http://www.articlealley.com en-us editorial@articlealley.com (This is part 5 of a series of 10 posts: Why projects fail?) This article deals with the fifth of the OGC’s eight causes of project failure: too little attention paid to breaking down the project into manageable stages. Strikingly, this was the only ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1270969_15.html 03rd December 2009 Project management frameworks in practice: the C-NOMIS case study This article deals with the fourth of the OGC’s eight causes of project failure: poor approach to project and risk management. The OGC, in consultation with hundreds of experienced ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1260135_15.html 26th November 2009 The importance of stakeholders for project success: the C-NOMIS case study (This is part 3 of a series of 10 posts: Why projects fail?) This article deals with the third of the OGC’s eight causes of project failure: insufficient or ineffective eng... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1253182_15.html 25th November 2009 “Directing a Successful Project”: the C-NOMIS case study (This is part 2 of a series of 10 posts: Why projects fail?) This post deals with the second of the OGC’s eight causes of project failure: the lack of effective or clear senior managemen... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1250445_15.html 24th November 2009 In my previous post (Why projects fail?) I explained the background to the C-NOMIS Information System project initiated by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) in 2004. In April 2009 the National Audit Office published a report that declared... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1244154_15.html 23rd November 2009 ISEB Software Testing Foundation training courses introduce students to the fundamentals of software testing, including the reasons for carrying out tests, basic test processes and the general principles that underpin testing good practice. Knowing these ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_981721_15.html 16th July 2009 The ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing is the international standard training-course and qualification for software testers, developers and solution architects. It is also a key specialist module for the ISEB Systems Development Diploma, whic... http://www.articlealley.com/article_981719_15.html 16th July 2009 Every project manager and business leader needs to be aware of the practices and principles of effective risk management. Understanding how to identify and treat risks to an organisation, a programme or a project can save unnecessary difficulties later on... http://www.articlealley.com/article_963980_15.html 04th July 2009 Creating a realistic schedule is a key responsibility of any project manager. This schedule must be updated regularly throughout the duration of the project to ensure that the project manager is aware of any issues or delays that might affect the product ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_956128_15.html 29th June 2009 The internet age is characterised by fast technological change and constant updates and advances. Ten years ago, nobody had heard of Facebook or Twitter. Five years ago most people still thought a Blackberry was a fruit. Two years ago, just a decade after... http://www.articlealley.com/article_956127_15.html 29th June 2009 The blessed few seem to glide through their working day, ticking off their daily tasks and contentedly dealing with all the interruptions that come their way. These were the kids who always handed in their science homework a day ahead of schedule, and nev... http://www.articlealley.com/article_953086_15.html 27th June 2009 Your body language is an integral part of your interpersonal skills. Understanding and controlling how you use your body to communicate is essential to working in a team, managing your staff, contributing to meetings and confronting difficult colleagues. ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_953081_15.html 27th June 2009 “The Fundamentals of Software Testing” is the first module of the ISEB Software Testing Foundation course and examination syllabus. ISEB recommend that Software Testing Foundation students spend 20% of their study time on the Software Testing Fundamen... http://www.articlealley.com/article_949798_15.html 25th June 2009 What is ITIL? ITIL stands for IT Infrastructure Library, the most comprehensive collection of documents intended to provide support and advice regarding IT Service Management. It began in the 1980s, when the CCTA (now the Office of Government Commerce) w... http://www.articlealley.com/article_922828_15.html 08th June 2009 ITIL v.2 was released in 2001 and lasted until 30th May 2007, when it was officially replaced by ITIL v.3. This essentially meant the publication of five new ‘core’ guides and the introduction of new, credit-based ITIL qualifications. However, the ITI... http://www.articlealley.com/article_922827_15.html 08th June 2009 who needs it and what is it worth? The ISEB Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis is the international standard training-course and qualification for aspiring business managers, analysts and consultants. It is also a key specialist module for the... http://www.articlealley.com/article_906222_15.html 29th May 2009 The ISEB Business Systems Development (BSD) qualifications are universally recognised as essential for any IT or business professional. ISEB awards two BSD diplomas, based on the accumulation of specific ISEB Foundation and Practitioner certificates. Both... http://www.articlealley.com/article_906221_15.html 29th May 2009 “All project management is risk management” (Eric Verzuh) Risk management is an essential activity in any project or organisation. Risk is defined by M_o_R (Management of Risk, the OGC risk management methodology) as uncertainty of outcome. A r... http://www.articlealley.com/article_901546_15.html 18th May 2009 Every activity and situation carries risks. Whether you are launching a new project, providing ongoing services or heading a strategy for widespread organisational change, thorough and effective management of the risks involved is essential to ensure long... http://www.articlealley.com/article_901544_15.html 18th May 2009 Approximately 60% of IT Service Management jobs advertised in the UK require the ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) qualification. This corresponds closely to a 2008 global survey by Axios Systems, which found that almost 90% of organisations follow ITIL gu... http://www.articlealley.com/article_893727_15.html 15th May 2009 PRINCE2 and ITIL are both standardised management methodologies, formulated by the UK government and subsequently adopted by public and private sector organisations throughout the UK, Europe and increasingly in the USA, Asia, South Africa and the Middle E... http://www.articlealley.com/article_893726_15.html 15th May 2009 ITIL (the IT Infrastructure Library) is the most widely recognised IT Service Management qualification in use at the moment. It is accredited by the APMG (the same organisation that administers PRINCE2 and MSP), and is assessed through similar objective-t... http://www.articlealley.com/article_881479_15.html 07th May 2009 The IT Infrastructure Library (or ITIL) is essentially a body of knowledge, structures and ‘best practices’ related to the provision of quality IT services. It is an invaluable resource for IT service professionals who need to widen the scope of t... http://www.articlealley.com/article_881478_15.html 07th May 2009 (Note: The MSP Advanced Practitioner Certificate is the same as the old MSP Practitioner Certificate. This change was made by the APM Group (APMG) in September 2007). The MSP Practitioner Certificate is awarded for the comprehensive understanding of th... http://www.articlealley.com/article_868432_15.html 25th April 2009 Alan Harpham, Chairman of the APM Group, defines Programme Management as: "A set of related projects with a common strategic goal or aim." This is not to confuse Programme Management with Portfolio Management, which describes the management of a se... http://www.articlealley.com/article_868431_15.html 25th April 2009 I have never yet encountered a student of Managing Successful Programmes who was on the course for fun. Everybody who trains in MSP wants a programme management career, and pretty much everybody who takes the MSP examinations is determined enough to get t... http://www.articlealley.com/article_845599_15.html 02nd April 2009 One key element of the Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) methodology is the concept of Governance Themes. These nine themes constitute a governance or control framework for programme management. The MSP manual presents guidance for handling each theme ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_845597_15.html 02nd April 2009 Mentoring is a natural phenomenon. It occurs when somebody with less knowledge or experience in a particular activity asks somebody more senior for guidance. In its raw state, mentoring has many benefits. It is the primary means by which knowledge and... http://www.articlealley.com/article_814939_15.html 10th March 2009 A Project Manager is the person responsible for the overall success of the project. What does a Project Manager do? Having received the Project Mandate (detailing the reason for the project and the expected outcome) from Corporate/Programme Manageme... http://www.articlealley.com/article_814938_15.html 10th March 2009 It is a fact of life that not every project succeeds. Sometimes the market changes and the product is no longer viable. Sometimes the budget or time constraints are untenable. Sometimes it is simply a case that somebody has made a mistake. How do you d... http://www.articlealley.com/article_782816_15.html 12th February 2009 What is CPM? The CPM (Critical Path Method) is a way of organising the necessary steps to project completion. It enables you to assess task priority, resources required and possible shortcuts. CPM is based on the creation of a sequence of dependent... http://www.articlealley.com/article_782815_15.html 12th February 2009 "Since I didn't hear otherwise, I ASSUMED all was going well" – The Importance of Communication in Project Management Second on Rick Klemm’s list of things most commonly overheard on a failing software project, this remark is characteristic of Proj... http://www.articlealley.com/article_781438_15.html 10th February 2009 The experienced Project Managers who came up with (and are continuously developing and improving) the PRINCE2TM Project Management methodology came up with eight ‘best practices,’ or ‘components’, i.e.: The 8 practices that maximise your chance... http://www.articlealley.com/article_781432_15.html 10th February 2009 Nobody stays in one career all their life nowadays. Some go from teaching into law. Nurses enter the police force. Actors become politicians. Project Management offers the greatest opportunity for a career change. Demanding and rewarding in equal measu... http://www.articlealley.com/article_781429_36.html 10th February 2009 Career management is, ironically, one of the biggest challenges facing today’s Project Managers. According to a survey conducted by Parity, 64% of organisations consider project management skills to be the most important for their employers to lear... http://www.articlealley.com/article_781427_36.html 10th February 2009 A Project Brief describes what needs to be done. The Project Plan explains how you are going to do it. The Business Case gives the reasons why. In PRINCE2TM terminology, the Business Case is the ‘driver’ of the project. Senior Project Management re... http://www.articlealley.com/article_781426_15.html 10th February 2009 Project Management as a specialised skill-set and career path is becoming increasingly prominent. Ever more new graduates are considering trainee project management roles, for the clear career progression that they offer, the satisfaction of practical app... http://www.articlealley.com/article_781423_36.html 10th February 2009 The PRINCE2? Practitioner Exam tests understanding of the PRINCE2 terminology and principles, as well as the ability to apply, analyse and evaluate the PRINCE2 method within given project situations. It is aimed at those who aspire to, or already have, re... http://www.articlealley.com/article_767599_22.html 26th January 2009 The PRINCE2 Foundation Exam recognises knowledge of the PRINCE2 methodology. It provides an important boost to the C.V. of anybody seeking a career in project management, and is a prerequisite for PRINCE2 Practitioner status. According to the APM Grou... http://www.articlealley.com/article_767598_22.html 26th January 2009