process

Project management is not a process, but a promise

A project introduces something new.  New requires change from what was to a promise of what will.   The project deliverable, or promise, undertaken without process is a leap in the dark.  No sane person will take a leap in the dark without some promise or rational premise of: what will be, what it will cost [...]

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People, process, and technology … divided by behavior

People, process, and technology. Announce a policy, full adoption. Map a process, cycle time guaranteed. Buy a server, flip the switch. Seems so simple. Interconnections, systems, are never simple. The intent of keeping people, process, and technology in mind is to think through the impact change has on the 3.  Identify that impact and then [...]

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The bureaucracy option to manage risk

Does organization culture benefit with bureaucracy?  Bureacracy may, indeed, provide organizations a strong case to manage risk. Policy, procedure, and bureaucracy tend to creep as an organization grows in size:  revenues, market share, employees. While a small organization may have flexibility and ad hoc procedures based on 1-on-1 interactions, as an organization adds people the [...]

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Fistful of beans 04/06/2011

3 things I’ve seen, read, or thought might seed results: 1. Learning Fosters Psychologically Healthy Workplaces — CLO Magazine The American Psychological Association (APA) recently awarded 8 companies with their Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards (PHWA). The companies were rated on five different criteria: employee involvement, health and safety, work-life balance, employee recognition, and employee growth and development. [...]

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The cost of culture, a 50% turnover of the Fortune 500

What is the cost of culture? Why is it even worth identifying corporate culture? Let’s start with what is culture. Culture is the values, norms, assumptions, expectations, and definitions that characterize organizations or affectionately known as: how things are done around here Culture is often a holdover from the founder(s) actions; sometimes developed consciously by [...]

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John Siemiatkoski, Development Manager at ALS Association, Massachusetts Chapter

“The Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) has promoted a bicycle-friendly environment and encourages bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation since 1979.  Since I became President of MassBike, I have sought ways to develop the organization’s structure, capacity and effectiveness, so that we can truly achieve our mission. “Toby was recommended to me to help MassBike build [...]

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IT failure, too much information in Information Technology

Technology enables information, but why are so many information technology projects failing? 74% of all projects fail, come in over budget, or run past the original deadline* 90% of major Information Technology (IT) project initiatives fail to be completed on time and on budget* A survey by the international consulting firm KPMG finds that 56% [...]

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Change management stormtroopers and system theory

When did systems theory get hijacked by process engineers and change management stormtroopers? When did we allow our organizations to be built and led by analytical, causal, deductive, drones and an over-adherence of frameworks to analyze past events? Frameworks and theories that rely on past events ignore all opportunity for organizations to interact in an [...]

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The devil in the details – the strategic plan

While with the FBI working in the Director’s Office of Strategic Planning I began to realize there are many approaches to build a strategic plan.  I wanted a plan that could go into operation and provide performance management measures.  I also wanted a repeatable process that was understood, committed to, and creates ownership.  Over time, and [...]

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