Ricardo Viana Vargas's Blog, page 21

Why is so complex to be Simple and Effective during the Project Selection?

In this podcast, in the traditional time of the year where companies are planning their projects for the next year, or years, Ricardo talks about the three factors that complicate the way that we should approach the process of selecting projects in a portfolio.

Directly from the PMI EF Disaster Recovery Workshop in Alexandria – USA

In this podcast, Ricardo talks directly from Alexandria, USA, about the PMI Educational Foundation Disaster Recovery Workshop. The workshop brought together experts from around the world to discuss the application of project management in disaster and reconstructions events.

How to do Stakeholder Analysis in Practice – Part 2 of 2

In this podcast, Ricardo ends the explanation of how to do the Stakeholder Analysis in practice.

If you have not heard the first part, listen to it here: http://www.ricardo-vargas.com/podcast... /

How to do Stakeholder Analysis in Practice – Part 1 of 2

In this special podcast, Ricardo teaches, in practice, how to do a Stakeholder Analysis. To follow the step-by-step shown by Ricardo, you will need this material: 3 large sheets of paper (i.e. flip chart size), tape, several post-it’s and pens (or markers), two to three different colors for pens and post-it’s. And of course, your team to participate in the brainstorming.


Follow next week the final part of this podcast!

3 Success Factors in the Procurement Process

In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the dangers of underestimate the complexity of the procurement management. He gives three tips on how we can increase the chance of success in our projects. They are:

1 – Seek knowledge about what will be purchased;

2 – Analyze the total cost of acquisition, not just the price;

3 – Associate payment events to deliveries on your project.

Understanding the Risk Attitude

In this podcast, Ricardo talks about people’s different attitudes and profiles against the risks. He explains these attitudes and profiles by analyzing a chart in the book “Understanding And Managing Risk Attitude”, by David Hillson.


See Ricardo’s brief review of the book here: http://www.ricardo-vargas.com/books/recommendations/75/


View the chart discussed in the podcast: http://www.risk-attitude.com/spectrum.html

Do not think that the software is your Project Manager

In this podcast, Ricardo is incisive on commenting the relevance and importance of the correct use of project management software. He makes it clear that the fundamentals of project management can not be forgotten because they are much more important than the mastery of any existing software.

The new Scope, Time and Cost Planning Processes of the PMBOK® Guide 5th Edition

In this podcast, Ricardo concludes the series of five podcasts on the PMBOK® Guide 5th Edition. He talks about the reasons behind the creation of processes 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1, Plan Scope Management, Plan Schedule Management and Plan Cost Management, respectively. He comments on how best to use these processes, taking into account the project complexity.

Why are we so afraid of failure?

In this podcast, Ricardo proposes to us a reflection: why, in both our professional and personal lives, the fear of failure bothers us so much? He says that many societies value the success and penalize failure at the same intensity, and leaves the question: does this logic is the best one?

Why is it So Hard to Define Clear Criteria for Selecting Projects?

In this podcast, Ricardo lists the three main reasons why it is so difficult to establish criteria for selecting projects in a Portfolio Management. They are: the lack of clarity in the strategic objectives, the difficulty in measuring intangibles and the management of possible conflicts created by individual interests.