tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66784083013698957772012-01-04T21:43:27.056-08:00The Project Notebook is my collection of Project Management articles, ideas, tools, and templates. Regular features include the PMP® Challenge Question (bimonthly) and Projects to Watch (monthly).<br><br> <i>There are endless sufferings to endure and endless lessons to learn.</i><br><br> <b>Chinese Proverb</b>Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.comBlogger2141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-65963318815198900852011-01-07T12:00:00.000-08:002011-01-07T12:00:03.346-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!!! Its 2011 and we're ready to celebrate a brand new year. The Project Notebook will also celebrate a Grand Re-opening at a new location. Come help us celebrate and enter our giveaway of valuable prizes. Between January 15 and February 28th 2011, visit our new site currently under construction at The NEW Project Notebook. There are two ways to participate on the

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.7153292 -117.157255132.426470699999996 -117.6241741 33.0041877 -116.6903361tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-51118612832395158302010-12-31T16:49:00.000-08:002010-12-31T16:49:44.259-08:00

Did you meet all your expected business outcomes in 2010? Were you "promise keepers" that made "raving fans" of your clients other stakeholders? If not, perhaps one agenda item for 01/01/2011 should be a review of your management planning meetings. How are they conducted? What is the agenda? What are the desired outcomes? Are these status and "look back" meetings? Or forward looking planning

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-17084923757998498842010-12-25T11:34:00.000-08:002010-12-25T12:02:00.669-08:00

By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMP Copyright 2010, Susan Peterson, All Rights Reserved As we ring in a brand new year full of promise, we may feel the incentive to make resolutions to improve our lives in a variety of ways. Just as the calendar gives us an “excuse” to start anew in our personal lives, it can also give us the impetus to re-think the current projects with which we are involved. It

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-18130284128204250082010-12-04T21:19:00.000-08:002010-12-04T21:19:18.314-08:00

Need a year end tax deduction? Please consider donating to the Jerry King Memorial Scholarship for PM Excellence and support training for educators and unemployed Project Managers. Visit Jerry King Memorial Scholarship for Project Management Excellence. The scholarship is an offering of the PMI Educational Foundation. We've raised more than $3,000 toward the $25,000 goal since announcing on

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-35917971313108149072010-12-04T19:34:00.000-08:002010-12-04T19:34:09.807-08:00

By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMP Copyright 2010, Susan Peterson, All Rights Reserved It’s that time of year again when those of us who celebrate year-end holidays find ourselves behind schedule, over budget and not meeting performance expectations. Most project managers do manage concurrent projects throughout the entire year. Ironically, many project management textbooks only address the

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-51749552320041397592010-10-28T20:08:00.000-07:002010-10-28T20:11:15.701-07:00

By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2010, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedMany of us know the challenges related to being the manager of a project. Probably more of us know the challenges of working on a project that is not being managed effectively. A common question is, “What can I do to manage a project when I’m not the project manager?” The unspoken but clear implication is that

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-33570825000676490012010-10-28T20:06:00.000-07:002010-10-28T20:08:27.462-07:00

I am going to extend my blogging "leave" until the end of first quarter next year. In the meantime, I am going to continue to post Susan Peterson's articles and hope to back online blogging in 2011.

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-24049659447513621642010-09-29T21:12:00.000-07:002010-09-29T21:16:54.872-07:00

By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2010, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedIt may not seem like you’re signing up for project management when you volunteer for a board of directors or for a committee chair position. Maybe it’s your child’s parent-teacher organization, a homeowners’ association board, or a community group. However, managing volunteer activities can be one of the most

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-30042154715609153212010-08-31T19:28:00.000-07:002010-08-31T19:35:49.566-07:00

By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2010, Susan Peterson, All Rights Reserved[Note: My continuing thanks to Susan for her monthly articles while I continue my blogging break.]Let’s say that you’re faced with a complex problem, and there appears to be no answer. Then someone comes along and gives you an answer to the problem. Is this a miracle or what? Actually, this situation is a trap that

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-67820640397988630822010-08-08T22:05:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:06:36.911-07:00

By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2010, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedOften a project manager and his/her team only hear and read criticism about the level of effectiveness of their work. It’s always easy to criticize. There are media personalities who make quite comfortable salaries filling the air waves with nasty remarks, sarcasm and cynicism. Seldom, if ever, do these same

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-38751476608344512262010-08-08T21:50:00.001-07:002010-08-08T22:02:06.112-07:00

When I announced my blogging break back in May, I alluded to "other projects". One of these projects is now coming to fruition.In cooperation with the PMI Educational Foundation, The Friends of Jerry King have made available a unique scholarship. The first award has been funded and we are actively seeking both applicants for a September award and assistance in permanently endowing the

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-2682983511089315092010-07-07T22:48:00.000-07:002010-07-07T22:52:21.612-07:00

By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2010, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedCould the Columbia shuttle disaster have been prevented? Could the Challenger shuttle disaster have been prevented? Seventeen years separate the two tragedies, but little appears to have been learned about allowing “bad news” to be heard -- and in this case, lives to be saved. Unfortunately, NASA is not unique

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-10423036917384978002010-05-30T20:21:00.001-07:002010-05-30T20:23:43.478-07:00

History of Memorial Day

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-80485791433031999852010-05-30T08:22:00.000-07:002010-05-30T08:25:25.058-07:00

By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2010, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedAll of us have expectations in life. Some are attainable without much effort. Others take considerable personal effort and a huge dose of good luck. Project owners, sponsors, customers and clients are no different in the diverse degrees of reality associated with their expectations for project outcomes. The

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-9485552385214901222010-05-17T22:19:00.000-07:002010-05-30T08:25:50.327-07:00

For the next 3-6 months, I'm planning a brief blogging break to consider some site upgrades and advance other projects I'm working on. Susan Peterson's articles will still appear as she provides them, there will be occasional short announcements and articles by me, and you may find some of my work in other places such as PM Hut and Project Management Questions. If you are interested in updates

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-29112618754511196002010-05-01T20:17:00.000-07:002010-05-01T20:22:55.872-07:00

By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2010, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedNear the end of the project executing phase project plans display that elusive milestone designated as “final implementation”. When many project managers see that milestone looming on their Gantt charts, they often feel that their work is nearing completion. However, the challenges may have just started. This

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-80603876273023404142010-04-23T22:25:00.000-07:002010-04-23T23:19:44.861-07:00

A writer at Project Management Questions asked if it was more desirable to get an MBA or a PMP. There are obviously many different reasons to pursue one or the other, but achieving both is now very realistic and affordable. The University of Phoenix, for example, offers an MBA program which includes PMP certification as an option (you still need to meet the work experience component of the PMP

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-79078390362926501702010-04-16T10:00:00.000-07:002010-04-16T10:00:03.440-07:00

By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2010, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedThere are a variety of methods to deal with risk either proactively or reactively. However, the one method that may actually be the riskiest is to simply accept that a particular risk or set of interrelated risks may occur during a project. There may be a number of seemingly valid reasons that are used to justify

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-17086926299958459982010-04-09T21:59:00.000-07:002010-04-09T22:24:19.362-07:00

Over on LinkedIn, one of the most popular discussions I've seen in some time is still in progress. It was posted 8 months ago and has over 1,000 responses (and is still going strong). It starts with a list similar to one I saw for the first time 7-8 years ago at a PMI ISSIG meeting. The author asks that responders identify the top cause of project failure from the following candidate list:#1.

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-79358106300592071182010-04-03T09:08:00.000-07:002010-04-03T09:58:51.605-07:00

On a recent trip to the San Diego airport, the shuttle made a brief diversion to a downtown hotel to pick up guests from a cruise ship that had just been through the Panama Canal. Now each of my online students needs to do a brief essay on an historical project, and this is a popular one, given that one project team succeeded where another had failed. So it peaked my interest to hear something

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-40997718340791379152010-03-20T09:16:00.000-07:002010-03-20T09:54:31.371-07:00

I'm still working my way through the Oz Principle "trilogy". There is so much of importance here for improving ourselves and our projects. I'm looking for ways that Oz and project management "correlate" or "complement" each other.One immediate area that jumped off the page is joint accountability. Its the idea that in any team setting, when someone drops the ball, another is there to help put it

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-69992429814070506132010-03-13T15:20:00.000-08:002010-03-13T15:54:36.207-08:00

A reader at PM Hut asks: Why do we see so much lack of time scheduling in construction business? And how can time management In a contractor company make the work more efficient?I cannot speak to the "lack of time scheduling in construction business". I'm in education, and most school construction projects have pretty good time scheduling because they need to be completed in time for the new

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-32894835602313530362010-03-04T20:43:00.000-08:002010-03-05T19:41:59.008-08:00

When I created this blog, I went through the usual diligence of deciding on an approporiate name. When I thought of Project Notebook, it seemed about right. It was to be my collection of writings and articles, and eventually the collection of writings and articles by others. While not the most important factor, I also investigated how it would fare in search engines. It had an OK

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-6706755503141401922010-02-28T12:48:00.000-08:002010-02-28T13:14:24.867-08:00

As a committed, lifelong learner, I try to read a lot of books, particularly as they may apply to management and business. After hearing much about The Secret, I finally obtained a copy a year or so ago. While some of the premise is rooted in modern day physics and string theory, there is an element of "mysticism". No matter how much I've thought positively about it, I'm not able to attract

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-42288986317865705022010-02-19T10:00:00.000-08:002010-02-19T10:00:01.684-08:00

A reader over at PM Hut asks, "How [can I] calculate delivery compliance in an engineering/ Software(IT) project?"From a Project Management viewpoint, I had some difficulty in understanding the term "delivery compliance", so I've taken the liberty of thinking of this as scope verification -- how we determine that what was delivered meets the project requirements. There is then a second part to

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-56752414288105844482010-02-13T10:32:00.000-08:002010-02-13T10:49:11.851-08:00

To my mid-Atlantic friends and clients digging out of snow -- stay safe! When the local infrastructure can't handle the volume, with a short wait nature and some sunlight will. Or try my college approach: host a poker game with friends and neighbors. It passes the time indoors and winner's car is dug out by the less fortunate. (P.S. There is a downside -- as the winner you will become the

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-57453161103905033712010-02-06T09:50:00.000-08:002010-02-06T11:26:26.749-08:00

In these difficult economic times worldwide, I continue to be delighted to find that the Project Management Institute continues to grow. More than just a growth company, PMI is perhaps the world's largest professional learning community. It represents my investment in me and continues to have high returns.It seems like just yesterday PMI reached 200,000 and then 250,000 members. Last year,

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-3951040236288002852010-01-30T14:37:00.000-08:002010-01-30T17:23:34.918-08:00

I thought that in this installment, I would take a look at how to best interact with folks (like me) that like to get things done. Have a Specific Due Date in Mind People who like to GTD probably work best with a specific due date. If they are told ASAP, it goes into their queue for prioritization. Preference is generally given to date driven tasks, after which they will do their best at

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-42111743861025572652010-01-22T20:50:00.000-08:002010-01-22T22:18:55.981-08:00

I found an interesting comment posted to one of my articles over on PM Hut. The commenter suggested that matrix management was responsible for stripping seniority from people within the organization. Matrix management is simply a way of organizing people and lines of communication. A quick trip to Wikipedia provides details. There is an expanded description in the PMBOK® Guide available for

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-6533698420763185662010-01-08T20:36:00.000-08:002010-01-08T22:21:37.436-08:00

Strategic thinking is about analyzing complex situations or making critical decisions involving large quantities of information. It includes a focus on "finding and developing unique opportunities to create value by enabling a provocative and creative dialogue among people who can affect...direction" (Center for Applied Research). The situations often require you to take a more high level look at

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-59195838332063075452009-12-25T15:55:00.000-08:002010-01-02T09:40:34.424-08:00

Grateful and Resolute was my first major post of 2009. I'm in Palm Springs for Christmas 2009 and as promised, I wanted to make this an annual theme. I'll be traveling to Philadelphia again in January for the PMI Volunteer Strategic Planning Meeting which will help further my work with the Component and Community Relations Governance Committee. Following that meeting I'll be heading for

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-27949933698961434652009-12-12T17:31:00.000-08:002009-12-12T17:32:38.839-08:00

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! I'm taking a brief blogging break and will be back with new articles in January 2010.

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-76357708271480307562009-11-21T08:19:00.000-08:002009-11-21T08:54:29.738-08:00

You're pretty good at keeping up with both your project work (more planned, organized and scheduled) as well as other tasks, but every now and then ... INCOMING! Unplanned and unscheduled tasks come pouring in. I found a pass, run, or kick strategy works best here.PassDelegate or recruit help for as much as you effectively can and where you trust you will be supported. Especially where you

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-2230762294869222362009-10-30T21:53:00.000-07:002009-10-30T22:11:02.865-07:00

As a newly commissioned officer, it is quite ordinary to imitate great leaders you have come to know through your study and service. But when you stop imitating others and start leading in your own way, you will emerge as a great leader in your own right.Dr. Wess Roberts and Bill Ross, Make It So: Leadership Lessons from Star Trek: TNGThis book had a great point about the ST: TNG series. Each

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-69559577841313174422009-10-18T22:32:00.000-07:002009-10-24T15:45:07.871-07:00

Leading at a higher level is therefore a process. We define it as the process of achieving worthwhile results while acting with respect, care, and fairness for the well being of all involved. In high performing organizations, everyone's energy is focused on not just one bottom line, but three bottom lines -- being the provider of choice, the employer of choice, and the investment of choice. Ken

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-89888705982419721932009-10-17T13:38:00.000-07:002009-10-17T14:33:25.443-07:00

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Project Management Institute, the "world's leading organization for the project management profession". I recently returned from the Leadership Institute Masters Class 2010 and the North American Leadership Meeting, two events in Orlando Florida which preceeded the North American Congress. I've personally reached the 9 year mark of volunteering with

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-22291684865261622732009-10-16T21:28:00.000-07:002009-10-16T21:54:12.509-07:00

From 9/15: What's the difference between leadership and management?The primary difference is that a manager is typically a person in authority while a leader is a person who accomplishes goals through influence. For a more detailed explanation, see The Practice of Leadership blog.Now here's a question for 11/1:A contingency reserve is an amount of money set aside in the project budget based on

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[Over the next year, I will be participating in the Project Management Institute's Leadership Institute Masters Class. This is a unique opportunity for personal growth which is offered to committed volunteers. The inaugural meeting of my class is this coming Sunday, so I thought it might be appropriate to include some articles on favorite quotes on leadership.]Good business leaders create a

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-57964766468316684862009-09-26T21:09:00.000-07:002009-09-26T21:18:12.645-07:00

By: Susan Peterson, MBA PMPCopyright 2008, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedThere are at least three separate groups of analysts who are assessing the current global economic situation.• One group is convinced that they “saw this coming a long time ago.”• The second group admits to being “blindsided.”• The third group includes those who may have seen something dire coming but didn’t think that

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-68036319382607031942009-09-18T21:12:00.000-07:002009-09-18T21:48:45.189-07:00

Is it just me, or is there an aversion to writing things down (project plans, installation directions) in the modern workplace? The manual I received with my BlackBerry barely covered how to turn it on. Getting the BlackBerry Integration Server and BlackBerry Enterprise Server to work became my responsibility. Some of it I easily figured out on my own, but some of it required me to search

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-37803037404609441182009-09-17T21:05:00.000-07:002009-09-17T21:09:39.235-07:00

On 9/1, we had a fairly simple question: What leadership style is being exercised when the team is brought together to discuss a problem and work as a group to solve it?The answer: consensus.Now here's the new challenge:What's the difference between leadership and management?Any thoughts? Add a comment or drop me a line at sdcamp@aol.com.

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-59468984816625376472009-09-11T19:57:00.000-07:002009-09-11T21:04:16.477-07:00

As a former New Yorker, its difficult for me to not remember 9/11. While I was fortunate not to lose any family or friends in the incident, many friends did lose loved ones and friends. My cousin, a teacher, watched in horror with his High School class across the river. I was preparing to leave for the office when family called to tell me to "turn on the TV" because there was a "horrific accident

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-5474869538213995122009-09-05T08:43:00.000-07:002009-09-05T09:18:30.769-07:00

To prepare for the PMI Leadership Institute Masters Class in October, I've been reading a digest of Steven Covey's book, The Speed of Trust. He suggests that trust simply means confidence and that trust impacts (in PM terms) time and cost. We can see how this operates in the world around us:- the cost of drug packaging increased after the Tylenol poisoning case- the time to get through an

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-3169879579628534642009-09-01T21:13:00.000-07:002009-09-01T21:14:42.779-07:00

Its the end of summer and time for a new PMP Challenge! Here's a simple one to warm up with. What leadership style is being exercised when the team is brought together to discuss a problem and work as a group to solve it?Stay tuned for the answer on 9/15!

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The PMP® Challenge Question will be returning soon! Came across this slide overview of PMP certification and thought it was excellent.Pmi - Project Management Professional (Pmp) Certification Study GuideView more presentations from robsonnasc.

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By: Susan PetersonCopyright 2003, Susan Peterson, All Rights Reserved.All of us have expectations in life. Some are attainable without much effort. Others take considerable personal effort and a huge dose of good luck. Still others will never be realized regardless of the effort expended or the lineup of the planets in the universe. Project owners, sponsors, customers and clients are no different

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Ever wonder why the "best and the brightest" aren't showing up on your project team? One distinct possibility is that your executive team and HR department hasn't heard of the Vitality Curve, a concept in use by GE and other highly successful companies. But this isn't a concept for everyone.Jack Welch describes the concept in a 2005 article posted to Leadership Excellence Online. Its a very

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It been 10 years since I last visited Kauai, but I recently had an opportunity to spend two days in Honolulu and a week in Princeville. In many ways, nothing changed in the last 10 years. Hanalei Bay still has its one lane bridge which blocks construction equipment from entering, along with progress. Except for more resorts at Poi'pu and a small road widening project between the Lihue Airport and

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One of the roadblocks to progress we frequently encounter as Project Managers is decision making. Sometimes we might benefit from a strategic framework -- what decision will best align with our mission and vision? But more often than not, we are hurried to make decisions in a world of instant communications and rapid change. How can we avoid analysis paralysis or making the wrong decisions?

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Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMP 2008, Copyright Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedIn the continuing series on outsourcing project work this month’s column addresses the challenges related to selecting those individuals and/or organizations that will provide the expertise needed for specific activities. All too often this process is filled with “communication disconnects” in documenting what is

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Enjoy the holiday ... back next week!

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I've started exploring the relationship of project and product management, particularly as they may relate to smaller companies. Each seems to have their separate body of literature, but there are some close ties.Let’s start by looking at the PMBOK® Guide, Fourth edition definition of project. Note that “product” appears as part of that definition. This leads us to believe that to create a

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I have two very important announcements from The Project Notebook:1) I've been selected by the Project Management Institute to participate in a group of 25 volunteer leaders from around the globe in the 2010 PMI Leadership Institute Masters Class (LIMC). This is a year long program scheduled to begin October 5-7 2009 in Orlando Florida. The program consists of three physical meetings in

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Here's the question posed on 6/1:What do we call the narrative description of services to be supplied as part of a contract?Without the aid of multiple choices, this may appear difficult to answer, but there is one simple answer! Its a Statement of Work or SOW.Summer Break for PMP Challenge Questions -- this feature will be on summer break until 9/1. See you back then! In the meantime, please

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By Susan Peterson, MBA, PMPCopyright 2005, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedAll of us juggle a multitude of priorities in both our professional and personal lives. Often, the number and magnitude of priorities may seem overwhelming and even in conflict with one another. Also, the sources/causes that are driving the priorities may have no logical basis. For example, in the space of a few days I’

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A PM Hut reader wonders if it is possible to pass the PMP Certification Exam based on the Fourth Edition after having studied using the Third Edition. While I guess this is always possible depending on the knowledge of the exam candidate, the best way is to be prepared. A possible mitigation strategy would be to find out what differs between the two editions.The good news is, there is plenty of

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The question posed for today is "What does RACI stand for?"RACI is a technique which can be used for creating a RAM or Responsibility Assignment Matrix. The letters stand for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. Some articles about RACI add "VS" for Verifies and Signs Off.Well that one was easy!Here's a question for 6/15:What do we call the narrative description of services to be

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Perhaps President Obama's association with the city has something to do with it -- suddenly the mention of "green" projects also brings up Chicago. The April 2009 PM Network magazine has a full page "side bar" highlighting the city accomplishments, including:- tax breaks and grants for the greening of building roof tops- The Chicago Climate Action Plan proposal to reduce greenhouse gases to 25%

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Managing the expectations of a Project Team can often be more difficult than managing those of external stakeholders. Teams “form, storm, norm, and perform”, but short projects and critical tasks can be impacted by unwanted behaviors, especially if the team members don’t know what’s expected of them. RACI and RACI-VS are forms of a Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) which can help focus the

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In our last challenge on 4/15, the question was: Explain the function of sum of the years depreciation.This method requires that you first determine the number of years over which the asset will be depreciated. The amount of annual depreciation is then a fraction. The denominator of the fraction is the sum of the years. So if the number of years is 4, the denominator is 1+2+3+4=10. The year

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In Part I, I looked at a few specific techniques which can be used to accomplish more. In Part II, I'd like to look at a few of the motivators -- the things we need to understand to be motivated and motivate ourselves to accomplish more and be successful.Opportunity CostYou've probably heard it before -- you can't use the same minute twice. When chosing what we are going to work on, opportunity

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A PM Hut reader writes "what benefits, if any, do PM techniques bring to voluntary and community projects?" This is a great question for me to answer since all my work with the Project Management Institute is voluntary and contributes to the Project Management Community. However the professional community isn't the only community that can benefit from PM expertise.Of all projects, those with

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By Susan Peterson, MBA, PMPCopyright 2007, Susan Peterson, All Rights Reserved The recent terrible fires in southern California are yet another reminder of the ongoing battle of human beings against the elements. Every part of the planet has its challenges with the ravages of nature. Whether it be flood, fire, severe storms, or other disasters, each human response effort to these events is a

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Budget Risk AssessmentOnce you have created your draft budget, it should be subjected to the same review process as estimates discussed within the course materials. A line by line review should look for all the risks. Depending on your company and/or client policy, having a 15-25% contingency to manage risks is normal. You may want to consider an additional contingency for unplanned risks.Most

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Happy Tax Day! Just a little late with the post since I took the day off in celebration. On 4/1, I asked what does each abbreviation stand for:CR - Cost Reimburseable. This is a contract where the seller is reimbursed for their costs. There is usually a fee or some other payment representing the profit.CPFF - Cost Plus Fixed Fee. The contract is a variant of cost reimburseable with a fixed

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As you start to plan your budget, you should review previous budgets for similar work if they are available. You will need to form the budget based on historical experience and performance, plus your current WBS and estimates. When the schedule is created, you will need to look at resource availability. The most difficult part of the process will be to think through ALL costs.Basic Project

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[In a recent update to an online course, Controlling Project Costs and Risks, I added a version of this material]What is a Project Budget?Let’s start with the PMBOK® Guide, Fourth Edition definition:[Budgeting] is the process of aggregating the estimated costs of individual activities or work packages to establish an authorized cost baseline.Project budgets constitute the funds authorized to

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By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMP Copyright 2008, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedContinuing the column series theme of outsourcing, let’s assume that you’ve decided that your project has some definite needs for expertise and/or skills that are not found or that are not readily available inside your organization. As mentioned in last month’s column, the base cost of an activity can be an

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On March 15th, the challenge was:You have finished project management training and desire to earn your PMP® credential. What are some constructive ways you can go about applying your new knowledge and obtaining your first project management assignment at your company?Certainly one of your first steps might be a discussion with your manager. Let him/her know about your accomplishment and how you

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By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2008, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedBoth private and public service sector organizations face an ongoing challenge to determine whether functions should be performed internally or externally. While much is written about how to make this decision from an organizational strategic perspective, there are few guidelines for the project manager to use

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On 2/15, the Challenge Question asked about RACI-VS. This is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed, Verifies, and Signs off. These are the key responsibilities which can be associated with a RAM or Responsibility Assignment Matrix.Now for the next challenge. This is a human resources question:You have finished project management training and desire to earn your PMP® credential. What are

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Project control is simplified by good planning from the start. Explore project selection, evaluation, initiation, and the planning that follows. Discuss project scope and its relationship to costs, as well as the cost estimating process. Learn how simple but effective tools, like MS Excel and MS Project, can help control project costs. You will also study risk management – including the nature of

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People frequently ask me "how do you find the time to do the things you do". Unlike others, I'm not necessarily about multi-tasking -- I can't drive, shave, and read a book at the same time like some freeway drivers. But I do work efficiently and effectively enough to volunteer for PMI and find time for this blog, among others things. This week, I'd like to share some of my secrets.Know what

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Last week I wrote about the value of the PMP® Certification. During the week I received an email asking me if there was a survey which showed this value. Obviously one source of information which was not a survey but a series of case studies, was the Value of PM study performed by the University of Athabasca. The web site home for this research project is Value of PM. This early study focused on

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An article entitled "Project Management Certification Does Not Predict Performance" on the Struggling Manager blog caught my eye. My first reaction was "no surprise here". Most certifications do not predict performance, but rather ensure a minimum amount of knowledge and experience. Unfortunately the premise was the training to earn this certification wasn't useful.Rob, the author, contended that

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By: Susan Peterson, MBA PMPCopyright 2007, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedOne of the most obscure “measures” of quality is the specification of “good enough”. Despite efforts to unequivocally define quality in the planning phase, the actual project execution is filled with instances where “differences of opinion” surface in determining if deliverables actually meet specifications,

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On 2/1 I asked:An Earned Value Analysis for a recently closed out project revealed:SPI = 0.7, CPI = 1.0State at least THREE conclusions you can draw from this statement.The statements are:1) Cost is on target.2) Schedule is over budget.3) Project deliverables are complete (tricky ... but you are closing out the project)Here's the next challenge:What does RACI-VS stand for? For the project team,

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The triangle is one of the simplest plane figures -- only three sides. As one side changes length, the others respond by growing longer or shorter to remain connected and encapsulate the area within. I like to think of the equilateral triangle (three equal sides) as representing a healthy tension. Change too much of one side and the others need to respond and the sides become unequal.Of course as

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A recent PM Hut reader asked "I'm a PM at a small web developing company, but as soon as I can I want to work at a multinational company. I hope you can help me with that." The rest of the message asked three specific questions and also implied this was a move from a small to large environment. Having worked on both US coasts for companies as large as General Electric and as small as one employee

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There were no correct responses to the last challenge question, so I'll hold those questions for future use. Here's a fresh question to start off February:An Earned Value Analysis for a recently closed out project revealed:SPI = 0.7, CPI = 1.0State at least THREE conclusions you can draw from this statement.See you on 2/15 with the correct answer!

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I recently returned from a 10 day trip to the east coast, visiting clients and attending PMI's annual Volunteer Strategy and Planning meeting in Philadelphia. In addition to accomplishing vast amounts of work given the availability of a longer day without interruption due to travel and time zone, the trip afforded me some personal reflection time to set personal expectations for the new year.Of

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[Happy New Year! I just returned from a 10-day trip to the east coast to visit clients and attend the annual Volunteer Strategy and Planning meeting for PMI Global Operations Center volunteers in Philadelphia. To start off the New Year of the Project Notebook, here is Susan Peterson's message from January 2005 which seems even more relevant today in light of the challenges expected for all in

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This is it! The last question in the series of three ...For the first reader to successfully email a correct response to two of three challenge questions (12/15, 1/1, and 1/15), I have the following gift:Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers – The People Skills You Need to Achieve Outstanding Results by Anthony Mersino, PMP.So without further ado, here is the final question:In Project

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For the first reader to successfully email a correct response to two of three challenge questions (12/15, 1/1, and 1/15), I have the following gift:Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers – The People Skills You Need to Achieve Outstanding Results by Anthony Mersino, PMP.So without further ado, here is the question:What does PERT stand for? What company is usually credited with the "

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By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2008, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedUsually my December column has focused on managing projects through the seasonal abundance of joy that can accompany the year-end holidays. However, this year’s holiday season seems to be destined to be more heavily weighted toward gloom rather than toward mirth. “Doing more with less” is giving way to “doing

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It's time for another PMP Challenge Question giveaway. For the first reader to successfully email a correct response to two of the next three challenge questions, I have the following gift:Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers – The People Skills You Need to Achieve Outstanding Results by Anthony Mersino, PMP.So without further ado, here is the question:Your project management team

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For the past three years, I've had the privilege of being the Component Mentor to the Boards of Directors for 17 PMI chapters in PMI Region 7 -- California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii. It has been a rich and rewarding experience. I've met many amazing volunteers who are dedicated and passionate about the profession and those who are involved in it. I've worked collaboratively with

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Due to technical difficulties, the PMP Challenge Question giveaway announced to start on 12/1 will commence on 12/15. Thanks for your patience!

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By: Susan Peterson, M.B.A., PMPCopyright 2008, Susan Peterson, All Rights ReservedWhat could possibly be wrong with being a good project manager? After all, we joined PMI so that we could learn more about effective project management. We take courses to continue to improve our project management skills. We may even observe other project managers in order to see firsthand what works and what does

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-64545093368798703432008-11-22T07:55:00.000-08:002008-11-22T08:32:55.472-08:00

Much of project planning requires an ability to think strategically, yet this is a step often left out. It means we need to think not just about our immediately desired outcomes, but look at what some of the other options are going to be.According to the Philadelphia based Center for Advanced Reasearch (CFAR), "Strategic thinking focuses on finding and developing unique opportunities to create

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-58170628677744606932008-11-07T17:00:00.000-08:002008-11-07T17:00:00.703-08:00

What do you get when you mix innovation, mentoring, education, and project management? Spring Garden Alive!, a product of PMI Founder Jim Snyder, PMI Delaware Valley Chapter, the School District of Phildelphia, Devry University, and the PMI Education Foundation. Here's what I learned about this project while in Denver for the 2008 North American Leadership Meeting.Using Perkins Title IV funds

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-87754089953964975952008-11-04T22:38:00.000-08:002008-11-04T22:42:12.206-08:00

The challenge question posed on 10/15 was to list at least 2 or 3 ways to collect expert opinion. What way of collecting expert opinion allows us to collect information from one person without influencing another?Some of the ways include:SurveyDelphi TechniqueBrainstormingThe Delphi Technique polls the participants anonymously, so the experts cannot influence each other directly.The Challenge

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[This week I'm pleased to announce that Susan Peterson, a long time colleague and admired author will be joining The Project Notebook as a monthly contributor. Up to this point, The Project Notebook has focused on Project Management basics and topics related to project control. With Susan's contributions, as well as a new direction for my articles, The Project Notebook will expand its offering

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-87776395010798953662008-10-24T22:15:00.000-07:002008-10-24T22:50:10.822-07:00

I just returned from the 2008 PMI Leadership Institute Meeting in Denver. While many different topics and discussions take place, the keynote and the buzz was about value. This year marks the completion of a four-year study with 48 researchers and over 100 volunteers investigating the value of Project Management.The study defined value, including its tangible and intangible components. After

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-89116031023807050612008-10-17T22:48:00.000-07:002008-10-17T22:58:13.088-07:00

Here is the 10/1 question again:You are in the middle of rolling out a Unix development and production platform to 8 US and 8 overseas locations, primarily Australia and Europe. This is a major initiative to move development and clients off proprietary mainframes and on to more flexible, vendor supported platforms. The equipment is shipped to the US, repackaged, and forwarded to locations to

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Fellow blogger Fadi El-Eter contacted me this morning to let me know an article on earning a PMP credential which I had on his site, PM Hut, had a question in a comment and invited me to provide an anwer. For those of you who are unaware, the Project Management Institute has been raising the bar for earning a PMP credential at regular intervals. When I took the exam in 2000, the language around

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-71730759922611183762008-10-04T10:19:00.000-07:002008-10-04T10:32:19.421-07:00

My apologies for a late post -- I had a pretty quick trip visiting 3 clients on the East coast.On September 15, I posed an easy question: What project document is created by decomposing the project scope into smaller, more manageable deliverables? This is, of course, a WBS --Work Breakdown Structure!Now here's a more difficult question for 10/15, based not only on the exam, but real life

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I usually have to visit a copy shop at least 2-3 times a year to fulfill various needs for PMI meetings and events. This past weekend I had a critical business need to have a small number of copies made and spiral bound for a customer meeting. With FedEx Kinko's being the closest, I dashed off last night to have the copies done. Since I don't frequently visit, this was like a "first visit" all

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-62190285352843808822008-09-20T10:41:00.000-07:002008-09-20T10:57:14.159-07:00

About 2 hours ago the Reuters service carried news of the malfunction of the world's largest physics experiment, the $9B Large Hadron Collider (LHC) located beneath a CERN research center near the Swiss-French border. A 30-ton transformer designed to cool the magnets to -456.3F malfunctioned. The resulting helium leak into the 17 mile tunnel housing the equipment resulted in a shut down and its

Ray W. Frohnhoefer, PMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486522010567680018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678408301369895777.post-80520781674017222582008-09-17T20:35:00.001-07:002008-09-17T21:29:41.944-07:00

My popular UCSD Extension course is now available online through the BlackBoard Academic Suite platform. It's a true anywhere, anytime learning course with a guided, asynchronous discussion. Project management and control is simplified by good planning right from the start. The course is totally online and includes 27 hours of instruction. For more details and to enroll on line, visit

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