Journeyman PM is a blog under the direction of Bert Heymans, a project manager with a heavy emphasis on his background in software development. He started the blog as heymans.org in 2006 and moved over to the journeymanpm.com URL for good in 2010, and posts at least once every two weeks.

“Making my readers better project managers by sharing my experiences and offering guides is the main goal of the blog,” Bert says of his intentions through Journeyman PM. “I started my previous project management blog Heymans.org with my old PMO in mind for my main audience, Journeyman PM builds on top of that experience. I believe very strongly that a big part of striving for professional excellence is teaching what you’ve learned to others. The human mind is wired like that.”

As with many blogs, Journeyman PM taps the experience of its leader, and Bert combines his experience with his domain and sector knowledges to create one of the longest running blogs to be featured on PPM Community.

“I have a knack for good usability design and my hobbies are photography and keeping up with the latest technologies,” he says. “In the field I’ve managed projects in web consultancy agencies, in advertising, in IT and professional services. I strongly believe in coaching, empowerment, facilitation and using the right tools for the job.”

“I started out as a software developer and after some time as a freelance consultant and technical analyst I rolled into project management. I got formal and informal PMI and PRINCE2 training and followed courses in time management, leadership and people management. Throughout the years I’ve constantly been active online one way or the other, so have a look at my http://about.me/heymans page.”

Bert was driven by the emergence of social opportunities in online media to spearhead Journeyman PM. “I want to have an online project management presence,” he says. “It’s great for networking and it creates a place where I archive my own lessons.”

In describing Journeyman PM, Bert offers his readers this explanation: “It’s an aggregation of advice, checklists and stories that I collect throughout the years in my professional career. I mostly blog about communication and soft skills and keep the posts methodology agnostic. If I find a great project management tool I’ll write about it, too.”

Bert says the most popular post tackles web design projects:

An Illustrated Plan for a Web Design Project

He also has three personal favourites:

A Checklist for Handing Over a Project

Project Management Elements MindMap

Project Management Under NDA Checklist

Be sure to follow the Journeyman PM blog and Bert’s latest news at his Twitter handle @journeymanpm

Blog:  http://journeymanpm.com/

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

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The Planner Tutorials Hub is a blog for project managers, controllers, schedulers and planners alike with a need for quality guides on how to work with certain tools common to the trade. Planner Tutorials is headed by Michael Lepage, a “a Primavera and Project Management expert working with companies large and small.”

Lepage also works as a trainer and instructional designer and holds a Project Management Professional cerfication from PMI.org. He says he started the weekly blog in August 2011 because he felt those occupations would be well-served in a weblog format.

“I write tutorials because I love to teach and I’m pretty keen on technology,” Michael says. “There seems to be a lack of tutorials and how-tos on the web for the tools that project managers and planners like Oracle Primavera. We’re trying to help fill that gap by providing real-world step-by-step tutorials for beginners or the advanced user.”

What motivates Michael to post? “Well, there’s a need to pass information on and to make it available to the community. The community as a whole becomes stronger when it’s engaged and resources are available to foster best practices and insightful discussion. Our tutorials are for planners, schedulers, project managers and other project controls professionals.”

The most widely read blogis a video that explains how to include Excel data in a Primavera update

Video Tutorial: Activity Splitting in P6 Using User Defined Fields

Two other posts, including User Defined Fields, serve as his own personal favourites:

How to Convert a Project’s WBS to Activity Codes in Oracle Primavera P6

Frankly PM is a monthly project management “lessons learnt” blog under the leadership of Cola Richmond. Cola is a London-based Senior Digital Project Manager, currently serving as Head of Project Management for an undisclosed corporate communications agency.

Frankly PM is one of two strong social mediums Cola heads up, as she has expanded her reach to Paper.li as well. “I run the Digital Project Managers’ Daily News,” she says. “There are some great conversations going on in the world of digital and web project management and the Daily News endeavours to capture the best of these.”

Cola started her blog in 2007 and continues monthly operation of it as “a way to stash my ‘lessons learnt’.”

“FranklyPM is a collective digital web project manager scrapbook and journal,” she told us. “In terms of motivation to post, when I need to work through processes, I find writing it down in a blog/diary for provides clarity of thought – then action. I gear the blog toward friends and fellow PMs in the digital, IT, media and web worlds.”

Being a veteran on all sides of her sector doesn’t hurt the experience she can draw from in her writings, either. “With over 15 years’ experience in online communications, as a producer, developer and designer, I’m a jack of all trades – which in my line of work is a big, juicy bonus.”

Here’s a look at some of the posts you can find on Frankly PM:

Come to the Dark Side. We have Cookies!

The War between developers, designers and project managers

Project Initiation Documents – the start of a meaningful relationship

Check out Cola and the Frankly PM blog by way of the Twitter handle @franklyPM

URL: http://franklypm.com/

RSS Feed: http://franklypm.com/feed/rss/

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bornagainagilist is a blog from a practitioner best described as a project manager by accident, Terry Bunio, who works as a Principal Consultant at Protegra.

Terry told us: “I never wanted to be a Project Manager. I started as a software developer and found my technical calling in Data Architecture. Along the way, I discovered that I enjoy helping to build teams, grow client trust and encourage individual career growth, completing project deliverables, and helping to guide solutions. It seems that some people like to call that Project Management.”

Accident or no, the Winnipeg, Canada-based Terry has nevertheless gone on to thrive in the profession, going on to build what he can only describe as “awesome teams,” whilst “growing client trust, encourage individual career growth, and provided Data Architecture and solution leadership for organizations such as Manitoba Public Insurance, LPL Financial, Assante Asset Management, Moventum, Government of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Investors Group.”

An Agile enthusiast (as the title would indicate), Terry started bornagainagilst in February 2011 and posts at least once a week. “I enjoy writing and sharing my thoughts so that other people can learn from my mistakes,” he says. “I also like to write to let people know there are hybrid approaches between traditional and agile. I’d describe the blog as ‘How to customize Agile Project Management practices to work for you’. The blog is there for anyone on Software Development project teams who are looking for better ways.”

He describes himself a practical Project Manager. “I’ve been known to challenge assumptions and strive to strike the balance between the theoretical book agile and the real world approaches. So I consider myself a born again agilist, as Agile implemented according to the Lean Principles has made me once again enjoy Software Development and believe in what can be accomplished.”

Three other things about Terry’s blog you’ll soon notice:

• Terry is a fan of Agile implemented according to the Lean Principles, Data Architecture, XML databases, and asking why.
• He’s developed an affinity for turning parts of post titles into Twitter-friendly hash tags, making his blog more social media friendly.
• A massive sports fan, he’s not above livening it up a bit by writing a three-word blog post in support of his beloved Green Bay Packers, or Winnipeg Jets.

Terry’s most widely-read post tackles where the value lies in system user stories.

A System User Story Holy War? On a Saturday Night?

Three other favourites include a Scrum post, another system user stories post, and the dreaded Frankenstein Project!

Dear #Scrum Letter

Active Architecture – User Stories for Architecture

Stop the Madness and Frankenstein Projects

Follow Terry Bunio and the latest updates to bornagainagilist on Twitter @tbunio.

URL: http://bornagainagilist.wordpress.com/

RSS Feed: http://bornagainagilist.wordpress.com/rss

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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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Business-Driven PPM is a blog directed by Matthew Barnett for PowerSteering Software, which is a “leader in business-driven project & portfolio management (PPM) solutions for managing IT Governance, PMOs, Performance Improvement, Product Development, and other strategic initiatives.”

“Our easy-to-use software provides business executives at BayCare, Frito-Lay, Merck, PolyOne, Shaw Industries, UK National Health Service, US Department of Defense, and over 140 other customers with executive visibility, strategy alignment, and team productivity to drive strategy and accelerate results across the organization,” Matthew says.

The blog is relatively new to the PPM blogosphere, premiering in April 2011, and has since gone on to offer 3-4 posts each month.

“Our blog is about applying the discipline of PPM to achieve better results from the strategic initiatives that impact your business,” Matthew says. “The blog explores the unique value, benefits and best practices of a business-oriented PPM approach.

“PowerSteering has long held the view that PPM delivers the most business value when it is aligned with strategic objectives, focused on a top-down portfolio management approach, and adopted across the organization rather than remaining the exclusive domain of the IT group. We started our blog to share this perspective – which we call ‘Business-Driven PPM’ – and related best practices and customer success stories.”

“Though we are seeing a gradual shift, much of the PPM space remains focused on PPM within IT, or emphasize tactical project & resource management over what we believe to be the higher value, more strategic practices of portfolio management and project selection. We blog to promote this more value-driven approach to PPM.”

Matthew, who serves as Director of Marketing at PowerSteering Software, says he doesn’t often contribute directly to the blog. He cited the contributions of a variety of writers for Business-Driven PPM’s content, including Jay Hoskins, David Boghossian, Susan Go, Linda Duchin, Terry Melnik and Randy Clark. “The intended audience of our blog are executives responsible for the results generated from PPM practices, such as PMO Directors and Directors of Program/Portfolio Management,” he adds.

The most widely read post tackles an introductory piece for the blog:

What is Business-Driven PPM?

Three other posts rank amongst Matthew’s favourites:

Can IT PPM Be Business-Driven?

Which Comes First – PPM Process or PPM Software?

You Think You Have a Resource Management Problem?

Follow the company and subsequent blog posts on Twitter @powersteeringsw.

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

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

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The microTOOL blog is a corporate software blog that focuses an expertise on “software development, project management, multi-project management, requirements management, configuration management and quality management,” according to  microTOOL spokeswoman Tanja Weiss. “Our software solutions are suitable for processes like V-Modell XT, PRINCE2, Scrum or individual processes and enhance process maturity. Standards like SPICE or CMMI can be achieved.”

microTOOL, which premiered its blog  in April 2008 and maintains at least one new post each week, is presented in German (English-only readers can translate it through Google) and blends “user stories, best practices for methods like V-Modell XT, PRINCE2, Scrum & Co., best practices in software development, software update information and videos of workshops and conferences. Recurring topics are: Agile project management, requirements management and process-based project management.”

“We wanted to provide current information in addition to our website,” Tanja says. “We invited users of our software to join a conversation and to share best practices. New trends in software development and project management, videos of workshops and our annual conference as well as user advices have been posted since then.

“We want to know what users need, where they struggle and which solutions they find. Commenting gives the readers the chance to interact and give feedback. Blogging enables us to ask questions and to find out about new trends and old hats.”

microTOOL, in addition to targeting customers for their software products, also feel their audience stretches to software consultants, project managers, IT managers, software developers and requirements engineers in or outside their customer path.

Tanja listed one post about smart boards as the standard of microTOOL blog’s post popularity:

„Smartboard“ selbst gebaut or

Amongst three favourites are these:

• Ein Kochbuch Reicht Nicht sterben Küche Muss also available Stimmen or A cookbook is not enough to vote in the kitchen must also
• Ein Praxisbeispiel über Projektmanagement mit in-Step (German only)
• Practical Advice on Project Estimation with Scrum and PRINCE2 (English only)

Follow the microTOOL blog’s latest postings as the come out on Twitter @microTOOL

Blog: http://www.microtool.de/blog/

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

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The Doolpy blog is run by the people behind Doolphy, an online project management tool aiming to give its users the ability to plan, organise and control projects that will increase their probability of success. Rosa Alnasser Román is one of the company’s several bloggers for the weekly site, which premiered in January 2010, and also serves as the company’s COO.

“We started it because we think it’s a good way for communicating with Doolphy users and we want to share useful information about project management and how the small and medium companies could use it,” she said.

Written without the need for project management-speak, The Doolphy Blog is currently available in both English and Spanish editions.

“The blog includes information about the advantages of SaaS, project management, its secrets, methodologies and some news about Doolphy, the online project management software that we love,” Rosa says. “We blog because we think that it’s a good way to keep in contact with the users and it’s a good source of knowledge about project management and Doolphy.”

The blog features posts from a variety of contributors, including Rafa Lombardo, Miguel Fernández Calero, and a more anonymous contributor known simply as The Doolphy Team. The most popular post comes from the latter and deals with project planning…

The Importance of Good Project Planning

Some of the blog’s most enjoyed posts include some understandably popular PM topics:

The Gantt Chart, Your Best Friend in Project Management

Project Management Methodologies Which One Should I Use (Part I)

Want To Be The Best Project Manager?

Follow The Doolphy Blog on Twitter @doolphy for more updates.

URL: http://blog.doolphy.com/

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

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Web Soup is a blog run by Andy Bawden, a project manager and eCommerce specialist with 9 years experience as a pm. The blog has undergone a change recently, switching from the WordPress to Posterous in February 2011. Andy’s credentials as a PRINCE2 practitioner with nearly a decade of experience across the public and private sectors have motivated Project magazine to feature him in an article as one of the “Rising Stars: Next Generation PM” in their April 2011 issue.

Andy told us that the blog has several main areas of focus:

• the of art project management: skills, experiences, qualification and best practice
• e-commerce and web-design: design ideas, good websites, new functionality and thoughts
• new tech and tools for web design, eCommerce, social media, project management, marketing
• news: what is happening out there? what new inititives or creations are going to improve what we do?

“I started the blog to get people talking about project management, eCommerce, web designs, new tools and tech,” he says. “Also, I’ve used it to enhance my online profile, linking in with Twitter and LinkedIn.

“I’m motivated to post through sharing the things I like with others, e.g pm tools I use, new eCommerce sites, cools widgets, news, tips etc. If I like it I want to share it.”

Web Soup targets an audience of project managers and anyone within the digital trade, especially eCommerce.

To follow the blog and exactly what Andy’s up to at the moment, check him out on Twitter @websoupbiz.

URL: http://www.websoup.biz/

RSS Feed: http://www.websoup.biz/rss.xml

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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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