Background
Changing Project Landscape
Overview
Trend 1— Reduce Cost
Trend 2 — Increased Complexity
Trend 3 — Additional Rigor
Trend 4 — Changing Workforce
Reduce Cost: Outsourcing
Additional Attention
Intangibles
Reduce Cost: Shared Services
Competing Priorities
Additional Steps
Resource Skills
Intangibles
Increased Complexity: More Technology Layers
Additional Planning
Different Skill Needs
Increased Complexity: Enterprise Focus
Standards and Fit
Broader Requirements
Increased Complexity: Third-Party Vendors
Planning
Loss of Some Control
Additional Rigor: Demand Management and Governance
Additional Planning
No Slack
Intangibles
Additional Rigor: Process and Tools
Additional Planning
Applicability
Changing Workforce: Specialized Resources
High-Demand Resources
Missing the Big Picture
Changing Workforce: Mobile Resources
Losing Key Resources Impacts Success
Summary of Impacts
The New Project Management Skills
Overview
Additional Rigor
Consultative Approach
Managing Information
Leadership
Additional Rigor
Diligent Project Planning
Use a Standard Methodology for Delivery
Use Resources Intelligently
Diligent Project Management
Use Metrics Appropriately
Improve Competencies
Consultative Approach
Relationship Focus
Influencing
Self-Management
Political Savvy
Managing Information
Proper Communications Planning
Gathering Information: Visibility
Presenting and Sharing Information
Leading the Team
Motivating Team Members
Empower the Team
Be a Champion for the Team
Handling Conflicts and Difficult People
Summary
Tying It All Together
Planning Is an Investment
Constant Diligence
Making Time for the Right Things
Recognizing That People Will Make the Project Successful
Be Conscious
Situational Adaptation
Summary of Techniques and Skills
References
Biography
Kerry Wills has worked as a consultant and as a project manager for Fortune 500 companies on multi-million-dollar technology projects since 1995. During that time, he has gained experience in several capacities: program manager, project manager, architect, developer, business analyst, and tester. Having worked in each of these areas gives Kerry a deep understanding of all facets of an information technology project. He has planned and executed several large projects as well as remediated several troubled projects.
Kerry is a member of Mensa and has a unique perspective on project work, resulting in eight patents, published work in project management journals and books, and speaking engagements at more than twenty project management conferences and corporations around the world. He is a passionate speaker who has a reputation for delivering entertaining presentations combined with vivid examples from his experiences. He runs a project management blog called "Adventures in Project Management" at http://kerrywills.wordpress.com. He lives with his wife and two kids in Southington, Connecticut.
