Latest Blog Posts
Etiam placerat velit vitae dui blandit sollicitudin. Vestibulum tincidunt sed dolor sit amet volutpat. Nullam egestas sem at mollis sodales.
-
How Do I Find An IT Solution?
This post starts a series to walk one through the questions we must answer in finding solutions for business problems. We will focus on IT solutions because so many challenges are best solved through automation. That is where software applications shine. However, there will be situations where your best solution…
-
Creating a Project Team – The Things to Consider
Whether you have resources on hand or are building from scratch, a good project team requires planning. We always want to create a team that is more than a collection of the members. Luckily, the history of good and bad teams gives us some keys to success. Communication As we see…
-
Project Success – Solving The Right Problems
When we talk about starting a project off correctly, we often mention problems to be solved. Unfortunately, solving problems alone is not the path to success. We must also make sure we are solving the right problems. Luckily, this task is not challenging and just requires us to ask a…
-
Project Kickoff – Simple Steps to Success
IT projects do not have a great success rate. However, a project kickoff that includes some simple steps can significantly improve its odds. These are not technical steps so anyone can do them. If your next project skips these steps, then it is more likely to become another unpleasant statistic. The…
-
Scary Statistics About IT Projects
InfoGraphic-Scary IT Project Statistics It is no secret that IT projects are less than a roaring success most of the time. However, when you start to look at the numbers around success rates and reasons for overruns it gets scary. The problems we face are not new. There have been…
-
Writing Good Requirements
There is a discernable difference between novice and veteran requirement writers. The process is more art than science, but it still has some best practices that can be of help to anyone. Here are some points to consider that can help you make your next requirements document the best one you…
-
Find The Why – Start a Project on the Right Foot
One of the biggest weaknesses I experience when consulting on projects is a lack of why. When the champion of the project is asked about the purpose of the project, there is an answer. However, the answer is about a vision, not about solving a problem. An ill-defined solution can…
-
Increase Project Success With This Checklist
In a previous post we looked at some of the reasons why projects fail. Now it is time to start looking at ways to avoid those common reasons for failure. Every project starts with a plan. When the plan is detailed and well thought out it is more likely to…
-
Why Projects Fail – Lack of Common Sense
The failure rate of IT projects is a concern for any new project. Unfortunately, this is a valid concern when you consider the failure rate is around 25% across all projects. Small projects are more likely to succeed. However, one in five is still likely to end in failure. The…
-
Chip and Pin – Why Bother?
If you work in retail or use a credit card, you have come across the latest technology: chip and pin. In the U.S. this is a newer and less prevalent technology than it is in the rest of the world. However, that does not diminish its importance. The more technical…