian Efficiency" blog has been offering time management and productivity tips for years, and now they host a podcast where they interview millionaires, actors, and regular Joes to discuss their business principles, and how you can learn from their success. Timeboxing: Hosted by Carl Sondrol. Having a hard time letting your creative mind go wild, while also staying productive? This new podcast interviews creative workers on staying unique, getting in the right mindset for work, and being productive without feeling boring and repetitive — a challenge for many creatives. Getting Things Done (retired podcast): Hosted by David Allen, father of the renowned Getting Things Done productivity method. He published 35 podcasts on how to successfully get started with his productivity method, sharing tips for different types of people, and tools you can use to fuel your focus. Habit Chef Podcast (retired podcast): Hosted by Kendra Kinnison. Productivity is not only working harder and faster, it's also making sure that your work is good in the long-term, not just the short-term. Kinnison's episodes discuss how to set out to achieve your goals and change your bad habits — and make those changes stick. Though no longer releasing new podcasts, 44 episodes are still available for listening on her website. YouTube channels and videos on productivity Videos are becoming the most popular way to digest information. If you prefer a video over an article, check out these YouTube videos and channels for more advice on improving your personal and team productivity: "Why Happiness is the New Productivity (The Story of Mindvalley)": A one-hour recording of Vishen Lakhiani's speech during the "Engage Today" conference in Calgary. He shares how his company went from a side project to a successful business by entering his "state of flow" and using happiness to be more productive. "The Science of Productivity": A whiteboard video on the science behind productivity and motivation from AsapSCIENCE. "Double YOUR Productivity in 1 Day With 5 Simple Tips": Sean Cannell (owner of the popular seanTHiNKS YouTube channel) discusses how he makes time to work full-time, co-run THiNKmedia and THiNK TV, do creative consulting work, create video blogs for his YouTube channel, lead a happy family life, and still have time to watch his favorite TV shows. "Work Smart: How to Make Procrastination Productive": FastCompany's video on accepting the inevitability of procrastination, and learning how to make that time more productive. "7 Brain Hacks To Improve Your Productivity": BuzzFeed's seven hacks to improve your personal productivity. "Becoming The Ultimate Productivity Ninja": A whiteboard video from American Express on the top three tips you need to become a productivity ninja. Work, Money & Business playlist by Actualized.org: Eighteen videos by the very lively Leo at actualized.org on different improvement topics (including procrastination and time management) relating to your work, money, and business. Time Management playlist by Eben Pagan: Nine videos by Eben Pagan on how to improve your time management for better productivity. Free productivity eBooks Never read an eBook before? It's a book-like PDF file that you can download and read from your laptop or carry around with you on your mobile device. They have great learning, and range from ten to hundreds of pages — but usually they are no longer than about fifty pages. Start with these four eBooks on better productivity: What Doesn't Kill You Makes You More Productive: Free eBook from Wrike. Download to read about productivity killers, learn how to fight them, and get actionable tips for your team from productivity experts. Overcoming Procrastination: Free eBook from Free Management eBooks. Download to read through ten chapters on the psychology of procrastination, why quick-fix solutions don't work, and methods to identify your reason for procrastinating every time it creeps up on you. Productivity: How to Get Your S*!% Done: Free eBook from Word Chef. Download this eBook to read 11 articles from different bloggers that cover various topics related to procrastination and productivity: "schadenfreude," the details behind the "standing desk" fad, and getting more real work done in less time every day. The Productivity Manifesto: Free eBook from Nathan Barry. He owns a software design company and writes in his free time. His short eBook shares what he has learned over the years about personal productivity and ignoring the siren call of Twitter and Facebook to buckle down and focus on work. Online classes on productivity Are you motivated by the hustle and bustle of lectures and assignments? Take these online classes to learn in a structured environment and connect with other people who are also interested improving their time management: Work Smarter, Not Harder: Offered on Coursera. This curriculum was set up by a professor at UC Irvine, and can be completed at any time. It includes 4-8 hours of videos, readings, and quizzes that will help you hone your personal awareness so you can use that knowledge to be more productive. Wake Up Productive online productivity class: This class is not currently available at time of publishing, but you can sign up to receive their free videos by entering your email address, and get a message when the class opens up again. Productivity resources found on social media sites Social media can be a great resource to find information on any topic that interests you. Start with these productivity resources, and then see go out and find more on the other sites you love: Flipboard magazine: Productivity Works!: Subscribe to this magazine to stay updated with new productivity articles. LinkedIn Group: Productivity Improvement: Join this LinkedIn group for advice on improving your productivity from other users. LinkedIn Group: Think Productive - The Productivity Ninjas: Another LinkedIn group offering productivity tips and advice for individuals and teams. Pinterest board: Productivity Boosters: Follow this board on Pinterest to see articles and infographics related to productivity. Slideshare: 6 Ways to Simplify Work and Be More Productive: Ways to improve our productivity, based on a TED Talk. Slideshare: 10 Timeless Productivity Hacks: If you're a productivity hack enthusiast, you've read these hacks before. But they're a good reminder if you need to get back on your feet. Slideshare: Productivity: A presentation given at an entrepreneur roundtable by Matten Griffel on productivity and how to organize your work. Slideshare: Rules of Productivity: A research report on eight productivity experiments and their outcomes. Take their lessons learned and improve your own productivity. Slideshare: Work Measurements & Productivity: If you're into math, this presentation gives you a way to calculate how efficiently people are working. Scientific articles about productivity I know, I said I wasn't going to list any productivity articles. But I really liked these two studies, and their scientific findings about productivity and happiness are worth prioritizing on your "to read" list. Check them out: The Science of Productivity by Gregory Ciotti Happiness and Productivity by University of Warwick Well-known news sites with productivity categories Ready to read even more about everything related to productivity? Browse through the archives of popular online magazines and sites for more, more, more. Here's a list of productivity article archives you can start with: "Productivity" on Harvard Business Review "Productivity" on Inc. "Productivity" basics on Psychology Today "Productivity" on Entrepreneur "Productivity" on Huffington Post "Productivity" news on LifeHack.org "Productivity" news, videos, and more on LifeHacker "Productivity" news on Mashable "Productivity" on QuickandDirtyTips.com "Productivity" on the Wrike Blog What are your favorite online productivity resources? Phew, that was quite a list — but I'm sure I missed some of your favorites. Share your go-to resource for productivity tips and advice in the comments below. I'm grateful for any contributions to our list. And now, a poem: Improving work productivity is so greatand we know you've heard a lot about it of late.So we collected this list of links for youto facilitate your daily work to-dos. —Ashley Coolman Related reads:3 Notorious Productivity Killers and How to Fight Them (Infographic)50 Productivity Tips to Boost Your Brainpower (Infographic)Kick Butt in 2015 With These 16 Motivation Hacks
Project Management Terms: A Quickstart Glossary for Newbies (Part 2)
In our Quickstart Project Management Glossary for Newbies, Part 1, we revealed the secrets behind Gantt charts, the Critical Path Method, and more. And now your boss has walked in with more confusing jargon to muddle your brain: "Can you double-check our resources to make sure this project isn't in danger of scope creep?" Uh, what resources? And scope creep? Relax, it gets easier with time. Here are a few more key project management terms to learn that will educate you and boost your confidence before you talk to the boss again. Project Portfolio Management (PPM) — Your project portfolio is much like any other portfolio. It contains all of your best work as an easy reference tool so that you can properly manage your resources. It keeps all of the processes, methods, and technologies right at your hand. With the help of PPM you can mix-and-match your resources for optimal planning before a new project begins. Resources — They're all you've got. Literally. Your project resources are anything and everything you need to complete your task. They may include people, tools, money, facilities, or other tangible necessities. Scope — For project managers, scope is the information and work required to complete a project. Gather your "how-to"s before jumping in blind - How will we fund it? What are our milestones? How will we define success? Documenting your project scope should be a part of your planning process. Controlling it becomes the challenge once you have begun. Scope Creep — Everything seems to be going fine, but then those little issues sneak up on you and suddenly everything is wrong. Maybe it's the uncontrolled growth of a project. Or the new feature you add to your project plan without updating the constraints. This is scope creep and it usually appears near the end of your project timeline. If it occurs, you risk overspending or missing deadlines. Update your budget, schedule, and resources with every project addition to eliminate scope creep before it can surprise you. Gold plating is another type of resource management issue. The difference between scope creep and gold plating is that gold plating is a problem arising internally. Stakeholders — The people who have an interest in the completion of the project. Your team, your investors, your boss. Simple as that. What-if Scenario Analysis (WISA) — The key to the WISA is to anticipate many different possible project outcomes and create solutions before they occur. Examples include a delayed deliverable, going over budget, or a change in available resources. By preparing for those "what-if" situations, you will be able to act quickly in any situation. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) — This is how you break down your work into smaller deliverables. It is a hierarchical tree structure that builds up to a final product. In Wrike you can build this hierarchy by creating sub-folders for your projects. Have you heard of small wins? Reducing projects into bite-sized pieces can help boost your team's productivity. Start with your overall project folder, and break it down further and further until you can effortlessly manage its every component. With these words in your knowledge handbook, you are one step closer to successfully taking charge of your new project management role. Now, what did the boss ask for again? Gantt Charts? Critical path? No problem. Report back and confidently say: "Our critical path is on track. I checked the Gantt charts and we have a few days of free float for some tasks. Let me show you what I've found..." Did we leave out any terms that still leave you puzzled? Let us know! There are more "Project Management Basics" coming soon, so check back later for more information you can't go a day without!
80+ Awesome Online Resources for Project Managers
Where can you go to talk Gantt charts, work breakdown structures, and Agile workflows to your heart's content with other project management aficionados? The internet, of course! There’s a treasure trove of valuable information available online for anyone looking to sharpen their project management skills. But where do you start? We’ve compiled a list of over 80 of the very best online resources that any project manager and assistant project manager can use. These include online training sites, podcasts, eBooks, tools and templates, blogs, and more. Index: Online Training Programs & Certification Prep Streaming Videos & Podcasts Knowledge Bases & Glossaries Downloadable Guides & eBooks Templates, Toolkits, & Checklists Blogs & Online Communities Online Training & Certification Prep Online Training Courses 1. Essentials of Project Management Series - PMICost: $400This on-demand series provided by the Project Management Institute covers the foundational concepts of project management, including key terminology, an explanation of the project lifecycle, project constraints, an overview of 47 project management processes, an introduction to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), and prep for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam. 2. Project Management Fundamentals - Ed2GoCost: $149Get an introduction to essential project management techniques and the PMBOK, and prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP certification) and CAPM exams in this six-week, on-demand course. Learn how to prepare for, plan, and complete a project successfully, from holding an effective project kickoff meeting to risk management and quality assurance. 3. Improving Your Project Management Skills: The Basics for Success - American Managers’ AssociationCost: $2,195What you’ll learn: This three-day, hands-on project management workshop provides a comprehensive overview of core project management concepts and terminology — from Work Breakdown Structures, Gantt charts, and determining critical path, to estimating project timelines, managing stakeholders, and defining project scope, schedule, budget, and risk. 4. Project Management Fundamentals - New Horizons Computer Learning CentersCost: $395This two-day project management course covers the role of a project manager and takes attendees through every stage of the project lifecycle, from initiation and planning to the project closeout. You’ll learn how to determine project scope, identify risks, create a Work Breakdown Structure, create a project schedule, determine costs (including cost variance), and manage a project through its final phases. 5. Fundamentals of Successful Project Management - SkillPathCost: $399This two-day course is designed for beginner project managers trying to manage projects on top of their regular job responsibilities. Learn how to avoid missed deadlines, combat the most common problems for projects, plan and estimate project cost, allocate resources, manage multiple projects, and keep projects on track. Online Project Management Training Providers 1. Corporate Education Group presents a variety of individual classes on topics like risk management and project scope, plus PMP exam prep. Courses usually consist of three-hour sessions spread over a period of several weeks. 2. Global Knowledge has instructors who are certified PMPs and consultants with an average of 15 years experience. Sign up for virtual learning or self-paced courses on Agile, Project Portfolio Management, preventing project failure, and managing high-risk projects. Or enroll in an exam prep boot camp. 3. International Institute for Learning, Inc. provides a comprehensive course catalog, covering both core project management concepts and advanced strategies. IIL conducts virtual and on-demand courses on topics like project scope, risk management, and Earned Value Management systems, plus prep courses for a variety of certifications. If you’re looking to pick up a few PDUs, they also supply a library of on-demand webinars. 4. Passionate PM has a wide selection of on-demand learning modules for earning PDUs, or enrolling in live online prep courses for the PMI-RMP exam, PMP/CAPM exam, or an accelerated PMP “Exam Cram.” All instructors have at least a decade of project experience, and many hold an impressive list of certifications. 5. PDU of the Day highlights a new way to earn PDUs every weekday. People refer opportunities to the site and then site owners review opportunities before posting. Many (but not all) of the opportunities are free, including live webinars and recorded presentations. 6. PDUs2Go.com is run by PMP Jennifer Bridges and offers self-paced Category A PDU courses to purchase and complete at your convenience. Choose the delivery method that best fits your needs: either have a hard copy shipped to you or download digital course materials to review during your commute, on the treadmill, or over a leisurely cup of coffee. 7. PMCentersUSA gives you interactive online classes taught by seasoned project professionals and which cover a variety of topics, including time and cost management, managing multiple projects, portfolio management, and five-day advanced skills virtual workshops. All courses align with the current edition of PMBOK, and when industry standards change, they update their course materials. Check out their weekly webinar series for a chance to score PDUs. 8. PMI E-Learning allows you to earn PDUs through online seminars, on-demand courses, and publication quizzes straight from the Project Management Institute. 9. PMstudy can get you certified online in Program Management, Six Sigma green and black belts, Human Resource Development, and Risk Management. PMStudy also offers PMP and CAPM online exam prep. All instructors are certified project management professionals with an average of 15 years project experience and 400 hours PMP teaching experience. 10. PMSOFT presents live, online accelerated PMP prep and Agile Management methodologies courses, plus continuing education in topics like Work Breakdown Structure standards. Classes are scheduled on weekends to fit your work schedule, and include online reading material and downloadable presentations. 11. Prodevia Learning provides courses for highly-experienced project managers. Throughout the course you have access to a personal instructor, and you can set your own learning schedule with an unlimited amount of time to complete coursework. Courses include “Mastering Project Risk,” “Managing Politics and Conflict in Projects,” and “PMO Design and Implementation.” They also offer a Professional Project Executive (PPE) certification program. 12. RMC Project Management hosts live, instructor-led online classes on project planning, scheduling, communication, work breakdown structures, and more. Online classes use collaborative technologies like live chat, virtual white boards, and file sharing to connect students and instructors. They also offer an extensive selection of exam prep courses, plus free webinars to earn PDUs. All instructors have at least 15 years experience and hold multiple certifications. 13. Simplilearn has developed two options for online learning: self-paced or instructor-led. Choose from exam prep in several areas of project management, including Agile and Scrum certification. Complete practice tests and interact with other students in Simplilearn’s online discussion forums. 14. Watermark Learning courses are built on interactive case studies, to provide hands-on, practical learning opportunities. Courses include “Getting Real Results from Virtual Teams,” “Defining and Analyzing Requirements,” “Recovering Troubled Projects” and more. Instructors have an average of 25 years of experience managing projects. 15. Udemy Project Management Training gives you access to on-demand courses on project planning, project integration management, a Project Management master class by Exner Education, and PMP/CAPM exam prep. Check each course description to determine if it qualifies for PDUs, who the provider is, how many hours of content it includes, and how much it costs. 16. University of Waterloo Center for Extended Learning delivers online course offerings that include project management applications and fundamentals, along with PMP certification prep. Courses run for six weeks, after which you have two weeks to complete a final exam. 17. Villanova University administers online classes in project management essentials, advanced strategies, team effectiveness, Six Sigma, and PMP/CAPM exam prep. They’ve also developed industry-specific courses for IS/IT and healthcare professionals. Engage with classmates and instructors in real time through instant messaging, shared whiteboards, and two-way VOIP calls. 18. Ron Rosenhead, CEO of Project Agency, offers a series of project management training videos, from three-hour introductions for PM beginners to 14-hour intensives for experienced practitioners. Access the Project Management Fundamentals course for free. 19. PMP, PMI-ACP, & CAPM Exam Simulator lets you practice your project management exams in a realistic online environment. Choose from three exam modes: timed, learning, and real exam. Questions are developed by a team of seven certified PMs and updated to the latest exam outlines, and you can retake each exam as many times as you like to practice. Streaming Videos & Podcasts 1. ProjectManager.com YouTube ChannelThis channel includes over 100 videos covering a variety of PM principles, processes, and tips, from improving team efficiency to using a Gantt chart — each under five minutes. 2. International Institute for Learning YouTube ChannelOver 100 short videos (many 30 seconds or less) covering a range of topics, from events like International PM Day to conversations with experts and practical project management advice. 3. The PM PodcastHosted by Cornelius Fichtner, The PM Podcast is one of the most high-volume project management podcasts around with 300+ episodes. They interview noted project managers, and also team up with The PM PrepCast to help prepare you for the PMP exam and earn PDUs. 4. People and Projects PodcastHosted by Andy Kaufman, these interviews cover topics where leadership meets project management. They release a new episode every three to four weeks, running anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. 5. 5″ PM PodcastHosted by Ricardo Vargas, the 5-Minute PM Podcast has nearly 400 episodes, each only five to 10 minutes long. The podcasts are organized into 15 different playlists, including PMOs, Programs and Portfolios, Highly Effective Teams & Leadership, Risk Management, and more. 6. The Lazy Project Manager PodcastHost Peter Taylor has been described as one of the most entertaining and inspirational speakers in project management, and is a passionate advocate of working smarter, not harder. 7. PM for the Masses PodcastHost Cesar Abeid interviews experts for tips to improve your project management expertise, and also offers his own personal stories about project management triumphs and failures. 8. The Sensible Project Manager PodcastHost Mark Phillipy leads new discussions about project management and interviews notable project management thought leaders. 9. Project Management Institute PodcastsWhile Project Management Institute does not run a serial podcast show, they do occasionally release helpful podcasts. Running less than 20 minutes, their podcasts cover high-level topics in project management. 10. Project Management War StoriesWayne Thompson published 52 podcast episodes on fundamental project management principles, and shares his lessons learned from both successful and failed projects. 11. The Project Management Debate PodcastThis 25-minute weekly podcast explores key issues and questions currently facing project managers, debated by Philip and Mary Elizabeth Diab. Knowledge Bases & Glossaries 1. PMI Knowledge CenterFind thought leadership articles straight from the Project Management Institute’s industry experts on a range of topics, from change and cost control to requirements and risk. 2. Project Management Guide for Beginners - WrikeA comprehensive introduction to core project management ideas, terms, strategies, and best practices, including an FAQ section, guide to methodologies, glossary, as well as management and team collaboration tips. 3. Max Wideman's Project Management Knowledge BaseMax Wideman, creator of the first edition of the PMBOK and famed project manager, makes his vast knowledge of the project management and project portfolio management fields available for free on his website. Over 500 “Issacons” (Issues and Considerations) are available for practically every aspect of project management, from managing strategic risk, project metrics, methodologies, and project failure. 4. ProjectManagement.com Techniques WikiOver 150 techniques are explained in this database, from business change and critical path analysis to variance analysis and workflow diagramming (and everything in between). These wikis can be edited and expanded by those with profiles on ProjectManagement.com, and have come to represent the collective knowledge of the project manager community. 5. PMI Glossary of TermsThis encyclopedic list of project management terms is both alphabetized for easy skimming and searchable, so you can quickly find definitions and explanations of project management terminology. 6. Glossary of Project ManagementThis glossary is hosted by Wikipedia, so it's both thorough and kept up-to-date by the project management community. Downloadable Guides & eBooks 1. Beginner’s Guide to PM Methodologies - WrikeGet bite-sized explanations of popular project management methodologies, along with the pros and cons of each approach to help you choose the best one for your team. 2. Project Management Can Be Easy - EasyProjectsWritten by a certified PMP with 30 years experience, this eBook covers best practices on project initiation, planning, managing scope, risk, and issues, communicating with stakeholders, and more. 3. A Guide to Project Management - Team GanttThis practical guide covers both the technicalities of effective project management and the soft skills needed to address everyday management challenges. 4. Project Management Tactics for Pros - NetGuruThis eBook is full of advice on how to manage successful IT projects in a fast-paced environment, from strategies and processes to communicating with and motivating your team. 5. Deadly Sins of Project Management - Project SmartBrad Egeland does a deep-dive into seven all-too-common missteps that can threaten a project’s success. Avoid making the same mistakes by downloading this free eBook. 6. Best Practices of Resource Management - TeamDeckGet tried-and-true best practices for managing resources throughout the project lifecycle, along with actionable tips and practical checklists. 7. The Ultimate Guide to Project Management - ZapierThis 230-page behemoth is a comprehensive overview of project management, from Agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban, tips for choosing the right software, and essential soft skills of the best project managers. Templates, Toolkits, & Checklists 1. PMBOK Based Project Management TemplatesA collection of free templates developed by certified PMPs, organized according to PMBOK process group, from initiation to closing. 2. Project Management TemplatesThese detailed templates include tables, charts, and forms, and are available for each stage of the project lifecycle, from proposal to review. 3. Project Connections PM TemplatesBrowse templates organized by project phase, project application, PMO practices, and project management process. 4. 7 Free Project TemplatesWrike's downloadable templates for creative projects, project work plans, marketing campaigns, event planning, and more. 5. Free PM TemplatesMy PM offers dozens of editable templates designed by an experienced, PMP-certified project manager, for every stage of your project. 6. Project Management TemplatesA variety of templates by Elizabeth Harrin of A Girl's Guide to PM for key project management processes, from reporting and communicating with stakeholders to budgeting and risk logs. 7. Construction Project Management Templates & ToolkitA series of Microsoft Office templates for construction project managers, from project estimating, pricing, and bidding, to execution and closeout. 8. UC Santa Cruz Project ToolkitThis project toolkit is organized by project stage, and includes templates, documents, flowcharts, spreadsheets, and calculators available in a variety of formats: Google Doc, PDF, Word Document, and Excel spreadsheet. 9. ProjectManagement.com ChecklistsSix checklists and worksheets, including skill requirements, proposal coordination, post-implementation review, business case, requirements, and PMO justification. 10. Project Kickoff ChecklistA 10-step checklist infographic by Wrike covering the steps needed for a successful project kickoff. 11. Project Planning & Deliverables ChecklistAn editable Word Document download that covers requirements and scope definition, as well as the steps to thorough project planning. 12. Project Management Templates & ChecklistsA collection of templates, checklists, and practical tips to help project managers with routine operations, including organizing projects, defining team roles and responsibilities, and standardized forms and checklists. 13. Project Management Checklists for DummiesA series of simplified checklists organized by project stage: kickoff, project planning, and project control. 14. Earned Value Calculator for Project Managers This online calculator is designed to provide project managers with quantitative tracking information about project status. It provides specific numerical measurements for reviewing progress as teams progress through tasks in the project schedule. These measurements are also great for determining schedule variance. Blogs & Online Communities 1. A Girl's Guide to Project ManagementThis award-winning blog written by well-known PM Elizabeth Harrin covers a wealth of project management wisdom, including leadership advice, book reviews, time-saving productivity tips, and much more. 2. BetterProjectsThought-provoking articles on the current state of project management, Agile, Lean, and general collaboration by a group of professional project managers. 3. Brad Egeland's BlogWith over 25 years of experience as in IT project management, author and consultant Brad Egeland’s blog hosts over 5,000 articles on a variety of topics, from more efficient meetings to working remotely and dealing with stress. 4. DrunkenPMJ. David Prior, a certified Scrum trainer, dives into the challenges of moving from traditional project management to Scum master. Find a treasure trove of Agile project management tips, plus plenty of off-the-cuff humor. 5. Easy in Theory, Difficult in PracticeAs evidenced in the title, Kiron Bondale understands the challenges facing project managers. Having managed large change management projects and set up PMOs, he shares real-world project management advice, putting theory into practice. 6. Fear No ProjectAuthor Bruce McGraw focuses on the management side of PM, sharing his experiences, tips, and tricks on issues affecting managers and project management. How can you successfully manage a project, on top of doing your regular job? How do you handle a truly terrible boss? Find the answers here. 7. Herding CatsWritten by Greg B. Alleman, who has 30 years of experience in the field, this blog covers performance-based project management. Find insightful reads on earned value, risk, cost, and Agile program planning. 8. PMTips.net BlogThis blog publishes a collection of articles by noted project managers like Joel Roberts, Elizabeth Harrin, and James Pointon. Popular posts include Project Dashboards 101, What Your Stakeholders Need to Know About Your Project, and 5 Knowledge Sharing Tips to Supercharge Your Productivity. 9. Project-Management.com BlogThis high-volume blog posts several times a week on a range of everyday project management challenges, like email productivity, building trust on your team, top industry trends, and much more. 10. Project News Today BlogPortfolio, program, and project manager Barry Hodge is also a coach and mentor who aims to help his readers deliver successful projects. Get practical advice on delivering projects on time, from kickoff to closeout. 11. ProjectSmartThis blog hosts a library of articles by notable project managers like Duncan Haughty, Stacey Marone, and Brad Egeland. Search article categories to find posts about specific aspects of project management, like stakeholder management, team building, IT project management, best practices, and dozens more. 12. ProjectTimesFind over 1,200 articles full of tips, techniques, and best practices for effective project management. 13. Projects At Work“How do you get things done in the real world?” This is the question the authors at the Projects At Work blog seek to answer. This blog covers both new approaches and established best practices on everything from Agile to PMOs. 14. Ricardo Vargas' BlogWritten by international specialist in project management Ricardo Vargas, these in-depth articles will help you better understand the intricacies of effective project and portfolio management. 15. The Project ShrinkDutch author and illustrator Bas de Baar's blog tackles project management issues in a highly visual way. His engaging illustrations and comics teach essential project management lessons on team culture, problem solving and innovation, and collaboration. 16. The Lazy Project ManagerAs author and speaker Peter Taylor says, this is the “home of productive laziness.” In his mission to teach people to work smarter, not harder, Taylor’s articles cover effective team management, social project management, and more. 17. Voices on Project ManagementA collection of articles by various authors on project management strategies, insights, and lessons learned, for when you need a new perspective. 18. WorkMattersStanford professor Bob Sutton studies innovation, leadership, evidence-based management, and the workplace. A New York Times bestselling author, Sutton shares his insights on managing projects and teams in his blog. 19. Wrike Blog for Brilliant TeamsVisit the Wrike blog for project management how-tos, guides, trends, best practices, and leadership advice for both novice and experienced project managers. 20. Project Management 2.0 on LinkedInIn this community, nearly 20,000 project managers share their experiences and ideas on how to make contemporary project management more efficient. 21. Project Manager Community on LinkedInWith over 350,000 members, this is the largest project management group on LinkedIn. Learn about how to get a project management certification, job opportunities, training videos, and new approaches to project management. 22. Project Management Magazine on FlipboardThis Flipboard magazine is curated by Michael Kaplan and includes over 1,700 articles of breaking news, analysis, video, and research by and for project practitioners. Obsessed with Project Management? What are your favorite project management blogs, tools, templates, and other online resources you’ve bookmarked? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll add them to our list!
Project Management Terms: A Quickstart Glossary for Newbies (Part 1)
Your boss just walked into your office and said: "We've overstretched our resources. I need you to check the Gantt chart and tell me if there is any free float for this task so we don't delay our critical path." Wait, what was that? Gantt chart? Critical path? Maybe I'm just not ready for this... Whether you're an accidental project manager, or you're are just starting your professional journey into the PM space, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all of the new information the role entails. The last thing you need is linguistic headaches. Don't worry, we've got you. We consulted with Project Management pros, researched the question, and created a list of terms every project manager should know on Day 1. Study these definitions so that the next time your boss rushes in you can calmly respond, "Got it." Baseline — Our list starts with it, and so will every new project you'll undertake. Time is money, and the baseline is both. It is the original cost and schedule you set for your project. We'll tell you a secret: no project goes exactly as planned. The baseline will help you determine how far team has deviated from the original plan. Based on this knowledge, you'll be able to better estimate the time and resources your team needs to complete the next project. Constraint — Project constraints are the limitations of your project. Like road signs, they tell you what you can and cannot do. Before you start a project, it's important to carefully evaluate all of your constraints. Don't miss any blind spots; make sure you assess cost, human resources, time limits, quality, and potential ROI. Critical Path Method (CPM) — The critical path method is used to model projects. According to Professor Scott E. Page from the University of Michigan, thinking with models helps you outperform those who do not. Don't forget to include these factors in your model: all tasks necessary to complete the project, time estimations for each step, task dependencies, and final milestones or deliverables. By taking all of these factors into account, learning how to calculate critical path helps you create your optimal timeline to intelligently plan every project. Float — Sometimes referred to as "slack." It's the amount of time you can potentially burn on a task before affecting the project timeline. Float is the extra cushioning protecting your deadlines. Note that items on your Critical Path will have "zero free float" and if you want to maintain your schedule they cannot be delayed. Gantt Chart — Meet your lifesaver. This horizontal bar chart was devised by Henry Gantt at the turn of the twentieth century and was used to visualize project schedules by project managers all over the world ever since. It includes start and end dates for a project, and illustrates task dependencies. We, at Wrike, are proud of our cool, interactive Gantt chart. It helps you update project schedules, due dates, and dependencies with a quick drag-and-drop! Key Performance Indicator (KPI) — The measurable indicators of where your project stands, like timed laps around a track. When you set benchmarks for success in the beginning of a project, it's easier to check them off along the way. "Did we hit 10,000 page views today? Make 50 sales calls this week? And what about the revenue, has it doubled yet?" And while you obviously can't determine project success by numbers alone, it's helpful to use your KPIs to navigate the project path and, if needed, easily get back on course. We hope these definitions will help steady your nerves in the PM world. Pin them to your wall and don't forget to drop in for our glossary for PM newbies part 2 where we'll introduce even more vocabulary every project manager should know.
Online Project Management Courses for Beginners
With the global economy navigating a new normal, businesses around the world need project managers who can think strategically and execute successfully. As a result, the project management field is growing quickly, with increased demand and rising salaries drawing more people to the profession. If you’re interested in breaking into project management, you’re probably asking a number of questions: How do I get started? Is there a simple guide on how to become a project manager? Do I need a project management certification? What kind? Where can I learn how to become a certified project manager? What can I do with a project management certification? Where can I learn the essentials of project management to start leading projects and gain valuable experience? What is the best project management certification for me? These five project management courses online are great options for beginners, all offered by reputable Project Management Institute-registered education providers. Get the knowledge you need to be confident in your new role, whether it be an IT project manager or a digital project manager, with one of these convenient online courses. You'll also find great preparation material for certifications, including the Project Management Professional certification and much more. These courses would also be great for an assistant project manager working toward being a fully-fledged project manager. What to expect from project management courses online Project management courses cover all the things you need to know to successfully pitch, plan, and carry out a project. Whether you’re a complete beginner or you find yourself knee-deep in a project you need help with, these flexible project management courses are available 24/7. The majority of online project management courses are self-paced, meaning you can participate in the lessons whenever you have time for them. The format typically includes on-demand video, downloadable worksheets, and access to one or more teachers who can help mentor you or answer questions along the way. If you meet for live classes, they’ll likely be virtual and take no more than one to two sessions per week. On average, project management courses last from four to six weeks, assuming you move through at least half a module per week. Students who take project management courses may be working full-time, raising a family, or going to school for another degree. Whatever the situation, there’s a project management course for your needs and level of experience. When you sign up for a project management course, the provider will likely give you required reading materials, worksheets, and message board access to connect with other students. For the most part, all you need is an internet connection and a computer. If your course includes an exam, you may need to coordinate a test date and time with the school. Learn creative skills, upgrade your project management resume, and network with experienced professionals through any of the courses we’ve highlighted below. Can you get free project management courses online? While there aren’t many free project management courses, there are plenty of free educational resources immediately available to you. For example, Wrike offers the Project Management Guide. It’s a comprehensive survival manual for everyone, from professional project managers with years of experience to people suddenly asked to take on their first project. Our guide includes all the basics, must-know methodologies, lifecycle management tips, software tools, and techniques for managing teams you’ll ever need. One key thing to know about free project management courses: they provide great information, but they may lack hands-on exercises and mentorship opportunities. But the biggest and most important difference is certification. Whether it’s an official certification from an accredited school or a validation from an established program, an exam is typically a feature that paid classes offer that free ones do not. Project management courses for beginners: 1. Project Management Basics - An Official PMI Online Course Provider: Project Management InstituteCost: $400Duration: On-DemandWhat you'll learn: This 23-hour education series covers the foundational concepts of project management, including key terminology, an explanation of the project lifecycle, project constraints, a three-hour practice exam, an introduction to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK), and prep for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam. 2. Project Management FundamentalsProvider: Ed2GoCost: $149Duration: On-demand course accessible for six weeksAccreditation: PMI Registered Education ProviderWhat you'll learn: Get an introduction to essential project management techniques and the PMBoK, and prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP certification) and CAPM certification exams. Participants will learn how to prepare for, plan, and complete a project successfully, from holding an effective project kickoff meeting to risk management and quality assurance.3. Improving Your Project Management Skills: The Basics for Succes Provider: American Managers' AssociationCost: $2,445Duration: Three DaysAccreditation: PMI Registered Education ProviderWhat you’ll learn: This hands-on project management workshop covers project management techniques, tools, and best practices. Get a comprehensive overview of core project management concepts and terminology, from Work Breakdown Structures, Gantt charts, determining critical path, estimating project timelines, managing stakeholders, and defining project scope, schedule, budget, and risk. 4. Successful Project ManagementProvider: SkillPathCost: $199 for a yearly membershipDuration: Six self-paced modulesAccreditation: PMI Registered Education ProviderWhat you’ll learn: This course is designed for beginner and accidental project managers trying to manage projects on top of their regular job responsibilities. Learn how to initiate, manage, and execute any project using one of the many project management styles taught in this class. Resources for new project managers Find introductions to core project management concepts, terminology, tools, and processes with our project management advice. And if you have any books, courses, or other resources you found helpful as a new project manager, share them with us in the comments below! Read Next:23 Project Management Books for All Experience Levels20 Online Training Resources for Project ManagersThe Ultimate Guide to Project ManagementThe Project Manager Shortage is Coming: 3 Ways to Prepare
Do Agile Project Managers Need to Be Certified?
Agile Project Management Certification Other organizations, like the Agile Alliance, have offered their own Agile certifications before. But the Project Management Institute, with more than half a million members and credential holders in 185 countries, is definitely the most influential organization in the project management space, so it’s pleasing to see PMI now officially recognizing the Agile mindset as a significant and undeniable trend in project management. Indeed, Agile project procurement management has come a long way from a novel approach to a mainstream project management methodology. It went beyond its mother field, software development, and is used in an increasingly broader set of industries nowadays. This certainly increases the demand for Agile professionals, and employers want to make sure that they are hiring the right person for the job. This is where certifications prove useful, and for those wondering how to become a certified project manager, they should consider becoming certified in Agile for future job prospects. That said, there are still lots of opponents to the whole idea of Agile certification. For example, one of the main arguments for Michael Dubakov, an author at the Edge of Chaos blog, is that there are so many factors influencing the management process that they make any certification impossible. “Your company is special. You have special people on the development team. You have special conditions, rules, and other external factors,” writes Michael. What do you think of PMI's Agile Project Management Certification? What do you think of the new PMI certification? Will you consider it for yourself or your employees? Please post your thoughts in the comments below.
23 Project Management Books for All Experience Levels
You only have so many hours in the day, and precious few of them are your free time. So while you want to learn more about project management — either to pick up new skills or sharpen the ones you’ve already developed — you don’t have unlimited hours to read every book on the subject. Which project management books are best for your experience level? Which are actually relevant to the work you do every day? And most importantly, will they put you to sleep mid-sentence? While we posted some of our team’s must-read project management books in this article, we’ve since expanded our library with a few new favorites. From project management software professional services to team leadership, take a look and pick up a few to add to your work bookshelf. 23 Project Management Books for All Levels Beginners & Accidental Project Managers 1. The Project Management Answer Book - Jeff Furman, PMPThis quick reference guide is in question-and-answer format, so you can easily look up solutions to common problems and find the full answers you need right when you need them. This book is also useful as a supplement to formal PMP exam prep. 2. Project Management for Non-Project Managers - Jack FerraroThis book decodes project management terminology and techniques to make the topic accessible to complete beginners — useful even to experienced managers who simply don’t have formal training in project management and need an intro to the language and theory. 3. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management - Eric VerzuhProject management is a broad field with many different approaches and applications. If you're looking for a thorough yet high-level overview of the discipline, pick up a copy of "The Fast Foward MBA in Project Management." It's used in many graduate-level courses and within larger corporations to train project managers internally. 4. Project Management Absolute Beginner's Guide (3rd Edition) - Greg HorineCovers every aspect of project management, from the responsibilities of project managers to planning and executing the project itself. You'll learn about Work Breakdown Structures, defining a project schedule and budget, controlling deliverables, managing issues and risks, leadership and communication skills, working with stakeholders, and more. 5. Project Management JumpStart - Kim HeldmanFor beginners just getting their feet wet (or getting thrown straight into the deep end) this book explains core project management principles in the context of typical issues and real-world scenarios. It also contains an overview of PMBOK, the bible of project management. 6. Project Management Lite: Just Enough to Get the Job Done...Nothing More - Juana Clark CraigWant a no-frills introduction to basic project management? This book presents the foundation of the field in plain English for those who just want a quick primer before learning more. Advanced & Experienced Project Managers 1. Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams - Terry SchmidtProjects fail all the time, whether due to faulty strategies or uncontrollable circumstances. Use the strategies in this book to build a strong project plan that sets your team up for success. You'll start by asking four questions: What are we trying to accomplish and why? How will we measure success? What other conditions must exist? How do we get there? 2. Neal Whitten's No-Nonsense Advice For Successful Projects - Neal WhittenPacked with useful insights, tips, and best practices, Whitten encourages readers to take ownership of their projects in order to distinguish themselves as capable and reliable project managers. Take advantage of Whitten's 30 years of experience to set yourself apart and accelerate your career. 3. The Deadline: A Novel About Project Management - Tom DeMarcoLearn about project management and enjoy a fun read with this fast-paced novel. Follow the story of Tompkins, a project manager who’s kidnapped and presented with an impossible deadline. His solution is unconventional: with a huge staff of software developers at his disposal, he splits them into eighteen teams. Each team uses a different method, testing different project management assumptions and approaches. Pick up tips to effectively manage your projects while enjoying an entertaining page-turner. 4. The Lazy Project Manager: How to be Twice as Productive and Still Leave the Office Early - Peter TaylorLaziness is a virtue? Peter Taylor shows how laziness can translate into greater efficiency, increased focus, and better project outcomes. Apply the Pareto principle to find out which 20% of your workday really matters, and learn how to work smarter to achieve sustainable work/life balance and optimum productivity. 5. Rescue the Problem Project: A Complete Guide to Identifying, Preventing, and Recovering from Project Failure - Todd C. Williams, PMPAt some point in your career, you’ll find yourself managing a project that’s floundering. Whether or not you’re able to pull it out of a tailspin is one thing, but learning from what went wrong — and learning from others’ mistakes — is the key to continuous improvement and future success. When you’re in crisis mode, reach for this book to assess the core problems and create an action plan. 6. Project Retrospectives: A Handbook for Team Reviews - Norman L. KerthThe best project managers make constant improvement a top priority, conducting retrospectives at the end of each project to identify lessons learned. Follow the roadmap Kerth outlines to identify what went well and what you can improve to make your processes and teams even stronger. 7. Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (11th Edition) - Harold R. KerznerAt 1,200 pages, this is not a book you’ll read in one sitting or casually peruse during a quick work break. But it is recognized as an in-depth, go-to reference for all things project management, from measuring project ROI, establishing business justification, managing project sponsorship, and more. 25 case studies in a variety of industries illustrate the principles in real-world situations. When you’re in the middle of a project and a problem arises, reach for this book to find a diagnosis and possible solution. 8. Death March (2nd Edition) - Edward YourdonAt some point in your career, you’ll be tasked with a “Death March” project: an initiative that's sorely understaffed and underfunded, with unrealistic deadlines. While you won’t be able to completely avoid these types of projects, this book will help you survive them with your sanity intact. By understanding the underlying factors, you can find ways to address the root issues, manage expectations, and alleviate pressure on your team. Although it’s written with IT projects in mind, the principles are invaluable for anyone involved in a “Mission Impossible" project. Managing IT & Software Development Projects 1. Rapid Development: Taming Wild Software Schedules - Steve McConnellDon't be fooled by the title: this book isn't about churning out more lines of code each day. It's about finding best practices for your project to achieve faster results. You'll learn how to avoid common mistakes, wrangle project schedules to make them predictable, and achieve greater control over projects. The last section of the book outlines best practices, along with the risks and benefits of each one, so you can pick and choose which are best suited for your specific situation. 2. The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering, Anniversary Edition (2nd Edition) - Frederick P. Brooks, Jr.Author Frederick Brooks Jr. draws from his experience as a project manager at IBM to offer wisdom for leading huge projects and large teams. Although first written in 1975, this newer, expanded version is still considered a classic must-read for anyone managing large projects, especially in IT and software. While the technology Brooks references is outdated, the underlying insights into the common pitfalls of software development and project management remain as relevant as ever. 3. Waltzing With Bears: Managing Risk on Software Projects - Tom DeMarco & Timothy ListerNot all risks are bad! Sometimes bigger risks mean greater rewards, and playing it too conservatively means you could be left behind by bolder competitors. On the other hand, being reckless or ignoring possible consequences can mean failure for your project — and your business. This book shows how to identify and take advantage of worthwhile opportunities, recognize common risks, and determine your acceptable level of risk. 4. Managing the Unmanageable: Rules, Tools, and Insights for Managing Software People and Teams - Mickey W. Mantle & Ron LichtySoftware developers have a reputation as a quirky bunch, and Mantle and Lichty explain which management strategies will work with developers and why. They'll teach you their tested techniques for managing high-performance and distributed software teams at some of the largest companies in the nation and share what worked and what didn't. Leadership & Management Techniques 1. Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams (3rd Edition) - Tom DeMarco & Tim ListerWith a perceptive look into the how and why behind personal motivation, DeMarco and Lister share tips for assembling a great team and making the most of their time and talents. Rather than defining managers as overseers, DeMarco and Lister stress that a successful manager's main job is removing barriers to productivity so their teams can excel. 2. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable - Patrick LencioniTelling the story of a newly-appointed startup CEO and her troubled executive team, this book outlines 5 common disruptive team dynamics: Absence of Trust, Fear of Conflict, Lack of Commitment, Avoidance of Accountability, and Inattention to Results. You’ll probably recognize bits of yourself and your team in the story, and you’ll find steps and strategies for improving your teamwork. 3. The Essential Drucker: In One Volume the Best of Sixty Years of Peter Drucker's Essential Writings on Management - Peter F. DruckerNearly ten years after his passing, Peter Drucker is still famous as a leading management expert. This title collects what the man himself considered his essential teachings. Get Drucker’s take on making good management decisions, the difference between efficiency and effectiveness, focusing on contributions over results, and more classic leadership advice. 4. Berkshire Beyond Buffett: The Enduring Value of Values - Lawrence A. CunninghamHow do you become a great leader and establish a company culture where success is sustainable? This book looks at Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet’s $300 billion conglomerate, to show how managers can generate real economic worth from abstract values like frugality, integrity, drive, and independence. 5. Crystal Clear: A Human-Powered Methodology for Small Teams - Alistair CockburnAuthor Alistair Cockburn understands that successful projects come primarily from people, not methodologies or tools. Although the book is on Crystal Clear, a lightweight software development methodology, this book also focuses on how to set up and support your team so they can do their best work. In addition to providing an Agile roadmap, this book will teach you how to free your projects from heavy processes that slow you down and ransack your budget. What's on your bookshelf? Share the titles you've found most valuable in your project management career in the comments! Tip: If Amazon happens to be your bookseller of choice, try ordering your new books through Amazon Smile. Amazon will donate a portion of the price of your items to a charity of your choice. 6 Best Books for New Project Managers Read next:5 Best Project Management Books for Beginners and Accidental PMs15 Books Every Manager Should ReadThe Ultimate Guide to Project Management Credit: Image at top designed by Freepik.
Top 10 Blogs for Project Management Innovators: Reader's Choice
The voting for your favorite blogs about project management, innovation and 2.0 is finally over. I received over 230 votes, and it took quite a while to summarize the results. Now that the top 10 list of blogs for project management innovators is ready, I’m happy to share it with you. 1. PMPodcast 2. PM Student 3. Project Shrink 4. Daniel H. Pink 5. Andrew McAfee’s Blog 6. Bertrand Duperrin's Notepad 7. TED 8. Voices on Project Management 9. A Girl’s Guide to Project Management 10. Portals and KM Congratulations to all the top 10 bloggers! I also would love to thank all of you who commented on my posts about the best blogs, voted for your faves and suggested other valuable resources.
11 Quora Questions on Team, Product, and Project Management to Put on Your Must-Read List
In addition to learning from your own experience, it’s often useful to know how other professionals in your field coped with particular management questions and challenges. That’s when Quora, the popular Q&A service, comes in handy. From its massive knowledge base, we made a selection of threads with the most stirring and insightful discussions on project, product and team management. Check them out – maybe you’ll find the answer to the question that stole your sleep! And don’t be too shy to contribute your own thoughts and earn some karma points from the fellow Quorians ;-) 1. What are common mistakes that new or inexperienced managers make? Doing your homework about others’ mistakes might save you from bigger or smaller failures in your own experience. Read this thread to know what organizational, communicative and other traps a beginner manager needs to avoid, such as, for example, taking the credit and forwarding the blame. Some of the answers might interest management pros, as well. 2. What questions should one ask oneself on a regular basis to make one's product better? When you’re working hard to improve your product, adjusting your course could be easier if you had some check list at hand. Discover what questions and check points product managers came up with to create a precise product development compass. 3. What is the single most important aspect in creating and managing a high-performing team? The biggest number of votes here belongs to Dave Carvajal, a popular business consultant and advisor to top VC firms, who said that the only way to get people to do something well is to get them to want to do it. Check out the thread for more details on how to make it happen, as well as some other interesting opinions. 4. What should a product management team do to share best practices and learn? As one of the commenters mentions, sharing best practices is something that any team larger than two people should be concerned about. See which of the suggested conventional and creative methods of knowledge exchange would work best for your team. 5. What are the best ways to get a stagnated project going again? Suggested solutions range from just re-naming the project to completely abandoning it. But, as product management veteran Cliff Gilley emphasized, the first thing you have to do is figure out why the project got stagnated in the first place. What’s your remedy against project stagnation? 6. How long is your backlog? It’s a touchy question for all of us involved in product development. As you can learn from the commenters’ experience, prioritization is not enough to keep your backlog under control. Peek in the thread for more solutions. 7. What are the three qualities you liked most about the best manager you ever had? At first glance, this thread might seem like a Hall of Honor for people’s favorite bosses. But if you look closer, you may see it as a source of some tips on earning your team’s love and respect. After all, we bet most managers, secretly or not, long for their team’s appreciation. 8. What are some good tips for 1:1's with your employees? One-on-one meetings with your employees are not just helpful for resolving work issues. Apart from that, they might be a good way to increase your employee’s engagement. The thread revolves around various ideas on making such meetings work best for both parties. 9. How can I delegate efficiently? Delegation is one of the most important (if not mission-critical) skills for a manager. However, according to our recent survey on working habits, more than 50% of managers either have trouble sharing work or prefer doing everything by themselves. If this seems to be the case for you, too, don’t miss this thread. 10. How can you run a great meeting? 37 answers – looks like there are plenty of examples and recommendations to learn from! For instance, one of the tips from the top-rated answer is to start every meeting by tackling short and easy topics. 11. What are some creative ways to recognize employee performance? Sometimes just saying “thank you” is not enough, and giving a cash bonus might be beyond your authority. But as you can see from Quorians’ answers here, you just need some imagination to come up with cool new ways to appreciate your workers. And as a bonus… Of course, Quora isn’t only about work. It has lots of threads that are just fun to read while you’re having your morning coffee. For example, here’s a discussion that made us smile: What does it feel like to be a project manager on the Death Star construction site? Did you come across any other inspiring threads or feel like an important management aspect got left out? Don’t hesitate to add to the list!
33 Selected Blogs Update: 11 More Blogs for Project Management Innovators
The post got over 220 comments and still counting! Some of you also pointed me to a few excellent resources that I didn’t mention in the general list. So in this post, I’d like to add another 11 blogs for project management innovators to my initial collection. 1. Instigator Blog is your destination if you are an entrepreneur or a software start-up CEO. The author, Ben Yoskovitz, writes on a variety of topics, but I especially liked his pieces on social media, start-up management and customer service. 2. pm411.org, written by Ron Holohan, is a great resource for the latest news on project management tools, tips, methodologies, etc. I’ve already mentioned in my previous post that what I personally enjoy about this site is how the author looks at the practical side of things and pays attention how the material he blogs about can be applied to real-life projects, including his own. 3. Web Strategy by Jeremiah Owyang is focused on defining and delivering user and community needs, business goals and technologies that help you develop successful Web programs. So this blog would be especially interesting for you if you are a Web-based software entrepreneur or work for a Web-based software start-up. You’ll hear about all kinds of useful things, like finding social CRM vendors, mobile blogging technologies and lots more. 4. I’m Not Actually a Geek is a blog written by Hutch Carpenter, a well-known evangelist of innovation and Enterprise 2.0. This is a not-to-be-missed resource for any innovator, as here you’ll find information on topics like how to accelerate innovation in your company or how to organize innovation management. There’s also plenty of interesting observations on the latest Enterprise 2.0 trends and technology. 5. How to Manage a Camel is about project management and recruitment. The blog features guest posts on a variety of project management topics, such as methodologies, soft skills, communication, etc. In addition, there are valuable pieces on how to build a successful project team and scale up your personal career in project management. 6. CottagePM.com is an unusual blog, as it mostly focuses on small-project environments. The author, Max Walker, MBA, PMP, is one of those project management professionals who have tried applying all the classic methodologies and techniques to his rather small projects, and it didn’t work. Max then paved his way to successful project completion by relying more on common thought processes. If this story sounds familiar, or if you also have to deal with smaller projects, rather than industrial megaprojects, than this blog is a must-read for you. By the way, if this is your case, I also recommend that you to take a look at my post “The Long Tail of Project Management.” 7. Torsten Koerting is a project management enthusiast who writes on all the things that interest him in life and how these things can be applied to project work. You’ll find Torsten’s fresh, creative thinking very helpful in your project management job. 8. ClearPM is your resource for in-depth knowledge for managing large IT and industrial projects, as well as good project management advice for dealing with less complex, smaller projects. The author, Brian Mossing, a seasoned project management professional with over 25 years of experience, tries to make project management clear and understandable for you. 9. Scope Crêpe is a blog by Rich Maltzman, PMP, and the founder of the "Fiddler on the Project." It represents the author’s unique point of view on different aspects of project management, as well as some project management trends. 10. Project — This rather simple name represents an interesting blog that can be your destination for how-to posts on the PMP certification exam, software project management, methodologies, as well as project management software reviews, all written to follow the four basic principles of the author: “be helpful,” “be interesting,” “be critical” and “be amusing.” 11. Reforming Project Management is your destination if you are unsatisfied with their present project management practices. If you feel that there’s a need for change, this blog will help you start your innovation journey. The resource is targeted at all project managers and people interested in this sphere, but it would be especially useful for design and construction professionals. It’s also a great place to get familiar with Lean Project Management. The list of the TOP 10 Blogs for Project Management Innovators is coming up! Stay tuned and don’t stop voting!
Top Project Management Conferences to Attend in 2016
2016 is brand new, and now that you've started a fresh calendar, you're probably eager to find exciting events to fill it with. Look no further than our list of top project management conferences for 2016. Stay up-to-speed on the latest industry developments, pick up tips from respected experts in the field, meet other project management professionals, and have some fun learning new tricks of the trade away from the office. North America Global Scrum Gathering April 18-20, Orlando, FL Scrum experts gather to share their current best practices and creative applications to help your Agile team run more efficiently and effectively. Agile and Beyond May 5-6, Ann Arbor, MI Featuring Lean leadership expert Dr. Jeffrey Liker as a keynote speaker for their 2016 event, this conference focuses on Agile product development best practices. Boston University's Project Management in Practice Conference May 13, Boston, MA This year’s conference focuses on developing the technical skills central to project management success, from scheduling to risk analysis and budgeting. The event, hosted by Boston University, also features notable keynote speakers and hands-on workshops. Change Management Conference May 15-18, Dallas, TX Learn and sharpen the skills you need to lead your organization through effective change management, discover the latest trends and tools, and connect with your peers. Project Management Institute Mega SeminarsWorld June 27-30, Orlando, FL These in-depth seminars hosted by PMI help both novice and experienced project managers advance their careers. Real-world projects and small group sizes mean hands-on learning and valuable professional development. PMI Global Congress - North America September 25-27, San Diego, CA PMI’s annual Global Congress provides insight into current project and business challenges and strategies. This year’s conference will focus on globalization’s effect on the project management industry. PMO Symposium Nov 6-9, San Diego, CA Get a special peek into some of the world’s leading PMOs’ successful processes and strategies to improve your own results. International IPMA Expert Seminar February 18-19, Zurich, Switzerland This high-level seminar focuses on advanced project management topics, from business orientation of projects to strategic project management and more. It will bring together over a dozen international project management leaders to give presentations, lead workshops, and discuss trends, case studies, and research results. RICS and APM Project Leadership Conference February 23, London, England Good project managers recognize and develop talent in others. This conference teaches project managers how to create a talent, leadership, and people strategy for both project and team success. APM ProgM Conference: Equipping Programme Managers for Global Success March 10, London, England Program management is an increasingly digital field, with more tools and techniques emerging every day. ProgM brings together internationally-recognized leaders in program management to discuss the latest trends and ensure attendees have the skills they need to succeed. APM Project Management Conference April 21, London, England The 2016 edition of this award-winning conference will focus on how project managers can develop a world-class mindset as an individual, organization, and profession. This year’s speakers include notable program managers Steve Elliott, Richard Palczynski, and Paralympian gold medalist Marc Woods. PMI Global Congress - Europe May 9-11, Barcelona, Spain PMI’s 2016 international conference will focus on this fact: successful projects aren’t enough for businesses to thrive — initiatives must be aligned with larger strategic objectives. Keynotes from industry experts, product demonstrations, and educational presentations give attendees real-world solutions to the emerging challenges facing project managers. Project Management Africa Conference August 29-30, Accra, Ghana This year’s African conference focuses on applying project management principles for better business results. Attendees will benefit from learning new skills to advance their business, networking opportunities, and a thorough understanding of current tools and best practices. ProjMAN October 5-7, Porto Region, Portugal Academics, scientists, and project management professionals from around the world are invited to submit papers, share their experiences, and debate new ideas at this international conference. What Project Management Conferences Will You Attend? Which events will you add to your calendar? Do you have a favorite conference that we didn't include in this list? Let us know in the comments below!
What's Changing on the PMP Examination This November 2015?
UPDATE: The PMP exam update has been postponed till January 11th, 2016 to allow all examinees adequate time to prepare for the change. See the full announcement on the PMI website. Those aspiring to get their Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, take note: there will be changes to the PMP examination which will go into effect this November 2015. So if you're studying for the PMP exam with older material (i.e. the Exam Content Outline dated August 2011), you have until November 1st to use those materials and take the exam. After that date, the new PMP exam will be instated and you'll have to upgrade to the new Exam Content Outline (dated June 2015). Why is the PMP Exam Changing? The PMP exam is being updated because the role of the project manager continues to evolve. The exam is meant to reflect current practices. In fact, PMP certification exams are updated every three to five years to ensure they stay relevant for project managers. To update exams, a Role Delineation Study (RDS) is undertaken to examine the role of of the project manager and distill it down to key competency areas, such as domains, tasks, knowledge, and skills. The research done in the RDS is then validated by the larger PM community. In order to maintain certification as a PMP, you'll need a specific number of Professional Development Units (PDU). 60 PDUs are required over the course of three years, which can be earned by attending events, or accomplishing courses. What Was Updated? Here's a quick rundown: Overall, there are minor changes to terminology and language within many tasks. While the essence of these tasks remains the same, the language has been modified to fit current practice in the industry. A few tasks were removed from the prior version of the Exam Content Outline. Because they were dropped, the new PMP exam will not include related questions. The 5 domain areas remain the same, but there are shifts in how each area is weighted, meaning a corresponding change in the number of questions pertaining to each domain. For example: Domain 3 "Executing" has increased to 31%; this means there will be more questions on domain 3 than the previous version of the exam. The biggest change is the introduction of eight new tasks to the Exam Content Outline. See the chart below. Domain 1 has three new tasks (Task 2, 7 and 8), Domain 2 has one new task (Task 13), Domain 3 has two new tasks (Task 6 and 7), and Domain 4 has two new tasks (Task 6 and 7). To view all the changes in detail, see the latest Exam Content Outline (June 2015). Why Were These Changes Made? 1. To Focus More on Business Benefits & Benefits Realization There is an increased focus on business benefits, strategy, and benefits realization. This is because project managers are now being brought in at the earliest stages of projects when benefits analysis is conducted. Today's PMs often need ensure that the project focuses on business benefits rather than just delivering on time. 2. To Ensure Lessons are Learned Throughout the Project Lifecycle Another topic with added emphasis is lessons learned. Traditionally, PMs only discuss lessons learned during the initiation phase (lessons learned from past projects) and then again during the closing phase (lessons learned on this project). The focus is now on gleaning lessons learned throughout the entire project lifecycle. 3. To Reflect Who Really Creates the Project Charter The consensus now is that it's typically NOT the project manager who is solely responsible for creating the project charter. Instead, it's the sponsor or customer who creates and approves the project charter, while the PM acts as a contributor to its development and informs team members and other stakeholders about its contents. Parts of the exam were changed to reflect this shift. 4. To Underscore the Importance of Stakeholder Relationships Everyone now agrees that project managers build two-way relationships with stakeholders, instead of simply sending one-way communications and updates. The exam changes now place a greater emphasis on managing and engaging stakeholder relationships to effectively complete a project. What These Changes Mean Overall for the PMP Exam Expect to see 25% of the exam content cover new topic areas from those 8 added tasks. Also, expect a large percentage of the rest of the exam questions to be new and updated. Some things are not changing. The eligibility requirements remain the same: every PMP candidate needs to have 4,500 to 7,500 hours of experience in leading and managing projects, and should also have a total of 35 hours of formal project management education. The overall structure also remains the same. The PMP exam will still be made up of 200 multiple choice, scenario-based questions. How Are These Changes Affecting You? Are you taking the PMP exam soon? We'd like to hear how these changes are affecting your exam preparations. Are you already a PMP? What do you think of these changes? Drop us a comment below.