Project Management

Welcome to Part 2 of my blog about preparing for the PMP exam! In case you missed it, here is a link to Part 1, focused on preparation. Part 2 is focused on the days leading up to the exam and the exam itself.  Test Center or At Home? I chose to take the exam […]

I am thrilled to say that I finally earned my PMP certification and achieved above target in all areas! The exam is a beast, and unfortunately it took me over two years to understand the process, apply, and prepare. I am sharing my tips in hopes of making this experience easier and quicker for others […]

When you hear a conversation happening in a language that you are not fluent in, you may catch a word or two but grasp enough to get an understanding of what is being discussed. A non-technical person may feel the same way during a technical discussion, even if the conversation is being held in their […]

Create Template: Click the Solution Center icon (plus sign) in the left navigation. Then, on the top left of the screen, you’ll see the different options. ex. Create and Import options. Click on Create option, and there you’ll see the eight options that are Grid, Project, Cards, Task List, Form, Report, and Dashboard/Portal. Select the […]

Project Features: With Smartsheet’s built-in project management tools, such as the Gantt chart, it is easy to keep track of your project from start to finish. On the left are fields for the task: duration, start, finish, Predecessors, assigned to,  percent complete, status, and comments. On the right side, you will find the Gantt chart. […]

“I am a good communicator” is a phrase that you will often see thrown around in project management circles.  But what does that mean, really?  Is it enough that your local coworkers are able to understand your meaning?  What about coworkers from across the country, who might use different slang?  What about your coworkers who […]

 What is a Smartsheet? Smartsheet is a software application created and promoted by Smartsheet Inc. It offers collaboration between the team and work management. It assigns tasks, monitors project progress, manages calendars, shares documents, and manages other work. This can happen with the help of the tabular user interface provided in the Smartsheet. Smartsheet is […]

I’ve been using the Eisenhower Quadrants of Productivity with my teams for many years now. You may also hear it called the “Eisenhower Decision Matrix” or the “Eisenhower Box”. It is a method that helps people understand the differences between “urgent” and “important” tasks. You can use it to create principles on how to best […]

Retrospectives, when run effectively, are an invaluable tool for an agile team. However, these meetings can get stale and tiring if you have one every ten days or if you’re on the same project for multiple years. Keeping your team engaged is key for gathering feedback that you can use to improve moving forward. Here […]

The Road to Managing Corporate Innovation I started out at an ad agency in southern Indiana in 2002. Our clients were interested in technology and our agency helped them find their way. At the same time, I was building the web development and digital strategy team within the agency. We began doing things intentionally with […]

I like to look at projects as if they are puzzles. All the pieces are established, but as a project manager, you must figure out the most appropriate and logical sequence to complete the bigger picture. An Iteration Plan is a helpful tool that can help to organize and visualize the sequence of work. In […]

Reap the Benefits of Making Design an Integrated Part of Your Project If your project requires major design inputs, such as in a new implementation or a site re-design, making sure the design effort is synchronized with the development effort is one of the keys to success. The benefit of tight coordination between design and […]