Project Manage This holds a unique spot in PPM Community: to date, it’s the only one we’ve come across that posts on a purely anonymous basis. We intend to protect the anonymity of its editor-in-chief whilst opening your minds to what this PPM blog can bring to the table, primarily as a blog with an unmatched perspective and narrative.

“The voice isn’t meant to be me; instead its a conglomeration of PM types,” says the editor, who we’ll respectfully refer to as PMT. “I’ve been managing projects and programs for over a decade. I currently manage 12 pm types and am inspired each day by them. Watching the challenges they face, and witnessing them overcome each with grace is what keeps me going.”

The blog is the newest on the PPM Community, premiering on a weekly basis 8th October 2011. PMT effectively deals with the ins and outs of project management, tackling the Yin and Yang inherent with such a job.

“Simply put – it’s an outlet. I wanted to create a space to post tips, tales and observations about the career I love and hate,” PMT says. “Project managers, program managers, producers, account managers, coordinators, and the like. (They are) the unsung heroes. We’re the ones that keep things moving and get it done on time and on budget. We keep our teams motivated and on track, make sure our boss and/or client is happy, and ensure that the community we’re building for get the best product possible. You never see us sweat, rarely hear us swear, and are amazed at how calm we are when fires erupt. That’s because we’re good at what we do.

“We absolutely love our job. Making things happen, getting things done, that’s our nature. We never ever vent at work. Ok, rarely do. But we do have tales to tell. ‘Project Manage This’ is a place for PM types to love and hate the career we’ve chosen.”

The brief time away from the job – weekends – allows PMT the ability to reflect on what would make for good content in the blog.

“When the weekend rolls around, I simmer on the events of the week,” PMT says. “Instead of just thinking about it, I’ve decided to type something up.”

As PMT wants to protect their anonymity, the most we can tell you about their professional background is that PMT “was born a PM type, as I’m sure most people visiting your blog were.” PMT also made clear that the blog “isn’t about me. It’s about PMs.”

Considering that Project Manage This is in its early days, PMT had only one post they could really shed light on:

Top 10 Plus 1 – Personality Traits of a PM

Follow Project Manage This by way of the official Twitter handle – @pmthis

URL: http://projectmanagethis.wordpress.com/

RSS: http://projectmanagethis.wordpress.com/feed/

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Think Productivity! is a blog headed by Steffen Lentz, a Zurich-based senior practitioner in software projects who premiered the insightful project management blog in July 2011 and adds updates twice a month.

“I have a solid methodical background in RUP and agile thinking,” Steffen explains. “I co-authored a book (in German, Software entwickeln mit Verstand) which develops a new view on productivity of software projects. It is based on an understanding of how problem solving works and how people in teams effectively perform such knowledge work.”

“The goal (of Think Productivity!) is to share the insights we give in the book and to promote the new thinking within the English speaking community.”

Think Productivity! targets a variety of professions, including managers, “anybody working in (software) projects”, and “anybody interested in management approaches in general.” Being an agile thinker has allowed Steffen to expand upon some contradictions in the philosophy of how to manage both software development processes and project management.

“The blog sheds light on the fundamental contradiction we see in today’s approaches to software development and project management.

• Large process models with a tayloristic and a ‘one solution’ approach
• Agile and lean methods with a purposeful free and evolutionary approach

“The blog contributes to a new understanding of how software development works beyond the technology, and how teams performing such knowledge work really get productive and should be managed.

“Getting an understanding of this very nature of software projects helps to understand how methods work for us (and how they don’t).”

Although Think Productivity! is relatively new in the PPM blogosphere community as it relates to this release date, Steffen says he has continuously found sufficient motivation to post. He says he enjoys “contributing to a changing view on the management of projects and organizations.”

And with an experience padded by dalliances in both software development and project management, his working life provides for some intriguing posts to write about.

“Being a practitioner in software development since even back in school, I’ve worked as a consultant for more than 10 years,” he says. “I gathered hands-on experience in a number of quite different roles and disciplinces within major software engineering projects. This contributed to my holistic view about how software projects act inside, which I now translate into my daily work as a project manager for a major bank in Zurich, Switzerland.”

The most popular Think Productivity! post is a considered, thought-out one that explores posts of other PPM Community members:

Theory X or Y – some background for your choice

As Theory X or Y is also listed as one of his favourite posts, Steffen included two other standouts as well:

The hidden Taylor in our thinking

Agile CMMI – is there a point?

Steffen keeps Think Productivity! readers informed about the latest posts through his Twitter handle, @SteffenLentz

URL: http://www.thinkproductivity.net/

RSS Feed: http://www.thinkproductivity.net/?feed=rss2

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Planbox Agile is a blog operated by Alexandre Gauthier since 2009 used in conjunction with the the Planbox Agile project management tool, owned and operated out of Montreal. Alexandre told us “makes it easy for small teams in organizations of all sizes to plan, collaborate and deliver.”

“There is a lot of confusion in the project management community about Agile and we try to do our part to clarify it,” says Alexandre. “The Planbox Agile Blog shares ideas, thoughts, learnings and opinions on Agile & Scrum. We also let customers and guest bloggers share their experiences as well.

“We are also very involved in the BackboneJS and NodeJS development communities and we sometimes share widgets we develop or are using.”

Alexandre serves as product & marketing manager for Planbox Agile, overseeing a blog that features contributions from both he and from CEO/Cofounder Martin Drapeau, as well as a few other contributors. Planbox Agile blog aims to add a new post each week. Alexandre told us that the blog is geared toward Agile enthusiasts, PMs, ScrumMasters, and project managers, as well as Software developers, Startups & Entrepreneurs

“Mostly in the technology and software industries,” he added.

When asked what proved to be great blogging motivation, Alexandre responded: “‘A ha!’ moments! Whenever we stumble into something worthwhile that we think can help clarify or give back something to the community, that’s when we post.”

Alexandre received a pleasant surprise when we asked him what the popular post was. You will too, no doubt:

Top 15 Ways Chuck Norris messes with Agile

He has three other posts that he considers to be his favourites:

My Product Owner is stronger than yours!

Roadmaps vs. Timelines in an Agile World

Dipping Your Toes Into Kanban

Keep up to date with the latest blog posts by Alexandre, Martin and the Planbox Agile Blog via Twitter @PlanboxInc

URL: http://www.planbox.com/blog

RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/planbox

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Adevntures In Project Management by Brett Harned is a blog by the Philadelphia-based senior project manager of the same name who has an extensive list of experiences and clients in a web capacity to which he has supplied his services. In March 2010, Brett wanted to expand upon the lessons he’d taken from a life in projects to the PPM blogosphere.

“I started blogging about project management, because I felt like I could provide a fresh perspective on web project management,” he says. “I’m also trying to build a web project management community in Philadelphia, and thought that sharing my ideas and feelings about my work would be a good way to start connecting people and starting conversations.”

Brett’s fascination with the creative process and his passion for concise communication, strategy, and attention to detail means that his clients at Happy Cog get a project manager who immerses himself in the work product, not just timelines and milestones.

“I have a deep understanding of web process and his ability to apply methodologies to any project makes clients happy. I’ve also become adept at translating the language of web design to our clients, which can sometimes get confusing and conceptual.”

Brett manages projects large and small, and all of them receive the same level of care and dedication. Zappos.com, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National Constitution Center, and the Presbyterian Church (USA) are among some of the clients he has had the privilege to work directly with.

“If there is one thing I can tell you, it’s that project managers are not robots. Sure, they might rely on dates and numbers, but they have hearts, too! As part of a Philly-based PM team, I try to practice what I preach on the blog about my own adventures in project management.”

Though frequency can vary, Brett says he likes to add around two new posts each month. His writing style engages and encourages interaction and response. “I tend to write about PM topics that lean more toward soft skills and team management,” he says. “I’m not a technical guy, so my posts are more about my own feelings or opinions and less about process. I give a pretty strong point of view and try to infuse some humor, but encourage serious discussion and/or feedback.

Brett gets a lot out of the social media experience, to which he’s acquired a solid following thus far (he’s on Twitter @brettharned). “I’m just putting my opinion out there for my friends, colleagues and twitter followers to read,” he says. “I don’t think I am the best project manager out there, but I like to think I have some insights to share. And, if anything, I hope people read my posts, share them and comment on them to continue the discussions I start on the blog.”

Brett most widely read post has been picked up at PM Hut that also ranks as one of his three favourites:

You’re a Project Manager, Not Superman

His other two personal favourites include:

I’m Not a Robot. Beeeep

Stick to the budget, man!

Brett says that he has also tried a non-regular featured intended to introduce web professionals to people who’ve managed web projects. “I started running interviews with web professionals about Working with Project Managers. There is no set cycle on these articles, they are published as interviews are completed.”

URL: http://brettharned.com/

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Kelly Project Solutions is a blog run by North Carolina-based project manager Robert Kelly, who founded the blog with Jasmin Valentin-Kelly in July 2010.

“Our blog takes a more holistic, strategic view of Project Portfolio Management to illustrate the benefits and true value-add of the discipline within the organization,” Robert says. “Kelly Project Solutions help our clients realize their vision by leveraging a combination of impartial project management methods and seasoned associates to tailor solutions to today’s economy and at costs modest to the successes enjoyed by our clients.

“We offer the following services to meet our customers where they are at in their project management environment:

• Project/Program Management Resources
• PMO Development (Internal or Hosted)
• Consulting Services (Assurance, Salvage, etc)”

Robert told us that while he was impressed with the volume of blogs available on matters pertaining to project management, he felt KPS could provide a more corporate view in PPM matters.

“There are so many excellent blogs on Project Management best practices from and for the Project Manager,” he says. “We didn’t see many that are focused on the enterprise, executive view and this is where we as a profession need to get more support.

“Our intended audience includes the executive management of an organization. The PMO Director, CIO, CFO that needs to fight through the sales pitches and understand the real value and potential of Project Portfolio Management at the enterprise level.”

KPS offers between two and three new posts each month, offering outlets for project personnel from some strong career backgrounds – Robert has over 11 years in Project/Program Management experience in IT Services, Product Development, and Business Process Redesign, while Jasmin can point to over 10 years of experience in various finance roles at some of Wall Streets largest financial services firms.

The most widely read post concerns project success rates:

Can Project Success Exceed 47%

Robert pointed to other non-KPS posts that served as his personal inspirations:

ZDNET: CIO analysis: Why 37 percent of projects fail

TALKING WORK: It’s All About People

OLIVER LEHMANN: 100 Hundred Rules for NASA Project Managers (.pdf)

Follow the KPS blog on Twitter @kellysolutions.

Blog:  http://kellyprojectsolutions.com/KPSBlog/

RSS Feed: http://kellyprojectsolutions.com/KPSBlog/?feed=rss2

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The Intelligent Company is a blog under the direction of Bernard Marr since its 2006 inception. Marr, an acclaimed author and expert on enterprise performance management and business intelligence, heads up the internationally acclaimed Advanced Performance Institute (API) and regulary advises leading companies, organisations and governments across the globe, which makes him an award-winning keynote speaker, researcher, consultant and teacher.

He uses The Intelligent Company blog to share ideas and best practices in one of two posts each month.

“It is about the latest ideas, trends and thinking in enterprise performance management, organisational analysis, business intelligence, strategy, etc,” he says.

Bernard is exceptionally qualified to tackle such subjects. He is acknowledged by the CEO Journal as one of today’s leading business brains. Bernard Marr has written a number of seminal books and over 200 high profile reports and articles on managing organisational performance. This includes the best-sellers ‘The Intelligent Company’, ‘More with Less’, ‘Managing and Delivering Performance’ and ‘Strategic Performance Management’, a number of Gartner Reports, and some of the world’s largest research studies on enterprise performance management.

The most widely read Intelligent Company blog post reflects of the most widely popular supermarket in the UK…

Why Tesco is an ‘Intelligent Company’

Bernard also wanted to give mention to three of his personal favourites…

The Top 3 Enterprise Performance Concerns of Executives

Mapping your way to success

How is social media changing the way we measure performance?

Be sure to follow Bernard Marr’s blog by way of his Twitter handle, @bernardmarr

URL: http://theintelligentcompany.blogspot.com/

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Fixing Projects is a blog that premiered in May 2010 under the direction of Carol Long, CEO for Three Triangles Performance Ltd. Carol has experience as a programme and project manager, interim manager and consultant in high-tech, public and not-for-profit sectors. She specialises in assisting senior management get value from their project, and also has an expertise in project rescue.

It is the notion of rescuing projects that drives Fixing Projects posts.

“I’m motivated to post by a desire to stop projects failing – I have some insights and experience to share that might help and look for comments and ideas from other managers,” Carol says. “I hate to see the results of failed projects: wasted talent and resources, the demotivated teams, the stakeholders failed.

“If I can reduce the failures by sharing what I see and do in a few organisations with managers and executives around the world, then I will have done something worthwhile.”

The insights and tips from Carol’s experience shine through in Fixing Projects, which usually provides a single post a week (though more are available in other weeks).

“Programme and project management is more than following a method: it is running a temporary organisation with an objective to bring change,” she says. “This blog gives insights, experience and hints to senior managers and project managers to help them improve their project portfolio, programmes and projects. There are tips for PMO, quality and risk managers, too.

“We bring experience, insights and techniques to Boards so their organisation chooses an effective and balanced portfolio of programmes and projects, independent and knowledgeable support to enable board members to be great programme/project sponsors, coach project managers to achieve excellent delivery.”

Carol listed two posts as the most widely read Fixing Projects pieces:

What is IDEF0?

PRINCE2, PMBoK, Agile

She also three other pieces she lists as her favourite:

The delivery of benefits is moderated by risk and quality

Kanban: visualizing work in progress

Planning Communication for Governance

Fixing Projects particularly tries to entice readers with specific weekly topical writings. For instance, Carol pointed to a 2010 series she did on communication for project managers.

Be sure to monitor Fixing Projects and Carol on Twitter @fixing_projects.

URL: http://3triangles.co.uk/

RSS Feed: http://3triangles.wordpress.com/feed/

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Aidan Kelly is a the blog run by the PRINCE2 project manager, chartered physicist and communicator of the same name. Aidan uses the blog, which he started in December 2010, to “share ideas and inspirations on project management, community development, technology and innovation.

“My interest lies in understanding and working in the overlap of these three diverse areas to help deliver innovative solutions that can be a force for good in the world,” Aidan says.

Aidan posts roughly once a month, using it both for making lasting connections and to create new mechanisms that spawn ideas and know-how.

“There didn’t seem to be many people blogging about the fields that I’m interested in – project management, community development, technology and innovation – and making the connections between them. I’m not saying that I’m an expert but I wanted to connect with other people who shared my interests, and see where it could take us.”

Aidan has had a varied career from which to draw upon for his lessons. He began with Vodaphone as an engineer, learning about the principles of PRINCE2 and moving on to internal IT and mobile service projects. He also possesses a wealth of voluntary experience, having worked with local NGOs in Costa Rica and Ecuador in 2002-03, and in Australia from 2006-07.

Since then, he has worked in the charitable/not-for-profit sector first as project coordinator and later as a project manager. His most recent project was Community Voices was with the charity Media Trust.

There is an element within Aidan Kelly of “project management does good”. Community & international development, innovation and technology for social good are all running themes in the blog.

“For me it’s about thinking laterally, seeing ideas in one field and exploring how they could be used to good effect in other fields.

“Innovation doesn’t have to be simply about creating new and cool gadgets, it can also be about creating solutions that are sustainable and have real potential to help change the World for good. That’s my focus, helping to find and deliver innovative solutions to social problems wherever they may lie.”

The blog targets three core groups:

• Professional project managers who are interested in sharing ideas and best practice about project management techniques
• Volunteers and professionals working in the not-for-profit and community development sectors, including the Big Society movement
• People interested in how innovation and technology can be a force for good – from creating sustainable solutions for our communities through to international development

The most widely read article on Aidan Kelly is:

Planning your next innovation

Some of Aidan’s favourite posts include:

Community organising, Big Society and John James

Out of the corporate frying pan and in to the world of community empowerment

Aidan doesn’t rule out adding new wrinkles and features to the blog in the near future. “I don’t have any set running features at the moment, I’m still developing and expanding my blog,” he says.

Follow Aidan Kelly and his blog on Twitter @aidanmkelly

URL: http://aidanmkelly.wordpress.com/myblog/

RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/AidanKellyMyBlog

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Martin Webster, Esq. is a blog from a Systems Support Manager of the same name at Leicestershire County Council. Martin has over 10 years project and programme management experience. Martin’s professional interests include project management, leadership, and strategic information systems planning.

He started the Martin Webster, Esp. blog in June 2009 and has posted weekly since January 2011.

“(Running a blog) seemed like a good idea,” Martin said. “It’s had a few false starts but I’ve been posting regularly since January 2011.”

“Originally an eclectic mix of topics covering my interests: watercolour painting, music, Linux, strategic management etc., now I’m focusing on project management, change, leadership and related topics. However, you will probably find the odd post on Linux from time to time.”

Martin is a fan of blogs in their communal aspect.

“I’m motivated to blog by the challenge and commitment,” he says. “I hope to improve my writing skills and knowledge of the topics I write about. Blogging is also about community; sharing ideas with like-minded people. Contributing to the (PM) community is rewarding and gives me confidence. Hopefully I’ll meet some new friends (and opportunities) along the way.”

“Having an eclectic blog means that I have a number of audiences: Linux users who’ve got stuck and management professionals and practitioners who are interested in what I write about.”

Martin started his career started in electronic engineering and have developed skills in a number of industries and jobs. Among them, high-echelon metrology, quality assurance, technical costing, IT management, project and programme management, service management etc.

He adds: “I’m ready for my next leadership challenge!”

The most popular blog posts at Martin Webster, Esq. all came from 2009:

Installing Amazon MP3 Downloader on Ubuntu 10.10

Running SqueezeCenter on a Buffalo LinkStation Live, part 1

Strategic Information Systems Planning: Approaches to Strategic Management

The following three are his personal favourites:

The Project Control Cycle

Engaging Your Stakeholders

How to Plan for Your Project More Effectively

Martin is hosted at WordPress.com and is part of Post A Week 2011.

“I aim to post at least one project management related post each week,” he says. “This may cover IS management, organisational change, leadership, strategy, or project management issues such as planning, stakeholder management etc.”

Follow Martin and the blog on Twitter @TristanWember

Blog: http://martinwebster.eu/

RSS Feed: http://martinwebster.eu/feed/

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SpanishPMO is a Spanish-language project management blog run by Fermin de Rojas that focuses on elements within PM, namely methodologies, tools, jobs and coaching. A bilingual project management expert educated at Brighton University, Fermin was startled to find a wealth of PM blogs available in English, compared to the relative lack in his native Spanish, and decided to take care of such matters himself as a major audience seemed to be missing out.

“I took for granted that everybody could speak english or at least could read it, but realised that there were very little information regarding Project Management in Spanish,” Fermin told us. “Bear in mind that there are 350 million Spanish speakers, mainly in Latin America, EEUU and Spain.

“This is the main reason why SpanishPMO.com was born, a website focus in project management in spanish, specialized in articles of how to set up a PMO, methodologies like Prince2 and PMI, tools, cyber security, coaching, negotiation and leadership skills.”

Fermin uses SpanishPMO as a portal in “specialized in articles of how to set up a PMO, methodologies like Prince2 and PMI, tools, cybersecurity, coaching, negotiation and leadership skills.” He says his audiences not only centers on those practising or interested in practising project management and leadership, but also those who work in an office environment.

“I motivated to blog through my own goals of personal self-improvement and self-satisfaction. I want to evangelise the word of Project Management and Agile method in the Spanish mentality.”

Fermin says his most popular post concerns Spanish-language books fellow speakers can turn to as PPM-related resources (links in Spanish only)
Libros

Among his favourite posts are:

• Creacion de Una Oficina de Proyectos (PMO)
• JIRA la herramienta perfecta para la administración de proyectos
• Funcionalidad Frankestein

Be sure to keep track of Fermin and SpanishPMO on Twitter @spanishpmo

URL: http://spanishpmo.com/

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