http://cadencemc.com/media Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:00:34 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Executives have to manage the portfolio of projects across the organization in spite of staffing changes, potential layoffs, operations scaling and other complicated market conditions. The decisions they make about projects and programs inside the organization will have a ripple effect with broad reach. Join John Patton and Scott ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/11/ask-cadence-ep-34-smart-portfolio-management-in-difficult-times/ Cadence Management Corporation COO Connie Plowman joined professional project managers around the world in the celebration and achievement of the field on International Project Management Day, November 6, 2008. While events are being held globally throughout the week, Portland’s own are reaching out and recognizing the importance of project management ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/11/cadence-coo-speaks-in-achievement-in-project-management-for-international-pm-day-2008/ The election for the 44th president of the United States of America has reset the bar against which campaigns will be measured. From unprecedented volunteerism to savvy strategy, the 2008 campaign season offers telling lessons in progressive project management. On today's show, join Cadence CEO John Patton and Scott ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/11/ask-cadence-ep-32-election-2008-the-project-of-a-major-political-campaign/ If you run large projects, you have seen team members come and go. But what do you do to keep your project moving forward while you transition to a new team member who might not have all the project background? This week, John Patton and Wil Mercer give you key ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/10/ask-cadence-ep-31-when-team-members-leave-your-project/ Cadence Management Corporation today announced that it has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification, recognizing the Cadence dedication to a systematic and quantifiable approach to Quality of Service (QOS) standards. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a global federation of national standards bodies, and sets the standard by which best in class ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/10/cadence-achieves-iso-90012000-certification/ In spite of your best efforts, you have a team member who refuses to commit to their tasks. How do you get to the bottom of the problem diplomatically, while keeping your project moving forward on schedule? This week, John Patton and Wil Mercer sit down to give you proven ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/10/ask-cadence-ep-30-when-team-members-wont-commit/ You are running into a mass production deadline on a significant project, but there's a non-trivial technical problem that your team still hasn't solved. What do you do with your project in this state of jeopardy? This week, John Patton and Wil Mercer sit down to tackle this very real ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/10/ask-cadence-ep-29-solving-the-unsolvable-technical-problem/ When two key executives are locked in a power struggle that affects your project, how can you resolve the issue and keep your project on track? This week, Cadence CEO John Patton and seminar leader Wil Mercer discuss the potential pitfalls, and give a few key lessons to help deflate ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/09/ask-cadence-ep-28-dealing-with-power-struggles/ Cadence president and CEO John Patton delivered the keynote presentation for the first in the annual series of the Project Management Institute Portland Chapter’s monthly meetings. His speech, “What Kind of Leader Are You? Leadership Characteristics of Great Project Managers,” served to bring a critical eye to the specific skills ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/09/cadence-president-john-patton-joins-pmi-portland-dinner-to-explore-leadership-in-top-pms/ This week at the PMI Education Foundation booth at the Latin America Congress, we were thrilled to see recognition for our as-yet unlaunched partnership with PMI. The $100,000 donation represents our on-going commitment to fostering project management education in the classroom -- something we've worked hard to evangelize through our ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/08/cadence-and-pmi-education-foundation/ São Paolo, Brazil.—August 2008—Cadence president and CEO John Patton moderated the panel of research experts this week at the Project Management Institute’s Latin America Congress in São Paolo, Brazil. The “Complexity in Project Management and the Management of Complex Projects” panel marked the fourth in PMI’s Research Program Working Session, ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/08/cadence-president-john-patton-chairs-project-management-research-program-working-session-at-pmi-latin-america/ São Paolo, Brazil.—August 2008—Cadence vice president and COO Connie Plowman represented the Project Management Institute’s Leadership Institute Advisory Group at the organization’s Latin America Congress this week in São Paolo, Brazil. To support the 71 volunteer leaders in attendance at the conference, Plowman delivered a special session entitled, “Leadership Qualities: ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/08/cadence-coo-connie-plowman-represents-pmi-leadership-advisory-group-in-brazil/ Continuing our discussion on the importance of OPM3 to modern project management, we sit down with John Patton and Scott Lissit of Cadence Management Corporation to discuss how companies can get started with OPM3, and where the new standard will have the most impact on project, program, and portfolio management ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/07/ask-cadence-ep-27-the-importance-of-opm3/ This week, we sit down with John Patton for an introduction to OPM3. This new organizational benchmarking tool can be prove to be a daunting undertaking. Patton serves to clarify each component of the tool, and provides a discussion on the practical implications of getting started with OMP3. Ask Cadence: Ep ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/07/ask-cadence-ep-26-introduction-to-opm3-with-john-patton/ When the pressure is high it is easy to let the planning process slide in favor of diving in and getting the work done. But, at what cost? Cadence CEO John Patton and director of service delivery Scott Lissit discuss the risks of ignoring planning, and give a few key ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/07/ask-cadence-ep-25-is-project-planning-just-a-waste-of-time/ Planning isn't easy. If you're project is not starting well, it is most likely because you have been tripped up in the planning process. This week, Cadence CEO John Patton and director of service delivery Scott Lissit address a key Ask Cadence question: My team is lost. What do you ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/06/ask-cadence-ep-24-what-do-you-do-when-people-dont-know-what-to-do/ In the mid-1990’s, there came about a well-defined bit of cost-cutting wizardry called the “Center of Excellence.” The COE was well-defined both because of the intent of its function in organizations, and because of its innate irony; you see, a decade and a half ago, the Center of Excellence involved ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/06/the-project-management-center-of-excellence-pmo-evolved/ Last week we introduced OPM3, the Organizational Project Management Maturity Model, with a brief overview of the tools and infrastructure it provides in organizational project management. This week, we continue our discussion with an exploration of the three elements that provide the foundation of the OPM3 model. First, an important distinction. ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/06/opm3-the-three-elements-of-opm3/ There are some things you simply cannot control. This week, Cadence CEO John Patton and Director of Service Delivery Scott Lissit address one of the most frustrating of these for project managers: What do you do when your sponsor hands you a project with an unrealistic objective? Listen to the ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/06/ask-cadence-ep-23-what-do-you-do-with-an-unrealistic-objective/ There are funny cycles in the field of project management. PERT charts are no longer cool, for example. And we do a bit more planning these days than we did in the 50's when most of our so-called "complex" projects were still run off a simple Gantt chart. But today's projects ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/06/opm3-why-its-time-to-care/ This year marks 25 years that Cadence has been driving the field of formal project management. On this week's show, we sit down with Cadence CEO John Patton and reflect on the business, and the event that shapes the Cadence impact around the globe: International Methodology Update. Ask Cadence: Ep 22 ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/06/ask-cadence-ep-22-cadence-international-methodology-update-2008/ Once you have your project management system in place, how do you measure deeper results of project success beyond major milestones? This week, Rob Bremmer and guest Dr. Sean Harry from Career Management Solutions join the round table to discuss active and passive metrics for managing project success. Ask Cadence: Ep ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/06/ask-cadence-ep-21-active-and-passive-metrics-for-measuring-project-success/ No, in fact we do far more around Cadence than just deliver best-in-class project management training. We play Horseshoes! Best. Game. Ever. With the international crowd in Portland for the week, we decided to take advantage of the nice weather and head out the The Dalles for food, games, and fun ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/05/the-cadence-social-scene-imu-2008/ Portland, OR -- Cadence Management Corporation celebrates 25 years of project management innovation this week with International Methodology Update 2008. Representatives from Cadence partners around the world come together in Portland to address the challenges of modern project management, and to push the Cadence methodology forward. "Each year, we have an ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/05/cadence-management-corporation-holds-international-project-management-methodology-update/ We spend a great deal of time, as project management trainers and practitioners, focusing on the activities that occur at the beginning of a project. Defining scope, developing the scope of work, recruiting and developing resources around the project, scheduling - these activities tend to receive the greatest attention as ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/05/appreciate-change-3-tips-to-help-your-teams-adjust-to-the-inevitable/ Organizations dealing with cuts to their training budgets are suddenly forced to think creatively about getting teams the training they need to build results. This week, Rob Bremmer and guest Dr. Sean Harry from Career Management Solutions and ASTD join the round table to continue our series on finding the ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/05/ask-cadence-ep-20-keeping-your-project-management-skills-sharp-through-general-project-entropy-special-guest-dr-sean-harry/ Space has been running scarce in Portland! Thank you to all of you how have signed up so far. To those of you who have been on the waitlist, your wait is over! Today, we added a second Portland session to the calendar. Location: World Trade Center -- Portland, OR Date: June ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/05/project-management-seminar-june-2-4-second-session-added/ At Cadence, we have had the opportunity to work with some of the most innovative companies on the planet. This particular expertise is showcased in Stratos, a company whose mission it is to develop products on contract, quickly, efficiently, and of the highest quality. That is why it is particularly exciting ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/05/stratos-supports-the-cadence-project-management-methodology/ It is time to get clever. We have been sharing thoughts over the past two weeks on how to secure training resources and create opportunities to develop professional skills in a volatile training market. Today, we review a strategy for bringing project management training to your teams when they need it, ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/05/getting-clever-building-partnerships-to-increase-training-opportunity/ Organizations dealing with cuts to their training budgets are suddenly forced to think creatively about getting teams the training they need to build results. This week, Rob Bremmer and guest Dr. Sean Harry from Career Management Solutions and ASTD join the round table to continue our series on finding the ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/04/ask-cadence-ep-19-hr-pros-creative-problem-solving-for-training-teams-special-guest-dr-sean-harry/ What do you do when your organization is forced to trim training budgets? You get creative! This week, the regular team is joined by Dr. Sean Harry from Career Management Solutions to take on the importance of training even in a volatile market, the process of creating a skills inventory, ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/04/ask-cadence-ep-18-when-training-is-hard-to-find/ When traditional training channels inside your organization are strained, but you find you need training, it is time to get creative. First, make sure you have a clear understanding of your training needs. Project Managers are in affect "Mini CEO's" for their projects. The skill requirements are broad -- from core ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/04/training-resources-be-creative-when-looking-for-training/ If you're a Spanish speaker, watch this video to meet Fernando Romero, CEO of E+PMC in Chile, and John Patton, CEO of Cadence Management Corporation. E+PMC is the newest Cadence Global Solution Provider partner to join the Cadence network, and we're thrilled to see them fostering such a wonderful global ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/04/john-patton-on-chilean-television/ When working with customer-based extended teams, how do you remain responsive and reactive when you don't have visibility of customer project planning efforts? This week, John Patton and Connie Plowman take on this issue and give advice on how teams can get control of broad teams through communication and collaboration. Ask ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/04/ask-cadence-ep-17-poor-visibility-of-customer-project-planning/ The problem card this week asks for help when a team is handed a new project and a timeline for delivery that most would feel is too tight to plan. John Patton and Connie Plowman work through the implications for the team -- and for you as project manager -- ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/04/ask-cadence-ep-16-how-do-you-plan-and-execute-simultaneously/ Scan the top news websites and it will not take long to find news about our "volatile global market." While the overall tone of these economic editorials is typically negative, we tend to take a different approach. In times of volatility, there lies great opportunity for success through project management. ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/04/get-the-training-you-need-hone-your-skills-even-in-a-volatile-market/ Cadence Management Corporation has made a $100,000 (US) contribution to PMI Educational Foundation to support project management education programs for primary and secondary school teachers and administrators. This contribution will make it possible for educators to attend project management training courses that will provide them with new capabilities to enhance ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/03/cadence-announces-broad-support-for-educators-through-pmi-educational-foundation/ The problem card this week asks for help when a team member evades the work of the project and turns in sloppy work to the team. There are a number of reasons this might be happening on your projects, and this week John Patton and Connie Plowman work through the ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/03/ask-cadence-ep-15-team-member-evasion/ You run a lean project organization. You are an organized and dedicated PM, and you have the respect of your team. You know how to drive your organization to deliver project results. Then one day, work on your project stops. What happened? If there is just one thing that you can ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/03/when-teams-collide-3-strategies-for-managing-operations-and-project-constraints/ This week, how do you drive for accurate and efficient communication when your department or operating team is growing faster than work can be delegated? This week, John Patton and Connie Plowman take on the problem of dynamic operational teams in trouble, and provide insight in how managers can keep ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/03/ask-cadence-ep-14-the-fast-growing-team/ Portland, OR -- Cadence Management Corporation has made a $100,000 (US) contribution to PMI Educational Foundation to support project management education programs for primary and secondary school teachers and administrators. This contribution will make it possible for educators to attend project management training courses that will provide them with new ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/03/funding-for-educators-to-study-project-management-made-possible-by-cadence-management-corporation/ When team members jump into your project uninvited, do you have an opportunity to leverage many hands into light work, or a politically charged vehicle for self-promotion? Join Cadence president John Patton and COO Connie Plowman on Ask Cadence this week and gain insights into managing extra-team enthusiasm appropriately and ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/03/ask-cadence-ep-13-extra-team-enthusiasm/ As a project manager, you understand the importance of scope in your project management process. Too many organizations forego any formal project classification in favor of straight project prioritization. In small- to medium-sized project organizations, this can be appropriate. But as your project organization grows in both size and complexity, ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/03/project-classification-3-tips-to-building-your-organizations-project-sizing-guidelines/ When operations and project collide in day-to-day work-life, it's often a complicated juggling act determining where staff attention should be directed. This week, Cadence CEO John Patton and COO Connie Plowman share their expertise in managing the juncture between projects and operations and the benefits of workload planning. Ask Cadence: Ep ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/03/ask-cadence-ep-12-operations-v-projects/ As a project manager, you have very little explicit authority over your team members. That is why, in an otherwise hierarchical organization structure, it is important to remember that the best work is accomplished not by authoritarian schemes of power, but by the more subtle art of persuasion. In the ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/02/persuasion-and-project-management-reflecting-on-the-6-weapons-and-influence-on-your-teams/ When a key manager holds the keys to your project schedule, how do you deliver results without creating a politically charged situation around your project? Join Cadence president John Patton and COO Connie Plowman on Ask Cadence this week and gain insights on "managing up" appropriately and professionally to get ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/02/ask-cadence-ep-11-managing-up/ If you are a student of the Cadence Project Management methodology, you know that a core goal is to help our attendees learn and apply techniques, concepts, and approaches for accomplishing projects with less frustration. There are some important implications carried within that goal. First, project management is a process. There ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/02/what-drives-you-the-up-side-of-a-project-driven-organization/ On this week's show, Jay Christensen and Rob Bremmer discuss the challenges that come to project managers who fail to take the time and initiative to know and understand their customer. Whether from confusion within sponsorship ranks in the organization or project manager planning in a vacuum, the results are ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/02/ask-cadence-ep-10-customer-who/ On this week's show, Jay Christensen and Rob Bremmer discuss the challenges that come to project managers who plan their projects without any input from the team. Whether it comes from a subconscious need to be a star, or a lack of organization of resources early in the project, this ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/02/ask-cadence-ep-09-vacuum-planning/ c = N (N-1) / 2 It is a connections problem. If you are an engineer, you have seen this many times, calculating the possible number of angles with any given number of rays. The real world power of this formula is far more interesting. If you don't remember your PMP study ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/02/building-on-the-power-of-community-in-your-projects/ On this week's show, Jay Christensen and Rob Bremmer discuss the challenges that come with team members who don't fully support your project. Do they have a full understanding of the project objective? Do they understand the potential impact of the project on the organization? Listen now for strategies to ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/02/ask-cadence-ep-08-dragging-feet/ "Good to Great." "Built to Last." "Execution." "First, Break All The Rules." Each of these hit business books carry in large part the same message: If you are going to get things done right, you simply must have the right people, in the right roles, equipped with the right skills. And ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/01/navigating-the-skill-gap-four-solutions-to-build-smarter-teams/ With more projects than people in today's project environment, organizations are often forced to assign team members to project teams who are not equipped with the skills required to contribute most effectively. This skill gap can have a severe negative impact on project deliverables and put project managers in a ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/01/ask-cadence-ep-07-the-skill-gap/ Building exceptional project support inside your organization will help you deliver more projects, more quickly. However, as project manager, you will be busy executing project deliverables in the heat of project work, and will need an advocate to promote your success to the organization. We hear all too often of ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/01/work-with-your-sponsor-to-build-exceptional-project-support/ This week, our Cadence graduate writes, "Complete requirements for the project are received before the project is due to be complete." Without complete organizational understanding and sponsor/customer agreement, this project problem comes up time and again. Experts Jay Christensen and Rob Bremmer walk through the nature of the problem and ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/01/ask-cadence-ep-06-last-minute-scope-change/ Like so many, we have made our New Year's Resolutions and started processing tasks and available hours in which to accomplish them. Happy New Year!It is this time of planning and house cleaning that we offer five quick thoughts on getting yourself -- and your projects -- ready for 2008: ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2008/01/five-steps-to-prepare-your-projects-for-the-new-year/ In Ask Cadence this week, a question came in from a project manager asking what to do when you discover that project scope is ill defined after project launch. In the course of the discussion with the team, the resolution was a recommendation to return to planning and sponsorship, and ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2007/11/know-your-warning-signs-5-areas-ripe-for-project-risk/ If you work in project management, you work in a world of problems. Your problems have short-term impact on your work, your relationships on your team, and your potential outcomes on your projects. Your problems are also opportunities, if you know how to address them. This week: three key learnings ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2007/11/project-problems-think-impact/ This week, our Cadence graduate writes, "communication is a key problem on our projects." In that simple statement, she sums up the baggage that comes with all projects in some form or another. Without a proper framework, inexperienced teams can become mired in process, and cause the project to suffer. ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2007/11/ask-cadence-ep-05-communication/ In project planning, there is a tangible difference between what is appropriate and what is a tendency. It is appropriate to catalog deliverables which outline specific and tangible outcomes of the project, to incorporate specific and data-supported measures which detail how the deliverables will operate, and to highlight specific exclusions ... http://cadencemc.com/media/index.php/2007/11/build-a-plan-that-ensures-executive-support/