Amberhill Associates Ltd ©️Chris Robinson

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project managers and business consultants

Why YOU need a Project Manager #pmot

Posted on November 25, 2011 by admin

project managers Some organizations think they can run projects without a Project Manager

They believe that they can save money by having an engineer or administrator do the project managers tasks.

Here are some reasons why they are wrong:-

All projects need managing.
Project Management is a skilled profession which requires years of learning and development.
A professional Project Manager understands how a project should be structured to ensure success.
She will plan the project to minimize overall timescale.
He understands how to get “stuff” done.
A Project Manager makes team members life “easy” by scheduling activities & dealing with the politics & administration of the project.
He understand conflict resolution and mediation.

So what is the likely outcome of trying to manage projects on the “cheap” :-

The project will be structured poorly if at all.
The timeline will be extended extensively.
The inexperienced individual trying to manage the project will become completely overloaded & unable to cope with their own tasks.
Rather than being cheaper costs will escalate out of control.
Key deliverables will not be met.
Customers expectations will be compromised.
The business will be irreparably damaged.

If you really want to save yourself money hire the best project manager you can get.

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project managers and business consultants

What recession ??? #pmot #entrepreneur

Posted on November 12, 2011 by admin

This week Jaguar Land Rover announced a multi – billion pound investment program which will generate over one thousand new jobs in the West Midlands – a fantastic example of how a company can thrive in a recession when it focuses on producing a quality product range which exceeds customer expectations.

Here is just a short list of some major companies which not only started in a recession (or even a depression) but went on to grow into some of the biggest and most successful companies in he world today.

growth General Electric – 1873

Disney – 1924

Hewlett Packard – 1939

Burger King – 1957

Microsoft – 1975

So here are some thoughts on growth in the current recession:-

Business Case – if the business case is sound and has been rigorously reviewed – forget the recession. Have the courage to invest in your convictions.
Ignore the herd – just because the majority of companies are acting like rabbits caught in the headlights doesn’t mean that yours has to.
Crush Competitors – that’s right, take the opportunity to mop up your timid competitors markets.
Eliminate waste – apply LEAN principles to maintain the competitive edge.
Ensure Quality – apply 6 Sigma t0 minimize defects & maximise yields.

Employ Interims – If you are cautious about taking on full time employees make use of highly qualified contractors available at short notice to meet your immediate business needs.

Fortune favours the brave !

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project managers and business consultants

Unemployment – #Innovation is the answer #pmot

Posted on October 12, 2011 by admin

In the U.K today we slumped to another level of misery with unemployment hitting 2.57 million, the highest for 17 years. What a tragedy especially for our youth with levels above 21% for 16 – 24 year olds.

So what’s the answer – there is no magic solution to the world economic crises but how about some of the following:-

less focus on “the markets”, our repeated emphasis on stock indices performance has led to short terminism in the extreme.
Stop bailing out failing financial institutions. Trillions of pounds of taxpayers money on both sides of the Atlantic has been thrown away propping up banks which have made disastrous risky investments at our expense.
Using the money saved from the above embark on a major series of public works, transport, housing, digital technology and green energy solutions should be at the forefront.
Set up a state bank to invest in small businesses. Small Businesses employ around 60% of the private sector workforce & are desperate for funds to enable growth.
Set up more Technology parks. Cambridge is a fantastic example of how successful this strategy has been over the last 20 years.
Encourage start-ups in the North by offering financial incentives to do so. Far too much of our industry is currently situated in the overcrowded South East. There is a wealth of untapped talent in the North which is currently going to waste & plenty brownfield sites to build on. The developments at Salford Quays including Media City is a great example of what can be done when there is a will to do it.

These are just some ideas how we can stimulate the economy by investing in Innovation & Technology instead of continuing to bail out banks pouring more valuable resources down the drain.
chris@projectsguru.co.uk

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When did you last hear bad news…?#pmot

Posted on October 5, 2011 by admin

shouting Managers often complain they never get told bad news.

If you are one of those Managers maybe you should consider how you reacted the last time one of your Team actually gave you bad news.

If you reacted by shouting, by being aggressive or acting as if the world had come to an end you could hardly be surprised if no one wanted to tell you something you didn’t want to hear.

Communication is a two way process so if you want people to tell you stuff you may not like it may pay to keep your reactions in check

How did you react the last time someone gave YOU bad news ?

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project managers and business consultants

Casino Capitalism….#pmot…#biz..#innovation

Posted on August 6, 2011 by admin

We have seen trillions wiped off stock markets worldwide, the FTSE 100 has lost over 10% of it’s value in the last week alone & our TV screens have been filled with hysterical traders and concerned politicians.

So does it really matter, in the long term probably not, but if you were planning on retiring soon and have an equities based pension scheme you may well have to think about postponing your retirement.

The markets have become the biggest casino on the planet, where billions are traded on market fluctuations to generate financial gain for wealthy funds. The problem is that massive losses can also be generated especially in times (like now) of great volatility.

It is almost as if Government policies are primarily based on satisfying short term targets of financial speculators.

Over the last 30 years we have seen increasing numbers of large corporations listed on the Stock Market. The benefits of this are increased transparency and greater share ownership but the downside is that company boards are increasingly focused on short term share performance rather than long term strategic growth. They are also more vulnerable to deselection which increases their focus on knee jerk reaction to stock market fluctuations.

So how do we escape from all this madness ?

Here are a few suggestions which may help:-

1) Corporations should seriously consider de-listing from publicly listed stock exchanges & revert to private Limited Company status. Directors will then be able to take a more objective long term view divorced from the daily vagaries of the markets.

2) They should follow the example of German organizations and involve workers representatives at board level, increasing participation and integration.

3) The only way to pay down debt is to generate growth; Governments need to think beyond printing money and subsidizing banks. Innovation in manufacturing and services should be strongly encouraged.

4) Failing corporations, whether banks or otherwise, must be allowed to fall. The risks of failing institutions should not be born by the taxpayer.

5) A state bank should be established to act in direct competition with the private sector so that essential Capital flows can be maintained.

6) Government (NOT essential public services) must be streamlined and taxes reduced. For too long those in business & manufacturing have subsidised those working for the state who provide no added value whatsoever.

We need a radical rethink if we want to escape the madness of Casino Capitalism.

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Do NOT hire an interim project manager if… #pmot

Posted on June 5, 2011 by admin

Interim Project Managers 1) You need additional Project Management resource for the foreseeable future; in this case you will be better off engaging someone on a “permanent” salaried basis, even if finding them will take longer.

2) Your processes are so specific any new recruit will take several months or even years to become familiar with them.

3) You want to engage an individual (probably younger) you can mould to fit your organizations culture.

4) Your organization is expanding at a steady and predictable rate.

However, sometimes an Interim Project Manager is the best solution if:-

1) You have identified a short to medium term lack of resource in the Project Management arena.

2) You want someone quickly who can make an immediate impact.

3) You have a specific project which requires targeted resource.

4) Your organization is expanding rapidly but unpredictable.

When employing additional resource be sure to take into account the circumstances in which it is to be deployed.

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project managers and business consultants

Project Management Rapture….#in…#pmot

Posted on May 24, 2011 by admin

I knew exactly how Reverend Harold Camping felt on Saturday when his end of the world prediction (known as “The Rapture”) failed to transpire.

I’ve been there, oh yes I’ve been there; not predicting the end of the world of course, but forecasting a key project milestone to a customer. Tracking progress carefully and communicating regularly and what happens……a project bananna skin sneaks under the sole of my foot and all hell breaks loose, my project milestone is suddenly hoofed into the future and I’m left in front of the customer with egg, not only on my face, but dribbling down my shirt as well.

Of course I always go back to the customer offering 3 options and making every endeavour to minimize the delay but…..it’s never the same.

Like so many of the good Reverends followers who sold their houses, or spent their life savings prior to “Rapture” the Customer inevitably feels cheesed off to say the least.

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Return of The Apprentice….#pmot…#in…#entrepreneur

Posted on May 11, 2011 by admin

There are always plenty of laughs to be had in BBC’s “The Apprentice” – that’s what its all about after all, rather than a serious look at innovation or
entrepreneurship, it revolves around getting a bunch of young (naive) wannabes together who are generally arrogant, self opinionated and full of it; falling over themselves to look even dafter than they are in reality (all helped by clever editing of course)

Sir Alan hams it up, pontificating in cockney barrow boy English whilst trying not to fall off the box he has to place on his chair in order not to look too short.

Each task has a “project manager” – which has probably done more to damage the profession than anything else, most of the prats on the show probably think a Gantt is a term of abuse.

The funniest bit last night was when Sir Alan referred to himself as an “electronics expert….who sees things other people cannot see..”

Hmmmmm….perhaps he was referring to Amstrad’s “emailer” phone.
Oh Yes the famous emailer phone, widely used by Sir Alan’s receptionist to
usher in the hapless competitors.

Doesn’t every home have one ?