Tuesday, July 30, 2013

PW&WCBA Speaker Spotlight: Malgorzata Kusyk

In our brand new Project World and World Congress for Business Analysts 2013 Speaker Spotlight series, Malgorzata Kusyk, PMP, Senior Project/Program Manager at Thomson Reuters, recently sat down with us to discuss what it takes to be a great project manager and business analyst in an environment that is growing increasingly competitive every day. Here is what Kusyk had to say:

IIR: How do you, as a PM or BA, stand out in a crowd in this competitive business world?

Kusyk: Today slow economic growth, shifting global market priorities and a push for innovation all make for a very complex and risky business environment and put additional emphasis on the need for excellence in project, program and portfolio management.  Research conducted with senior project management leaders on PMI’s Global Executive Council found that the most important skill for managing today’s complex projects and programs is the ability to align the team to the vision of the project and design the project’s organizational structure to align people and project objectives.

I have been managing very complex projects and some of them were very successful and the other ones struggled, not because there were more difficult but because there was no social engagement and collaboration between stakeholders. The shift from micromanagement and looking at the project from a task perspective to team empowerment, self-organization, self -motivation, trust, authority and ownership are the key to success of today’s complex and risky projects. So, I put a lot of effort to build a collaborative environment, that means ownership of shared goals, links with a purpose and commitment to one another’s success (T.E.A.M = Together Everyone Achieves More).

IIR: What are characteristics of a GREAT project manager?

Kusyk: Projects are people not equipment or PERT diagrams, so for me the most important competency of a great PM is people focus. A great Project Manager builds relationships, is  interested in others’ success,  is emotionally intelligent, gives positive and constructive feedback, coach and teach other to perform their best, is exceptional communicator and listener and provide formal and informal recognition.

Moreover, focuses on process and  outcome, and by that  I do mean “task focus,” control or micromanagement, but rather keeping himself and team on track and motivated (trust). And last but not least is a learner by nature – demonstrates attitude “what can I learn?” rather than “who’s to blame?” recognize and respect cultural differences etc.

IIR: What are some tips you would suggest to someone who is just learning Agile?
Kusyk: Agile is…
  1. Mind shift. Agile is about a fundamental shift in thinking - Agile is not a process is a mindset! There is a good presentation on this topic by Bob Hartman– Doing Agile isn’t the same as being Agile. The essential point is that we are “Doing Agile” when we follow practices and we are “Being Agile” when we act with an Agile mindset – set of values and beliefs defined in Agile Manifesto. 
  2. Not a “silver bullet”. According to the survey results and recommendations presented in Agile Maturity Report – Benchmarks and Guidelines to improve your effectiveness,” a broken waterfall based project execution approach is not sufficient reason to commit to Agile. Agile is not a “silver bullet” or a solution to a mission critical initiative without any background in the approach. Agile will expose problems such as team dysfunctions. It doesn’t always fix them, but visible problems tend to be easier to solve.
  3. Bridging the gap between IT (or other departments) and the business.
  4. Business/Feature driven versus traditional task/activity driven.
  5. About self organization! Self organizing team makes decisions, commits to the work that they have to do, has few specialized roles, is cross functional, and organizes its own work.

IIR: How do you as a PM or BA build leadership skills?

Kusyk: First, we need to define the leadership skills? IBM study reveals that creativity is the most important leadership quality followed by integrity and global thinking  (1500 corporate leaders, from 60 nations and 33 industries were pulled on what drives them in managing their companies in today’s world). Creative leaders are more prepared to break with the status quo of industry, enterprise, and revenue models. 

So how do I unlash creativity, build integrity and think globally? 

  1. I support and reword creativity &  innovation. I’m open to new ideas and give the team freedom to try new ways of working or new tools or processes.
  2. Build trust and high level of honesty – I trust people until I’m proven wrong. 
  3. Find or create some rituals or common symbols – special designed t-shirts, morning coffee together.
  4. Create positive work environment.  Add some fun to work – integration/team building activities, interviews with team members on their passions, hobbies or achievements (both from work and outside).
  5. Formal and informal celebration. Birthdays, milestone/project accomplishments.
  6. To understand the cultural differences and make relationships I try to visit a country where my team members are based – very often at my own expenses. If cannot effort a visit  try to find out more on cultures through reading, speaking to people or visiting a restaurant representing the ethnicity of a team member.
  7. Coach and mentor rather than control.
  8. Focus on personal development and knowledge sharing – encourage team members to  taking part or speaking at conferences and then sharing the knowledge and experience with others.

IIR: How does a successful PM communicate?

Kusyk: Clear communication is the most important ingredient of managing projects. A  successful project has a communication strategy in place. I find a Communication Plan as a very powerful tool and use it extensively. For me it’s crucial that there’s not too much, not too little, but just enough communication in my project, that’ why it is so important to find out what are the needs and preferences of the project stakeholders with regard to communication. A good Communication Plan includes but not limited to: kicking off a meeting, defined roles and responsibilities, project status meetings and frequency, identifying project communications, defining the level of detail to the level of management, developing communications standards and project de-briefing.

Stay tuned for more upcoming expert interviews right here on the PW&WCBA Blog.  

Kusyk is a speaker at the annual PW&WCBA 2013 in Orlando, FL in September. To register for the event, click here: http://bit.ly/13sfECq

Amanda Ciccatelli, Social Media Strategist at IIR USA in New York City, has a background in digital and print journalism, covering a variety of topics in business strategy, marketing, and technology. She previously worked at Technology Marketing Corporation as a Web Editor where she covered breaking news and feature stories in the tech industry.  She can be reached at aciccatelli@iirusa.com. Follow her at @AmandaCicc. 
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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

The Formula for Project Management Success

These days, project managers can encounter a few problems that happen to almost everyone in the market. Projects can be delayed, exceed budget, and in many cases, projects don’t come out as designed. In fact, did you know that 68 percent of projects either fail or are seriously challenged?

So, why is this is happening?  With over 10 years of experience in the project management industry, Yarn Sinai, founder of web-based project management tool Elemtool, has discovered the secrets to solving these problems. Here are easy steps every PM can take to make their projects successful based on Sinai’s new book, “The Project Management Formula:  The Five Steps to Complete Your Project on Time.”

“We all run projects as part of our daily life activities. Let’s say a fun dinner party is a project. This project includes several tasks and people and can be run using common management concepts,” wrote Sinai.
These steps will drastically change your thinking about how you invest your time, what you focus your energy on and what’s really important when it comes to managing projects:

Step 1 - Define project objectives and collect requirements.  Not defining the project’s objectives is the number one reason why projects fail.

Step 2 - Define the priority of the requirements and features.  Identify the requirements that are most important to achieving the project’s success -those should be marked as the highest priority features.

Step 3 - Planning iterations.  Iteration is defined as the act of repeating a process with the aim of approaching a desired goal, target or result.

Step 4 - Running the iterations.  With the iteration schedule ready and all the tasks assigned to team members, each person should be tackling their tasks.  

Step 5 - Present the product to the client.  At the end of each iteration you should meet with the client to present the features that were developed. Having a straightforward formula to follow will help you stay on track and eliminate any difficulties that may arise.



Amanda Ciccatelli, Social Media Strategist at IIR USA in New York City, has a background in digital and print journalism, covering a variety of topics in business strategy, marketing, and technology. She previously worked at Technology Marketing Corporation as a Web Editor where she covered breaking news and feature stories in the tech industry.  She can be reached at aciccatelli@iirusa.com. Follow her at @AmandaCicc. 
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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Project Delivery: Done Right the First Time from Thomson Reuters, Travelers, Humana & More

In today's complex business environment, there is urgency for results and an increasing need to "get it right the first time." Resources are scarce, it's more important than ever to complete your projects on-time and under-budget. In most projects, giving it another try just isn't an option.

ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts is bringing together the industry's top project management and business analysis professionals to share best practices, accelerate learning and professional development. Find out how companies like Thomson Reuters, Boeing, Travelers, Humana, and the U.S. Navy get their projects done the right the first time by breaking down silos to increase team collaboration, elevating leadership skills within PM and BA teams and managing risk for successful outcomes. Plus, you'll earn more than half of the PDUs/CDUs necessary to maintain your certification in just 3 days - that's 36 PDUs!

Download the brochure for the full agenda here: http://bit.ly/13TaPlJ

Check out the list of those already signed up to attend:

AAA National
Aarons, Inc.
ALSAC/St. Jude's Children's Hospital
Arbitration Forums
Arbitron
Atlas Copco
AutoTrader.com
AXA Equitable
Bank of America
Capital Group Companies
CB&I
CCLA
CEB
Chevron
Churchill Downs Inc.
Cisco Systems
Citizens Bank
ConnectWise
Deloitte Touche
EBG Consulting
ESI International
Farm Bureau Insurance
FDIC
Federal Reserve Bank
FedEx
GAIC
Great Lakes Educational Loan Services
Green Shield Canada
Humana
IBM
InfoQ
International Monetary Fund
Kindred Healthcare
Managed Market Resources
Marathon Oil
McKee Foods Corp
National Insurance Producer Registry
Navy Federal Credit Union
NCCI Holdings Inc.
North Highland
NTT Data Inc.
Orlando Utilities Commission
Paula A. Bell Consulting
PetSmart
Prudential Annuities
Public School Retirement System
Railway Procurement Agency
RGP Healthcare
Robert Bosch
Russell Martin Associates
Scottrade
Scotts Miracle-Gro
Seilevel
Shire HGT
Siemens
Stage Stores, Inc.
State of Wisconsin
SunTrust Bank
TCS Global Consulting Practice
The Boeing Company
The Travelers Companies
Thomson Reuters
ThoughWorks
UNC Charlotte
Universal North America
Vertex
Why-What-How Consulting
Wisconsin Department of Justice
September 9-11, 2013
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Orlando, FL

Mention code PW13LINK & Save 15% off the standard rate.
Register today: http://bit.ly/13TaPlJ
Join us and know that you are investing in yourself and your career. Plus, you'll save $200 off the standard rates when you register by Friday. We hope to see you in Orlando!

Best,
The PW&WCBA Team
@Project_World

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Friday, July 19, 2013

PW&WCBA Speaker Spotlight: Paula Bell

In our new Project World and World Congress for Business Analysts 2013 Speaker Spotlight series, Paula Bell, Business Analyst Coach, Mentor, Speaker, and Author recently sat down with us to discuss what it takes to be a great project manager and business analyst in an environment that is growing increasingly competitive every day.

IIR: How do you, as a project manager or business analyst, stand out in a crowd in this competitive business world?

Bell: In order to stand out as a project manager or business analyst you have to stay up on the skills that are trending in the industry.  Even if you may not practice some of the methodologies or skills that are topics having the knowledge of what those methodologies/topics are is key. 

Also, share your knowledge.  You can do this by writing articles for trade magazines in your discipline or even starting blogs.  Just by sharing your knowledge you will be known.  Continue to sharpen your craft and be the best project manager or business analyst you can be.

IIR: What are characteristics of a GREAT project manager?

Bell: Some characteristics of a GREAT project manager are integrity, respect, interpersonal skills such as relationships building, communication (written and verbal), negotiation skills, problem solving, critical thinking, thinking outside of the box, influencing and helping others make decisions. 
The foundational skills of a GREAT project manager is more soft skills than technical skills.  If you cannot build the relationships and gain credibility and trust you will not be successful. This is for the business analyst role as well.

IIR: What are some tips you would suggest to someone who is just learning Agile?

Bell: Mentor with someone who has done it successfully and learn from their challenges and successes.  There is so much more knowledge out there now that I would recommend to learn from that knowledge.

IIR: How do you as a project manager or business analyst build leadership skills?

Bell: You build those skills by doing them.  Take on a leadership role on a board or in the community to help build out those skills if there aren’t opportunities within your organization.  Take training classes on leadership and do a lot of introspection on yourself. 

You must lead yourself before you can lead anyone else.  In order to lead yourself you must know yourself.  In order to know yourself you must analyze yourself.  Take the time to develop yourself in this area.  Get out of your comfortable and take on different challenges in a leadership role.  All of these things will build up your leadership skills. 

IIR: How does a successful project manager communicate?

Bell: Honestly.  Not matter the circumstance always be honest whether good new or bad news.  Support your team and communicate with them frequently.  Do more listening than talking, understand all sides and think before you speak.  This all goes back to building and maintaining relationships and communication is key in that.

Stay tuned for upcoming expert interviews right here on the PW&WCBA Blog.  

Bell is a speaker at the annual PW&WCBA 2013in Orlando, FL in September.


Amanda Ciccatelli, Social Media Strategist at IIR USA in New York City, has a background in digital and print journalism, covering a variety of topics in business strategy, marketing, and technology. She previously worked at Technology Marketing Corporation as a Web Editor where she covered breaking news and feature stories in the tech industry.  She can be reached at aciccatelli@iirusa.com. Follow her at @AmandaCicc. 
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Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Top Business Analysis Trends of 2013: Communicating “Up” Will be Critical

According to Nancy Nee, vice president of Global Product Strategy, ESI International, there are specific business analysis (BA) trends that will be prominent in 2013. We have already gone over nine of them in our previous posts. So, let’s now move to number ten.

In 2013 we will see BAs learning that they have to communicate better, meaning that communicating up and across is going to be a major focus of what BAs are going to be targeting in 2013. BAs are the most aware of the requirements of the value those requirements bring because they do a lot of impact analysis on those requirements.

She added, “When they are working on a project they know if they miss a requirement or if it changes, and how that will affect the business. The problem is the ability to share that difficult message and have that crucial conversation.”

In 2013 BAs will be focused on their ability to have those communicating up conversations with their sponsors and stakeholders, laying it out for them of what could happen when it comes to these requirements. 
“By being able to put that in your bag of BA skills, you are solidifying yourself as a key component to everything related from a business value standpoint,” Yee concluded.

See the full video below:


Business analysis is a big part of the upcoming conference , ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts (PW&WCBA), which blends practical learning, skill building, big picture thinking and leadership training together for a holistic approach to developing managers into leaders.

Whether you are looking to sharpen your toolkit, grow as a leader or benchmark against peers by exchanging stories of success and failure, this event delivers it all – providing you with more credits than any other event of its kind. With a huge  network of experts and peers to connect with, you'll be prepared to confront the Increasing complexity even more confidently with dexterity and agility.


PW & WCBA is taking place September 9-11 in Disney World. To register for PW&WCBA, click here!

Amanda Ciccatelli, Social Media Strategist at IIR USA in New York City, has a background in digital and print journalism, covering a variety of topics in business strategy, marketing, and technology. She previously worked at Technology Marketing Corporation as a Web Editor where she covered breaking news and feature stories in the tech industry.  She can be reached at aciccatelli@iirusa.com. Follow her at @AmandaCicc. 
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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

How to Earn a Free Pass to PW&WCBA 2013: Become a Guest Blogger

Earn a complimentary all-access pass to ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts by serving as a Guest Blogger at the event. As a Guest Blogger, you’ll have access to PW&WCBA's comprehensive agenda attracting the best in insights from around the world, right in Orlando this fall.

You'll get a pass to the annual PW&WCBA event plus exclusive access to a networking community and on-demand webinars, to help you grow and learn throughout the year.

Guest Blogger responsibilities will include submitting at least one post per week to the PW&WCBA blog between now and the conference and attending specifically assigned sessions at the event and blogging live or same day.

By participating as a Guest Blogger leading up to and at the event, you’ll receive an all-access pass for the entire event, taking place September 9-11 at Disney's Contemporary Resort in Orlando, FL. In addition, Guest Bloggers are responsible for their own travel and lodging. Learn more about the event by visiting our website: http://bit.ly/13IMLHZ

Apply today by sending your name, title, company, short biography and links to your blog or writing samples, along with a few sentences about why we should choose you to be our 2013 Guest Blogger to Amanda Ciccatelli at aciccatelli@iirusa.com. We will review your submission and contact the chosen Guest Bloggers directly with more details.

All readers of our blog receive an exclusive 15% discount off the standard registration rate with code PW13BLOG. Register here: http://bit.ly/13IMLHZ


Amanda Ciccatelli, Social Media Strategist at IIR USA in New York City, has a background in digital and print journalism, covering a variety of topics in business strategy, marketing, and technology. She previously worked at Technology Marketing Corporation as a Web Editor where she covered breaking news and feature stories in the tech industry.  She can be reached at aciccatelli@iirusa.com. Follow her at @AmandaCicc. 
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Tuesday, July 9, 2013

What Makes a Great PM or BA Leader?

"Some of the best project managers wield the most positive influence by not saying anything at all," according to Robert Woods, IT Project Manager & Agile Coach/Trainer, Aaron's Inc. The PW&WCBA speaker recently revealed what it means to be a great PM and BA leader; at the top of his list - team building and engagement, communication and leadership skills. View the full interview here

ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts is dedicated to further developing your skills to become project leaders and business strategists within your organization. The 2013 program touches upon each of the areas Robert mentions in his interview. From team collaboration, leadership, communication and more.
Download the brochure for the full agenda: http://bit.ly/13wkhlT

Hear more from Robert at PW&WCBA this fall:

Business and IT Alignment: Turning Agile into a Reality
It doesn't matter if you've been using Agile for 1 year or for 10 years; getting business and IT alignment is a constant struggle. It doesn't matter what your industry is or where your teams reside. As project leaders, we are battling generations' of stereotypes surrounding IT as unable to deliver and lacking business or market knowledge. You cannot truly be Agile unless this gap is bridged! It takes more than just team activities and performance reviews to get results in today's changing world of solutions delivery.

Sessions created to take you to the next level in your organization include:
  • Retooling Leadership (through the lens of Neuroscience), Humana
  • Successful Project Teams Across Borders: How to Achieve Team Unity, Thomson Reuters
  • Leading Virtual Teams in 2012: A Successful Methodology, RGP Healthcare
  • 14 Project Leadership Skills to Boost Your Career, ESI International
  • Soft Skills for Effective Collaboration, FedEx

Plus, PW&WCBA offers you the opportunity to earn up to 36 PDUs/CDUs in one conference package. That's almost half of the credits needed to maintain your certification and more than any other conference option!
PW&WCBA
September 9-11, 2013
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Orlando, FL

Mention code PW13LINK & Save 15% off the standard rate.
Register today: http://bit.ly/13wkhlT
Join us and know that you are investing in yourself and your career. We hope to see you in Orlando!
 
Best,
The PW&WCBA Team
@Project_World
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Friday, July 5, 2013

A Look at the Project Management of the Titanic - What Went Wrong?

In their "Lessons From History" series, Project Management Blunders, used relevant case studies to examine how historical projects and emerging technologies of the passed solved complex problems. It then harvests the lessons learned from these projects and applies them to today's projects.

In 1912 Titanic sank with a loss of 1,328 lives, the greatest 20th century maritime disaster. Was it an unforeseen event? Could the disaster have been prevented? What project decisions affected the maiden voyage?

Project Management Blunders examined the event with a project management lens, coming up with some
interesting and surprising conclusions...





Amanda Ciccatelli, Social Media Strategist at IIR USA in New York City, has a background in digital and print journalism, covering a variety of topics in business strategy, marketing, and technology. She previously worked at Technology Marketing Corporation as a Web Editor where she covered breaking news and feature stories in the tech industry.  She can be reached at aciccatelli@iirusa.com. Follow her at @AmandaCicc. 
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Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Top Business Analysis Trends of 2013: Modeling Skills Take Precedence in BA Training

oday, the business analyst role acts as a broker of information, getting big picture and details from executives, experts, vendors, technical resources, etc. What the BA does with all this information and how it gets communicated and repurposed for each audience is opportunity for a business analyst.

Conceptual Modeling of the business view of the solution has always been a critical tool to help bring business, technology, and delivery groups together in defining solution scope.  Technical architecture and data context diagrams have their place, but the critical BA skills is the business view (vs. technical view) of the solution scope, this will be critical to engaging stakeholders and setting the stage for innovation.

According to Nancy Nee, vice president of Global Product Strategy, ESI International, there are specific business analysis (BA) trends that will be prominent in 2013. We have already gone over eight of them in our previous posts. So, let’s now move to number nine.

In 2013 is all about pictures, graphics or models. What you will begin to see is that the BAs are going to be using and leveraging all of the different models and modeling techniques they know to be able to deliver the messages they need. For instance, user stories require the use cases to be able to develop the value the customer is looking for. Process models are a way to understand how the organization as a whole is going to be able to deliver what they are looking for and add operational effectiveness and across the board. 

In 2013, will we see the written word disappear?

“I hope not, but pictures speak a thousand words so 2013 BAs should get focused on practicing your modeling skills and techniques because the model is going to pay the rent,” said Nee.

Check out the full video below:





Amanda Ciccatelli, Social Media Strategist at IIR USA in New York City, has a background in digital and print journalism, covering a variety of topics in business strategy, marketing, and technology. She previously worked at Technology Marketing Corporation as a Web Editor where she covered breaking news and feature stories in the tech industry.  She can be reached at aciccatelli@iirusa.com. Follow her at @AmandaCicc. 
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