SigmaWay Blog

Now a day’s evolution and invention can be seen in every field. One thing common in these fields is the need of management. Any project is successful only if a proper management plan is adapted. Here, one evolution turned out to be a mirror of legacy. Agile approach is significantly opposite of the traditional waterfall approach. 

Waterfall Approach, also known as Liner Sequential Life Cycle, is highly structured and sequential in nature whereas Agile methodology is a practice that helps continuous iteration of development and testing in the software development process. 

Both of these approaches have their own strengths and flaws. Thus, it becomes important for a business to identify and select most appropriate approach.

To know more visit: https://www.itbusinessedge.com/articles/choosing-between-the-two-approaches-to-project-management.html

Software development is a tough job. And what is tougher? Its managing those software projects. Its not enough to know about project management. But what really needed is keeping pace with the oh – so –fast moving IT industry. So here are some challenges that might be faced by the project management team-

1.       Globalization causing extremely high competition

2.       Legacy systems and infrastructure issues

3.       Sufficient software specific expertise

4.       SaaS offerings taking over

5.       Multiple complicated user level requirements

6.       Third-party integration and interface issues

7.       Quality testing and bug fixes requiring numerous software iterations

8.       Revenue recognition reporting requirements for the software industry

Read the complete article here: http://www.computerworld.in/feature/8-challenges-affecting-software-project-management

One thing that startups must take into consideration is network monitoring. Even IT startups have failed to implement it. It's understandable that startups are on a tight budget, but there is free network monitoring solutions available as well. Network monitoring plays a vital role in company's online presence. It can do lots more than just providing security solution. It can help with project management, tracking customer insights, and system maintenance and also plays a vital role in network security that helps in preventing unauthorized access. Read the complete article here: http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/byod-cloud/why-startups-cant-afford-to-take-a-pass-on-network-monitoring-71598

More and more industries are realizing the benefits that the remote working environment has to offer. Instead of calling of a meeting or walking up to employees desk for ideas, companies communicate via instant messaging, phone, video conferencing. According to surveys, remote workers sleep better, exercise more, have healthier diets and have low stress. Now a day's companies are expanding search beyond office geography. Yet owners fear the resulting lack of communication and collaboration. With the right communication tool, we can 1) encourage video conferencing. It is the most effective way of distant communication yet is harder to get used to in initial practices. 2) Instant messengers to keep updates and ask questions. 3) Central status update on project progress is a prime feature of project management tool which can be used to have general meetings.Read more at:-http://www.cmswire.com/social-business/embrace-the-growing-remote-workforce/

Business leaders understand the strengthg and usefulness of managing the improvement of business results through process improvement teams. There is no better approach to process improvement than the application of Six Sigma tools and methods. Moreover, the disciplines of project management and Six Sigma are substitutes but they are complementary. The similarities between project management and Six Sigma include:

• Utilization of established project management techniques to efficiently manage a project and project teams.

• Necessity of proactive project sponsors or champions to help ensure project success.

• Life cycle and phases.

• Need for a well-experienced project facilitator to lead the effort.

Six Sigma adds additional dimensions to project management: 

• Powerful set of process improvement tools.

• Statistical and process thinking to understand and improve results.

• Understanding of variation, to eliminate knee-jerk reactions.

• Quantitative analysis for base decisions on facts and data.

Read more at: 

http://www.microsoft.com/project/en/gb/six-sigma.aspx

Construction managers are looking for increasing efficiency and reducing costs. In a construction company there is a need for good project management software for contractors to cut costs on some areas and make products affordable. But, there are so many packages that it is difficult to choose. In this article, Jenifer Whitmire (a professional web content writer) writes how to choose good project management software for contractors. Please go through the link for more details: http://www.manufacturing.net/articles/2012/04/wrongly-doing-design-for-six-sigma

To transform the customer experience from traditional methods to better and newer methods, business authorities are relying on agile technology development. When Capital One started using agile development in 2011, Rudy Wolfs, Senior VP of Card IT at Capital One said, it amounted to only 1% of software that was delivered. Today, 85% of softwares are delivered by the agile development method. Also with agile, Capital One now also releases approximately 400 products a month, which has reduced the delivery times to three to six months while "cutting costs significantly," and finds 95% of products meet expectations on the first release. Presently, Capital One has more than 3,000 developers and business users trained on the agile methodology to get a better product. To know more kindly refer to the below mentioned link: http://www.banktech.com/channels/capital-one-delivers-85-of-software-thro/240166887?_mc=MP_IW_EDT_STUB

To transform the customer experience from traditional methods to better and newer methods, business authorities are relying on agile technology development. When Capital One started using agile development in 2011, Rudy Wolfs, Senior VP of Card IT at Capital One said, it amounted to only 1% of software that was delivered. Today, 85% of software’s are delivered by the agile development method. Also with agile, Capital One now also releases approximately 400 products a month, which has reduced the delivery times to three to six months while "cutting costs significantly," and finds 95% of products meet expectations on the first release. Presently, Capital One has more than 3,000 developers and business users trained on the agile methodology to get a better product. To know more kindly refer to the below mentioned link: http://www.banktech.com/channels/capital-one-delivers-85-of-software-thro/240166887?_mc=MP_IW_EDT_STUB

Maintaining the quality of a project is a cumbersome job because while maintaining the quality we must also take into account cost and time consumed for it. Proper planning at the beginning of a project is an absolute necessity. Well established and distinct communication system is also crucial for quality management of the project.  Please go through the link for more details: http://www.pmhut.com/five-steps-to-quality-management-of-your-project

To successfully complete a project, a line must be drawn reaching which a project can be declared as complete. All obligations and requirements from the client must be checked and taken care of. Most importantly every project makes a contribution to the project management team as a lesson; good or bad. The team must take some positive feedbacks from every project and move on to the next one. Please go through the link for more details: http://www.pmhut.com/5-ways-to-end-projects-well

Validating assumptions for a project is an important criteria which should be done carefully and upgraded timely. New assumptions are also very important during various phases of a project. Tracking and defending assumptions during implementation of a project is extremely crucial for a project to see the light of success. To know more, kindly refer to the below mentioned link: http://www.drharoldkerzner.com/the-need-to-validate-project-assumptions/

Sometimes certain phrases spoken by senior executives or managers/team leaders can create confusions among employees of the company. Hence, managers/senior executives should be highly cautious about what they are saying because their words can be a reason of dissatisfaction or sending a wrong message to employees. To know more, kindly refer to the below mentioned link: http://www.drharoldkerzner.com/nine-often-misused-cliches/

Managing an event as vast and big as olympics is a complex and huge job. But from a management perspective, the success of an event does not mean that it was a successful project. In olympics, providing real time data to the spectators and broadcasters’ requires a huge software and hardware setup and also preparation and testing of data flow to avoid any glitches during execution of the games. To know more kindly refer to the below mentioned link: http://www.drharoldkerzner.com/lessons-learned-in-program-management-the-olympics/

Metric Management or dashboard implementation is a useful and a systematic way of providing data, only if it is properly implemented. Making unnecessary rush or incomplete information can lead to disastrous results which can lead to lose faith in the Metric Management system completely. It is also important to track whether people accessing the data from dashboard are correctly interpreting them or not. To know more kindly refer to the below mentioned link: http://www.drharoldkerzner.com/five-ways-that-metrics-management-can-fail/

The chances of getting into trouble are always there in any project. Project management can be very affective when the project managers were not pressurized in any decision making and also project sponsor assist time to time whenever problem appears. To know more about project governance and other various reasons of project slowdown, please go through the link: http://www.business2community.com/strategy/project-management-warning-signs-project-may-trouble-0642386?tru=RKQB4#gT1e3qKb5Wk2eQ6S.99

Not always does every project get completed within the targeted date. But, when the dates are determined and announced by the top management, very little things are consulted from project managers about the constraints and time frame required for the development of the project. Mostly political and promoter’s convenience is looked after, but when the blame game starts, the top executives quietly distances them from the negativity of the project and starts denying any involvement with the project. This article also talks about few typical scenarios that may occur throughout IT projects. To know more kindly refer to the below mentioned link: http://www.drharoldkerzner.com/beware-of-the-dark-side-the-force-will-not-be-with-you2/

Satisfying the social needs of employees is directly proportional to the productivity of employees. Companies often take initiatives like arranging dinner parties and outings, but sometimes, these initiatives may fall flat. Companies must ensure that the benefits or facilities provided interest everyone and is not against the likes of some people. For example, couples dinner parties might upset the bachelors. It has been found that people who associate well outside the office also work better in the office as a team and has higher productivity. To know more, kindly refer to the below mentioned link: http://www.drharoldkerzner.com/satisfying-social-needs/

Politics in offices is an important part of corporate culture and no one can escape it. Ignoring it is not a solution. A successful project manager should be politically good also handle adverse and difficult situations and turn them in his/her or in company's favor. Project managers should try and involve in good politics for betterment of the company. There are few important points that will help project managers to survive politics. Please go through the link for more details: Please go through the link for more details: http://www.pmhut.com/practical-project-politics

Upgrading of standards depend upon the structure of the industry and the changes occurring in it. But as demand changes, standards set previously becomes obsolete and new standards must be set to relate with the present market structure and demand. Even though companies might face resistance from unions and other political institutions, they must reassess the standards for the benefit of the company and also their employees. To know more, kindly refer to the below mentioned link: http://www.drharoldkerzner.com/updating-the-standards/

Conflicts are bound to arise among employees while working on a project. To resolve them we need to be sympathetic and good listeners. Project managers must keep a positive environment amongst teams to bring out the best from them. Sometimes team members cannot resolve issues among themselves, then project managers must step in. Please go through the link for more details on how to resolve project conflicts: http://www.pmhut.com/10-necessary-skills-to-resolve-project-conflicts