Fundamentally

Project Management - into the 21st Century

Too often people hire an old friend or a so-called 'expert' to manage a project, sometimes with disastrous consequences. Here is an approach to get the right person into the project - whether to implement a change or to become a new member of the Board of Directors.

The science of Management is loaded with books and articles about resource management, costs and planning to mention just a few. Very rarely do we come across anything that characterises the exercise itself or how we might identify the right person to optimally manage it.

To begin to fill in some of the mysteries, we can examine projects under three strategic headings, and also practical managers as three distinct types - it's not difficult to put the two together to get the most effective and efficient outcome

Please click here for a discussion about the relationships between projects and their managers

Searching for a new Stupid

There is a risk that the links delivered by search engines are filtered by the big providers to bring to the top of the list the results that suit the preferences of the person doing the searching

We are provided with material that is easily digested and comfortable, with little to challenge us or to stimulate us to come up new ideas or new thinking

Are we entering the first stage of stupidification? For the argument please click here

The Demise of Regional Development Agencies and Business Link?

Mark Prisk has recently announced the winding down of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) as contracts expire to be replaced with private sector support.

There are lessons to be learned from the Business Link which could support a highly effective form of support - which is what the Business Links were originally designed to do.

click here for some thoughts from an ex-insider.

Chat shows miss the point

How many of us watch chat shows and political commentary shows such as Dimbleby? and how many of us have noticed that the on-stage contributors are nearly all politicians, writers or lawyers?

Where are the people who can actually look ahead? instead of those who naturally go with the flow, simply chronicle what has gone or is happening or speculate.

These shows are like newspapers, they thrive on ambiguity, and then offer possible solutions which lead to additional uncertainty, and we continue to watch the shows or buy the papers to follow the stories as they "unfold".

And has anyone noticed that when they go on strike nothing happens?

When will we get people on these shows who can either think or are generally informed aside of the spin and featherbedding of Westminster or the fantasy and sensationalism of the media?

Posted by Steve Mullins