Latest Success and scars shared Podcast Episodes
SSS #024: Missed opportunity with Stuart TAYLOR
Professional PMOCast - May 17, 2023 08:00 - 9 minutesIn this interview, Stuart Taylor (https://www.linkedin.com/in/skt/) talks us through how a change of government meant that the NHS lost out on some useful predictive technology, and how in hindsight he could have prevented that from happening. This interview is also available as a video. Shari...
SSS #023: Costly (non) Communication with Elsie Rogers
Professional PMOCast - January 23, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesIn this interview, Elsie Rogers tells us how a simple communication oversight nearly turned into a cost overrun, and reminds us of the importance of informal corridor conversations. This interview is part of Pragmatic PMO’s “Scary Scars Shared” series, in which Ken BurrelI asks Real Project Man...
SSS #022: Driving blindfold through the badlands with Zoe O'Toole
Professional PMOCast - January 22, 2022 09:00 - 10 minutesIn this interview, Zoe O'Toole tells us how she went into a hostile, change-fatigued environment with no project portfolio overview and implemented project and portfolio reporting. She shares how she gained trust and improved communication, and reminds us to listen and understand before making r...
SSS #021: Too much, too soon with Richard Humphrey
Professional PMOCast - January 21, 2022 09:00 - 11 minutesIn this interview, Richard Humphrey tells us how what he thought was a sensible and pragmatic suggestion was summarily dismissed. He reminds us to pay attention to stakeholders' environment, and reminds us that incremental change is often better received and longer lasting than step change. Thi...
SSS #020: Explosive expectations with Martin Robbie
Professional PMOCast - January 20, 2022 09:00 - 11 minutesIn this interview, police officer Martin Robbie describes what it is like to manage a real emergency situation, and what he learned from doing it. He reminds us to prioritise and balance the needs of disparate stakeholders, and to use the right amount of communication to keep people informed but...
SSS #019 Tricky Timescales with Ben Archer
Professional PMOCast - January 19, 2022 09:00 - 8 minutesIn this interview, Ben Archer reminds us not to over-promise, and to minimise cost and complexity by minimising the number of project phases. This interview is part of Pragmatic PMO’s “Scary Scars Shared” series, in which Ken BurrelI asks Real Project Managers to share in around ten minutes the...
SSS #018: Accommodating Clients with David EVANS
Professional PMOCast - January 18, 2022 09:00 - 9 minutesIn this interview, David Evans recommends us to understands the needs of project stakeholders, and be prepared to adapt our project approach to suit those needs. This interview is part of Pragmatic PMO’s “Scary Scars Shared” series, in which Ken BurrelI asks Real Project Managers to share in ar...
SSS #017: Buried benefits with Kim Fitzpatrick
Professional PMOCast - January 17, 2022 09:00 - 9 minutesIn this episode, Kim Fitzpatrick recommends us to clearly articulate the purpose of our projects, especially when the benefits are not obvious. She also suggests we should understand the skills of the people we work with to get the best from them. This interview is part of Pragmatic PMO’s “Scar...
SSS #016: Stubborn stakeholders with Bekka Prideaux
Professional PMOCast - January 16, 2022 09:00 - 10 minutesIn this episode, Bekka Prideaux talks about how she handled a stakeholder who didn't do what he said he would. She reminds us to make effective use of the people and the tools available to us to deliver the project. This interview is also available as a video at http://bit.ly/ScaryScars This i...
SSS #015: Introductions and information with Jack Saward
Professional PMOCast - January 15, 2022 09:00 - 10 minutesIn this interview, Jack Saward tells us what happens when we take passed-on information at face value, and recommends that instead we go direct to the information source wherever possible. This interview is also available as a video at http://bit.ly/ScaryScars This is one of Pragmatic PMO's in...
SSS #014: Experts and expectations with Juliet DOSWELL
Professional PMOCast - January 14, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesIn this interview, Juliet Doswell reminds us to manage our stakeholders' expectations (estimates are subject to change), and reminds us that the advice of experts is ultimately one person's opinion. This interview is part of Pragmatic PMO’s “Scary Scars Shared” series, in which Ken BurrelI asks...
SSS #013: Uncertain assumptions with Susie Palmer-Trew
Professional PMOCast - January 13, 2022 09:00 - 9 minutesIn this interview, Susie Palmer-Trew relates the consequences of making assumptions, and reminds us to encourage people to challenge and test the assumptions we make - especially the small ones. This interview is also available as a video This is one of Pragmatic PMO's interview series "Scary ...
SSS #012: Responsibilities and recommendations with Jill Plunga
Professional PMOCast - January 12, 2022 09:00 - 9 minutesIn this interview, Jill Plunga warns against the perils of forgetting what the role of the project manager truly is, and reminds how important it is to make full use of subject matter experts. This interview is part of Pragmatic PMO’s “Scary Scars Shared” series, in which Ken BurrelI asks Real ...
SSS #011: Nightworks and networks with Evelyn Webber
Professional PMOCast - January 11, 2022 09:00 - 11 minutesIn this interview, Evelyn Webber talks about how she handled an office move that went wrong. She reminds us of the importance of contingency planning, developing and maintaining a network of contacts, and having the tenacity to find and deliver a solution. This interview is part of Pragmatic PM...
SSS #010: Stakeholders and strategy with Louise Worsley
Professional PMOCast - January 10, 2022 09:00 - 11 minutesIn this interview, Louise Worsley tells us of her experience with powerful negative stakeholders, and advises us on how to use them to help improve the quality of both risk management and the solution. She also reminds us to make sure what you're doing against remains aligned with the business...
SSS #010a: Change of Focus
Professional PMOCast - January 10, 2022 08:00 - 1 minuteIn this video, Ken Burrell shares a change in focus for the SSS interview series, and explains the rationale behind it.
SSS #009: Context and Collaboration with Eileen Roden
Professional PMOCast - January 09, 2022 09:00 - 12 minutesIn this interview, Eileen Roden warns project managers against planning in isolation and trying to provide all the technical answers; instead planning should be a collaborative process, and use the knowledge of the team. She also talks about the value of understanding where your project fits in...
SSS #008: Calculation and Categorisation with John McIntyre
Professional PMOCast - January 08, 2022 09:00 - 12 minutesIn this episode, John McIntyre warns us to be careful when using averages to work out project durations (and explains how they are more useful at project level than task level). He also advises us to consider segmenting stakeholders using whatever criteria are useful to the project in hand, and...
SSS #007: Briefing and Believing with Paul Lomax
Professional PMOCast - January 07, 2022 09:00 - 10 minutesIn this episode, Paul Lomax gives us an example of the dangers in taking instructions and information at face value, and encourages us to communicate well and frequently to keep everyone on the same page. This interview is part of Pragmatic PMO’s “Scary Scars Shared” series, in which Ken Burrel...
SSS #006: Entrenchment and Empowerment with Nick Hopkins
Professional PMOCast - January 06, 2022 09:00 - 11 minutesIn this episode, Nick Hopkins tells us about the difficulties of running projects in organisations that believe their people are empowered, but in reality decisions are funnelled trough a small group of people. He also tells us about running projects the deliver changes the stakeholders don't w...
SSS #005: Rationale and Relationships with Mark Ferguson
Professional PMOCast - January 05, 2022 09:00 - 10 minutesIn this episode, Mark Ferguson talks to us about the importance of understanding the business case for your project and understanding how it fits into the organisational governance context. He also warns us against underestimating the importance of stakeholder engagement, and taking what you ar...
SSS #004: Assumptions and expectations with Nicole REILLY
Professional PMOCast - January 04, 2022 09:00 - 11 minutesIn this episode, Nicole Reilly warns us what can happen if you make the wrong assumptions and don't use operational subject matter experts. She also tells us about how good and consistent communication to stakeholders helps to manage their expectations and increase adoption. This interview is ...
SSS #003: Checklists and charity with Martin DOWSETT
Professional PMOCast - January 03, 2022 09:00 - 9 minutesIn this interview, Martin Dowsett tells us how he uses checklists to make sure small but important things don't get forgotten. He also tells us how he brought a project that was over budget back on track, and how he created and used a set of guiding principles to keep it there. This interview ...
SSS #002: Freedom and Flexibility with Adam Al-Shemmeri
Professional PMOCast - January 02, 2022 09:00 - 10 minutesIn this episode, Adam Al-Shemmeri talks about how incremental delivery can increase flexibility - even in construction! He also talks about running projects when the sponsor's freedom to make decisions is limited - and how he worked around it. This interview is part of Pragmatic PMO’s “Scary S...
SSS #001: Testing and Templates with Shree Patel
Professional PMOCast - January 01, 2022 09:00 - 10 minutesIn this episode, Real Project Manager Shreekant Patel tells us about how he creates and uses templates for repeatable tasks, and gets to know his stakeholders. He also tells us about his challenges with IT application testing, and how investing intelligently in infrastructure and test data can ...
SSS #000: Ken Burrell (Series Intro)
Professional PMOCast - December 31, 2021 09:00 - 59 secondsIn this episode, Ken Burrell of Pragmatic PMO introduces the “Scary Scars Shared” (formerly "Successes and Scars Shared") interview series, in which he asks Real Project Managers to share in around ten minutes the lessons they have learned from managing projects, so that the whole project manage...
Project Management, Learning Lessons from Projects, #CAMRPM, Scary Scars Shared, Stakeholder Engagement
Professional PMOCast - December 16, 2021 08:00 - 12 minutesIn this episode, John McIntyre warns us to be careful when using averages to work out project durations (and explains how they are more useful at project level than task level). He also advises us to consider segmenting stakeholders using whatever criteria are useful to the project in hand, and...
SSS #013: Uncertain assumptions with Susie Palmer-Trew
Professional PMOCast - March 27, 2021 14:00 - 9 minutesIn this interview, Susie Palmer-Trew relates the consequences of making assumptions, and reminds us to encourage people to challenge and test the assumptions we make - especially the small ones. This interview is also available as a video at http://bit.ly/ScaryScars This is one of Pragmatic PM...
SSS #003: Checklists and charity with Martin Dowsett
Professional PMOCast - February 22, 2021 09:00 - 9 minutesIn this interview, Martin Dowsett (https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-dowsett-a0143225/) tells us how he uses checklists to make sure small but important things don't get forgotten. He also tells us how he brought a project that was over budget back on track, and how he created and used a set o...
SSS #004: Assumptions and expectations with Nicole Reilly
Professional PMOCast - February 22, 2021 09:00 - 11 minutesIn this episode, Nicole Reilly warns us what can happen if you make the wrong assumptions and don't use operational subject matter experts. She also tells us about how good and consistent communication to stakeholders helps to manage their expectations and increase adoption. This interview is ...
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