The PMI Agile Community of Practice

Different circumstances require different project approaches. Sometimes we need a piece of plan-driven, other times we need a bucket of agile. But we are always in need of Project Leaders that know how to handle all available project strategies. That is way I am very excited about the recently founded PMI Agile Community of Practice. …

Freestyling: Beating Agile, Lean And Plan-driven Hands Down

Last week I got an email asking if I am an Agilist.
Scuze me? I am Dutch. Does that count?
Of course I know about agile approaches. Yes, I know Scrum. Yes, I know the devastating effects a single minded, too narrow focused, command-and-control fanatic can have on the workplace.

Why Agile Popped Up on the Radar When it Did

This summer I asked myself two questions (well, some more, but who cares about my favorite pizza): 1) why is the most popular way of doing Project Management plan driven? 2) why did agile methods pop up during the mid-nineties and not earlier or later? My answer to the second question is this months featured …

Reality Refuses To Follow Your Plan

Project life can be quite frustrating when one day after another turns out not how you planned it. The software should be ready when you said it would. It has to. Otherwise you have people waiting, customers complaining and bosses getting annoyed. It is your reputation and ultimately your job on the line. If you …

Balancing Agility And Discipline – Book By Barry Boehm

There are not many books available that cover the topic of when to apply an agile or plan driven method. In my opinion the selection of when to apply a certain technique or process component remains the most difficult area of Project Management. I only know of two books that cover this in detail, my …