Ask Cadence: The Project Management Podcast

In this episode's conclusion to "The 8 Biggest Problems" podcast, Cadence president John Patton brings you problem number eight in the series: Project Managers are Passive.

"In some companies, this is problem number …

This time, in "The 8 Biggest Problems" podcast, Cadence founder John Patton brings you problem number seven in the series: Changes to cost, schedule, …

A common stumbling-block for companies appears well into the project planning and implementation stage, when roles have been decided but actual …

A common challenge many clients face in project management is simply being able to get enough people onto the project team. To build crucial …

A common problem that we regularly see with clients in a broad spectrum of industries is that many people simply don’t have the ability to plan their …

We see this all over the world and it is one of the most common problems clients talk about: our projects start slowly.

Reasons for these slow starts vary, and some are highly contradictory. For example, some complain …

The planning phase is the stage that comes into play immediately after authorization and initiation, and it is critical to the success of your project. During planning, your focus is developing the roadmap your project …

The execution phase is the stage that comes into play immediately after authorization and planning. While previous phases have eliminated risks and problems, more will be discovered in this phase. While the project …

Cadence founder John Patton brings us this series based on his speech, "The 8 Biggest Problems with Project Planning and Execution ... and Solutions …

As projects near completion, it can sometimes be difficult to finalize and deliver them due to issues that can drag on or situations that arise. …

It happens. The team is working hard and they’re trying to keep up. Everyone’s putting in the extra effort. Yet you’re running into a number of problems. In the middle part of the project, you can start to lose …

In the early stages of a project, a number of issues can crop up that can shift the project manager’s focus away from getting the project kicked off and on its way to eventual delivery. It’s an important time, as a …

This week’s problem card asks, “we’re dealing with so many external influences demanding quick successes — how do you avoid jumping to implement in a way that drives success but doesn’t forget that you’re working on a …

This week’s problem card focuses on the busy executive that, for whatever reason, is not making tough decisions quickly and is beginning to impact the smooth march forward of the project. This week, Connie Plowman joins …

Former Cadence COO Connie Plowman returns to Ask Cadence to discuss portability of the project management skill set in her new role. John Patton and …

A Cadence graduate called for help — after relocating for a promotion, his company was acquired by a new firm. Management roles changed, and it was …

This week’s project challenge comes from a recent attendee dealing with the loss of a critical team resource — a team member recently suffering a stroke. This sort of shock affects teams on many levels, from the deeply …

Each PMI Global Congress, we like to sit down with Cadence representatives and do a brief recap of lessons learned. The Global Congress in Dublin gave us an excellent opportunity to visit trends in complexity and …

The Project Management Institute’s Education Foundation - PMIEF - is a foundation for spearheading the kinds of projects that support building best-in-class project managers for the future. John Patton and Pete Wright …

Organizations that invest in developing their project management initiatives quickly recognize the complexity that comes with newfound …

There is a fear and misconception that project managers without technical or engineering skill will put the projects they manage at risk. Further, that organizations that adopt project management across the company, the …

For 35 years, John Patton has been serving and supporting the Project Management Institute, both as CEO of Cadence Management Corporation, and as a professional project manager and researcher of the field. Join John …

During the execution phase of the project, the team is stretched by the customer to add to scope. It’s causing strain on the team and putting …

The transition from project mode into operations is often every bit as critical as planning the project itself. John Patton and Jay Christensen take on this issue, and provide options for bringing transition planning …

Lack of timely decision-making can cause rework and re-scoping on projects. Jay Christensen and Pete Wright take on this challenge from a course attendee and offer suggestions for maintaining team focus and strong …

You know the project is coming, but it hasn't been authorized. As the window to deliver closes, how do you push sponsors to move the project forward …

Jay Christensen and Pete Wright discuss a key project management hurdle as presented in class: there are unclear priorities and mixed messages coming from the steering committee and an unwillingness to move projects …

As a new team member in an organization, what do you do when those around don’t understand or believe in the power of project management? We respond …

Cadence Vice President and COO has served almost every capacity in her 22 years at Cadence. She has served as leader and mentor across the project management community and helped countless practitioners achieve success …

On projects, it’s all about the team. The same is true for training. John Patton and Pete Wright discuss the importance of attending training and …

The Cadence scholarship program for educators, in partnership with the PMI Education Foundation, has been a boon to teachers and administrators …

This time, we take on culture. Building off our on-going discussion on behavioral models for individuals and teams, John Patton and Pete Wright …

This time, we take on groups. Building off our discussion last week on individual behavior models, John Patton and Scott Lissit introduce group behavior dynamics and outline critical strategies for project managers who …

This time we dive into human behavior. For project managers, helping team members understand and quantify their strengths can be a critical asset in …

Setting responsibilities for delivering results in project management is critical for success on teams, but even more important for the management …

The CAPM certification from the Project Management Institute was originally fashioned as a milestone in the development of the professional project manager. But John Patton has a different take on the cert, one that …

IIn part 7 of our special, “19 Techniques for managing people who do not report to you,” Jay Christensen and Rod Sharman discuss problem solving and …

In part 6 of our special, “19 Techniques for managing people who do not report to you,” Jay Christensen and Rod Sharman discuss how project managers …

In part 5 of our special, “19 Techniques for managing people who do not report to you,” Jay Christensen and Rod Sharman discuss the importance of using facts and data in supporting positions on projects, how you can …

In part 4 of our special, “19 Techniques for managing people who do not report to you,” Jay Christensen and Rod Sharman discuss task definition, specifically around critical impact tasks, and how to manage these tasks …

In part 3 of our special, “19 Techniques for managing people who do not report to you,” Jay Christensen and Rod Sharman discuss issues and concerns, …

In part 2 of our special, “19 Techniques for managing people who do not report to you,” Jay Christensen and Rod Sharman discuss roles and …

This is part 1 of our special, “19 Techniques for managing people who do not report to you.” Jay Christensen and Rod Sharman discuss the importance of goal statements, clear objective statements, and a well-publicized …

You can help your organization understand the roles and skills required for the project management function — you just have to know where to start. …

When working to build your team, you may find yourself in a sticky political mess when you find different groups in your organization are …

You have a problem. You escalate to your sponsor or steering committee. Their response? Don’t worry, they’re sure you’ll be able to solve the problem …

Are you a project manager seeking support from the functional managers who have their employees on your teams? Are you a team member looking for more support from your functional manager as you work on projects? TJay …

It’s one of the most common things we see on troubled projects, and sometimes the trickiest to navigate: No sponsor or steering committee supporting your projects. Jay Christensen dives into the issues that lead to this …

The problem card this week says it all: “Three project teams working on mandatory compliance projects to 18 countries, all three high priorities. Tasks from all three due all the time. How do I manage projects and …

It may seem like stakeholder meddling, but external influences competing for attention on your project can be a symptom of a much larger problem. …

Any number of challenges can slow a supplier delivering a complex product on your project. From engineering challenges to methodological roadblocks, …

From the problem cards this week, “The project is off to a slow start — how do we gain traction and get this project moving?” Turns out, it’s all a matter of focus on the life-cycle. This week, John Patton and Jay …

Thinking about Agile and how it might help your development projects? Looking for more detail on how the Agile approach maps to the Cadence …

If you’re facing an abrupt career change, you have a wide road before you. You’ve crafted your resume. You’ve done the networking. But have you really positioned yourself to be the perfect candidate for that perfect …

If your teams have suffered as a result of layoffs or reorganizations, you’re weathering the project economy. If you are juggling scope changes and …

We have been getting this question with great frequency: what is this Agile thing, and how does it map to the Cadence project management methodology? …

Passing the PMP exam and earning the coveted certification that results is becoming increasingly important for project management practitioners. In …

Wrapping up our discussion on implementing a project management methodology in your organization, this week John Patton and Scott Lissit join host …

If you’re considering implementing a project management methodology, it is important to know where you stand against the standard set by the Project …

Part 2: Every team has them. They may be well-intentioned, but for some reason or another, they’re blocking progress on your project. Whether they are raising inappropriate questions in your status meetings or just …

Every team has them. They may be well-intentioned, but for some reason or another, they’re blocking progress on your project. Whether they are raising inappropriate questions in your status meetings or just refusing to …

Part 2: What information do you need as a project manager flowing into your operation in order to know what’s happening on the project, and how to make corrective action as appropriate? It’s easy to get overwhelmed with …

What information do you need as a project manager flowing into your operation in order to know what’s happening on the project, and how to make corrective action as appropriate? It’s easy to get overwhelmed with project …

There are very few key roles to be filled in even the most complex project environment, but each of them is critical to successful implementation. …

This week, John Patton and Scott Lissit join host Pete Wright to outline the key elements of a methodology implementation for project management, …

There is no perfect way to implement a project management methodology. This week, John Patton and Scott Lissit join host Pete Wright as they unravel …

While a “Standard” tells you what to do, a “Methodology” tells you how to do it. So says John Patton and Scott Lissit, who join host Pete Wright …

What if your projects are affected by the recession? What if your team is broken up, reassigned, or restructured? What if you’re asked to make cuts to budget or redefine deliverables? This week, John Patton and Scott …

When the economy turns sour, it is easy to let fundamentals slip. When you find you are in danger of making reactionary decisions in place of strategic ones, it is critical that you step back, evaluate, and review the …

What do you do when you’re working on a project and your vendors are behind, unresponsive, or incompetent? This week, John Patton and Scott Lissit will show you how to take vendors to task when appropriate, manage them …

When it’s time to make the tough decisions, does everyone have to agree? This week, we wrap up our two-part conversation between John Patton and Scott Lissit on project management by consensus, the perils and pitfalls …

When it’s time to make the tough decisions, does everyone have to agree? This week, we begin our two-part conversation between John Patton and Scott Lissit on project management by consensus, the perils and pitfalls of …

This week, a listener email: “I have now moved on to a new company, a global bank in Europe. I intend to continue using the cadence methodology and …

This week, a listener email: “I have now moved on to a new company, a global bank in Europe. I intend to continue using the cadence methodology and …

You’re the lone project manager in your group. Your organization is resistant to change. How lead the charge for project management as a key success factor in your group without alienating people creating ill will …

Executives have to manage the portfolio of projects across the organization in spite of staffing changes, potential layoffs, operations scaling and …

Companies are being driven to take on projects with fixed due dates in spite of having to complete engineering development tasks which they have never attempted before. What are the costs of implementing your project …

The election for the 44th president of the United States of America has reset the bar against which campaigns will be measured. From unprecedented …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Once you have your project management system in place, how do you measure deeper results of project success beyond major milestones? This week, Rob …

Organizations dealing with cuts to their training budgets are suddenly forced to think creatively about getting teams the training they need to build …

Organizations dealing with cuts to their training budgets are suddenly forced to think creatively about getting teams the training they need to build …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

When team members jump into your project uninvited, do you have an opportunity to leverage many hands into light work, or a politically charged …

When operations and project collide in day-to-day work-life, it’s often a complicated juggling act determining where staff attention should be …

When a key manager holds the keys to your project schedule, how do you deliver results without creating a politically charged situation around your …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Keeping a keen eye on scope is a key responsibility of every project manager. The ability to address any element that affects project performance …

PMI Portland dinner meeting attendees were treated to this rousing speech by Randall Englund, author of the book “Project Sponsorship: Achieving Management Commitment for Project Success”. Englund is introduced here by …

A universal understanding of project scope is critical to overcoming confusion in project start-up. This week’s problem comes from a project manager …

This week we are thrilled to launch the inaugural episode of Ask Cadence!, tackling your gorilla project management problems, one week at a time.

This week, Scott Lissit and Jay Christensen take on the perennial …