Project management helps address the unexpected
Many people have heard a lot about project management but do not really know how it works. A very effective example of project management in action is visible in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s live address on March 24 on how New …
automation and what it can mean for workers
Discussions of how artificial intelligence will impact the workforce often focus on the potential for mass unemployment, the increases in productivity, and the ways in which dull, menial tasks can be shirked off to computers. We consider less often the …
December 15, 2019 |
Knowledge |
Helen S. Cooke
Three early planning phases and their unique challenges
Any project manager knows that projects vary significantly: some last for years, with multiple phases, while others are sporadic, with periodic breaks that free staff and management to work on other initiatives. Some are important. Others are urgent. Some are …
How to optimize success for your projects and business
A few months ago, my wife and I were on a sunrise game drive in South Africa. None of the animals seemed to be awake yet, and all was quiet. I sat on the edge of the vehicle, my camera …
July 10, 2019 |
Interviews
A deep dive into the future of work with The Atlantic correspondent Ellen Ruppel Shell
We’ve all been hearing a lot lately about the economy: unemployment is near a record low, the stock market is at a record high, and job creation numbers have been relatively steady. Yet behind these reassuring numbers lurks a troubling …
How we got here, and where we might be going
Everyone agrees that the world is risky and that risk management is important. But where did risk management come from, and where is it going? When and how did we learn that managing risk was an essential life skill? And …
6 tips for successfully managing surprise in a negotiation
Like it or not, we are all negotiating, all the time—and at some level, all negotiations involve an assessment of the balance of power: how much do I want what the other party has to offer, and how much do …
March 13, 2019 |
Interviews
An interview with Sophie Wade, founder at Flexcel Network and a leading authority on the Future of Work
The Future of Work is something that everyone wants to understand, but few of us fully do. What we can all agree on is that in many ways, the “future” is already here. There are more freelancers, an increased need …
Since the dawn of time, mankind has used myths to make sense of the uncertainty that surrounds us. More recently, in the world of business and projects, risk management has performed the same role. Unfortunately, myths have also grown up …
opportunities are important and need to be captured where possible
Current risk management standards and guidelines use broad definitions of “risk” that encompass both threat and opportunity, but many people still find it difficult to understand why “opportunity” is included in the definition. And without understanding the reasons, there is …
Opportunities and threats are both uncertainties that matter
The ability to manage risk effectively is recognized as an important contributor to business success, which is why it has become an essential part of the manager’s toolkit. Risk-based thinking is permeating the boardroom and discussions within executive committees as …
September 12, 2018 |
Insights |
Helen S. Cooke
End products are important, but so is your team’s health and happiness
Business projects are seldom discussed from the point of view of the “happiness” of their team members. Projects are recognized for getting things done, and projects are resourced for overall effectiveness. Sponsors, customers, and society at large look for valued …