Top PM Trends of 2013: Agile will be Viewed as a Failure for the Wrong Reasons

“Trying is the first step to failure” is probably not a motto you want to live your life by, but all too often it’s true in the Agile world. But why?

According to Mark Bashrum, VP of Strategic Intelligence & Corporate Marketing at ESI International, in 2013 Agile implementation will be viewed in some organizations as a failure, but for the wrong reasons.

When it comes to project management, studies prove time and again that Agile can help reduce cost, speed time to market and improve quality. Still, in 2013 many organizations will continue to fall short in realizing the Agile promise. Among the reasons, the professionals assigned to Agile projects simply aren’t trained in its use. And, organizations are not culturally ready to embrace its principles.

“You can’t just train a few scrum masters and call it a day,” said Bashrum.

The team including developers, testers and product owners need to know how the method works and how to break down the cultural barriers to adoption.

Check out the full video below:

Want to hear all about project management from the experts in person? Join me at ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts in September! For details on the event, click here: http://bit.ly/19e2rDb

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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Top PM Trends of 2013: Leadership

A project manager’s role on any project goes far beyond task-related deliverables. Although the project manager must be able to manage goals related to time, scope and cost, their work does not stop here since the project manager must also be able to manage numerous issues, and be able to lead the people performing them.

Leadership involves the ability to influence people to take actions toward completing a project. Projects contain components including scope, cost, and time. For the project team to meet scope, cost, and time goals, one must appreciate the impact of positive leadership. It is up to the project manager to manage issues related to scope, cost, and time, as well as to lead the team to successful completion of these goals. As the project manager develops leadership skills and uses them to encourage and motivate the team, a more positive environment will emerge.

According to Mark Bashrum, VP of Strategic Intelligence & Corporate Marketing, ESI International, there are key project management (PM) trends that will be prominent in 2013. So let’s dive in to number one, shall we?

According to Bashrum, organizations should focus on building project leadership skills such as communication, negotiation, organizational change management, and customer relationship management.  But, we don’t think that is going to happen.

It’s unfortunate but true that most companies are more comfortable focusing on hard project and program management skills than they are at examining the underlying people skills required to deliver successful projects and programs. If they don’t want the same year-over-year results, organizations will need to seek out alternatives to develop leadership skills for their project community.

“Hopefully we are wrong, and in 2013 we will see the shift. We will keep our fingers crossed,” said Bashrum.

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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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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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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Identify and Manage Project Risk with Insights from Bank of America

Many organizations face significant challenges in finding the right balance between project risk management and delivering project results quickly. Bank of America has developed an environment that supports risk management, and processes to identify and manage risk within their organization. Find out how at ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts. Join Scott Reynolds, PMP, PMI-RMP, Vice President, Senior Project Manager, Bank of America as he reveals the tools and strategies for creating a risk management culture, and how you can do it in your organization. 

PW&WCBA is 100% focused on arming you with the skills, knowledge and tools you need to improve your performance. The 2013 program has been designed to accelerate best practice and become more valuable to your entire organization in just 3 days.

Don't Miss Financial Services Leaders Taking the Stage:

• Successful Projects Across Borders: How to Achieve Team Unity, Thomson Reuters
• BA 20/20 – Creating a Discrete Vision and Goals to Transform Your Practice, SunTrust Bank
• Soft Skills for Effective Collaboration, FedEx
• 14 Project Leadership Skills to Boost Your Career, ESI International
• Retooling Leadership (through the lens of Neuroscience), Humana

Plus, more than 35 additional cross industry speakers addressing YOUR project pain points. Download the brochure for the full agenda: http://bit.ly/10kQrww

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/10kQrww

 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

pwwbca.blogspot.com

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Top Business Analysis Trends of 2013: The Government will Recognize the Value of BA as it Moves Toward an Agile Environment

These days, businesses require effective business analysis in order to be successful among the competition. To do so, business analysis involves taking information and analyzing to forecast future trends, find ways to make improvements in business strategies, improve businesses operations, and make smart business decisions to improve the bottom line.

According to Nancy Yee, vice president of Global Product Strategy, ESI International, there are specific business analysis trends that will be prominent in 2013. We have gone over five of them in our previous posts. The sixth key BA trend this year is about how the government will slowly, but surely, recognize the value of BA as it moves towards a more agile environment.

Requirements management and development is a concern in the government. Although state and local governments have embraced the role of BA, the federal government hasn’t fully embraced that function.

However, in 2013, when the government is focused on Agile and delivering things in a modular fashion they will begin to see the value that requirements management will lend itself toward embracing the role of BA. In 2013 from a government’s successful usage perspective, we will see a critical eye on a key role of investment in looking at the BA role to define user stories and deliver value.

Check out Nancy's insight on the trend in the video below:

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Free Web Seminar: Managing Risk Using Better Requirements

Date/Time: Wed, Dec 9, 2009 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST

Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/613727752
Mention priority code MWS0027BLOG

Incomplete or inaccurate requirements are often cited as one of the main causes of project failure. Whether you are 10 feet away from the user or an ocean away, it is imperative that you accurately elicit and document requirements in order to mitigate your project risk. Presenting a complete requirements picture early on and staying on course throughout the project life cycle is crucial to success. Managing your project risk through the use of business analysis best practices is a best practice in itself.

During this presentation, we will discuss the vital link between business analysis best practices and improvements in risk management and will present a tool to assess your project risks and opportunities early in the project life cycle.
This presentation provides a framework to discuss five best practices in business analysis.

Key Learning Points:
• Key components of managing risk on projects
• Proven techniques to define better user requirements
• How to leverage business analysis best practices to mitigate project risk

Featured Speaker
Glenn R. Brûlé, CSM, Executive Director of Client Solutions, ESI International

ProjectWorld Day 2: Programs, Processes, Analysis, Oh My

On our second day at ProjectWorld, we continued with several tracks that covered specific roles and responsibilities of Project Managers, Program Managers, and Business Analysts, but the focus was looking beyond specific skill sets but rather at the necessary steps to develop and manage corporate environments where these individuals flourish; where they have a direct stake in the outcome of their projects and goals.

We had an opportunity to speak with Jonathan Gilbert, Director of Client Solutions of ESI International about his presentation regarding nine steps to improving Program Managers effectiveness as programs become increasingly complex and expand beyond commonly considered definitions for their roles in organizations. You can learn more in this white paper offering as well.



I than sat down for an interview with David Bieg, Executive Vice President of DevelopMentor, who shared some details regarding his presentation at ProjectWorld and the importance of enterprise analysis to achieve necessary corporate goals.



Finally, I had a chance to meet with Debra Morin of American Tower Corporation who presented at this year's ProjectWorld. She presented on the specific program at American Tower that focuses on educating and supporting employees on the importance of "Process Excellence."



ProjectWorld brought together corporate practitioners and thought-leaders, educators and experts who discussed and presented on a wide range of topics and issues currently facing professionals across industries. Hopefully these posts have provided you with a glimpse of the experience at ProjectWorld for those of you who could not attend, as well as offer attendees some detail into some of the presenters you may not have had the opportunity to sit in on. We're already hard at work planning for next year's events, so subscribe to our feed as we will be bringing you regular industry updates as well as posts from many of our speakers as well as other industry experts on a daily basis.