I believe my main motivator is reaching my full potential. If I am ever in an environment that requires me to put in work that does not utilize all of my skills that I’ve developed over the course of my…   Read more»

I can definitely see a correlation as many people have noted. Stepping up to the plate and reaching your full potential by taking on challenging tasks is both exciting and rewarding when you put the work in. But its the…   Read more»

I absolutely appreciated this class and what its taught me. Particularly, the mini-sims really gave me a sense of what it’s like to work and think as an engineer. Even though I work in the field, I do not encounter…   Read more»

The specifications that are outlined for a product are the limits of that product. Any output of that product that is outside of those bounds is not supported and is not usually a liability to the company. To avoid customer…   Read more»

If a second source is needed and does not meet the exact requirements of the product, an option is to revert back and modify the product requirements/specs so that the component from both sources meet the requirements. This of course…   Read more»

I was recently involved in a project where a team member was moving to a different company and had several critical tasks that the project depended on. We developed a strategy that ensured that we would minimize any potential delays…   Read more»

These 5 factors specifically ensure multiple things regarding a given project. They all emphasize organization, clarity, and accuracy. With factors such as communication, ensuring management support, and agreeing on project goals, the PM and other project team members all are…   Read more»

As some already mentioned, it should be made clear before the project execution if all proposed project team members will have the availability needed for the project, especially for the start of it. Depending on which organization types, different actions…   Read more»

I believe there are several key factors that need to be considered to ensure a successful project execution. First and foremost, meeting and getting to know each team member from the start is an excellent way to not only be…   Read more»

Personally, I don’t see this strategy as an actual situation. In my company, each team posts each task on a virtual project management board. Some tasks depend on others and are therefore linked with yarn and stickers. By carefully developing…   Read more»

I absolutely agree. I am a firm believer in proper execution, even if it means taking longer than expected. Therefore, going back to a previous phase for any legitimate reason is justified in my opinion. A legitimate reason, however, means…   Read more»

In addition to understanding the decisions made in the past, looking over the lessons learned provides invaluable insight that can be used to streamline a projects progression. The obvious reason as some mentioned is learning and avoiding past mistakes made….   Read more»

I would like to add my input on this topic, but it has to do with my experience NOT having a log of work to go off of. After starting my first job in the industry, I quickly learned each…   Read more»

In the case that a calm discussion does not easily resolve a situation and two or more parties are still in a disagreement, it is the PM’s responsibility to put his or her foot down and make a decision that…   Read more»

I agree revising the plan is not working backwards, it is just a response to new knowledge. However, it is important to discover that knowledge beforehand if possible. That is why extensive measures should be taken during the planning phase…   Read more»

This is a great topic to bring up. Many people, as you had mentioned, view missing milestones as a terrible thing that can occur in a project. Which is undoubtedly true. However, in my opinion, missing deadlines is significantly less…   Read more»

A challenge I often notice PM’s have to face is being able to follow along with the details each team member shares during meetings. Each team member spends a lot of their time and resources to provide their deliverables. During…   Read more»

There are a number of things the PM can and cannot do when it comes to dealing with team members that have diverted their time and efforts away from the project. The obvious first course of action is to have…   Read more»

Part of a workflow our company supports involves scanning in a jaw model of a patient so that a dental restoration can be designed and milled. One step in the scanning workflow requires the customer to screw in a “locator”…   Read more»

From what I’ve seen, there are several pros and cons of having the PM team responsible for managing risks of a project. Because the product managers should be familiar with all of the functions and processes of the different teams…   Read more»