Alan Zucker

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Agile is a mindset described by a set of values and principles.  It traces its roots to Lean, which is also foundational to other modern management theories.  Lean’s primary focus is delivering value quickly and eliminating waste.  Toyot…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Conflict exists.  It is a natural part of being human.  It occurs at home and at work. We disagree.  We have different perspectives and opinions.  We get upset by things that were said, or not said.  These events arouse our emo…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker The Gantt Chart is the most widely used project scheduling tool.  It visually depicts the project’s activities, when they will occur, and their interdependencies.  When used correctly, it is powerful.  Unfortunately, most Gantts are poorly constructed,…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Agile teams are described as “self-organizing” or “self-managing.”  But what does that really mean?  The terms are frequently used but not widely understood.  For teams to “be” Agile, they need to know how to act.     Beha…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Economics is the social science that studies making choices subject to constraints.  Project, program, and portfolio managers make economic decisions daily.  We try to maximize value delivery subject to the constraints of time, cost, quality,…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Excellent “soft skills” differentiate the great project managers.  Since 90% of a project manager’s time is spent with others, it is no surprise that communications and emotional intelligence are vital traits.   They are situationally aware, asse…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Let’s be honest, most project schedules disappoint.  They are unrealistic, complicated, and do not help guide execution.  For decades, Gantt charts, network diagrams, and the critical path method have been the standard practices.  Even with these power…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Assumptions and risks are embedded in our daily lives.  We expect the day will unfold as planned, and risks will not materialize.  Most of these assumptions are benign, like thinking the weather report will be accurate; or no major calamities…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Large enterprises struggle to manage their project portfolios effectively.  They fall prey to the fallacy of optimizing resource allocation.  Or simply stated, they focus on making sure everyone is busy rather than getting things done. Team m…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Selecting a project management approach and framework is complicated.  Not that long ago, it was like buying a Model-T Ford; you could have any color you wanted, as long as it was black—our only option was Waterfall. Today Waterfall is still a cho…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Project management theory established the Triple Constraint (aka, the Iron Triangle) as the key to project success.  If the scope is known and fixed, then the schedule and cost must adjust to accommodate scope changes.  The simplicity of this…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Everyone tells me they are busy.  They are on video or conference calls from morning until evening.  On average, workers receive over 100 emails per day and send at least 40.   A common complaint is, “I spend my entire day meeting a…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Modern management theory is built on the premise of trust.  If management creates a values-based culture, employees will make the “right” decisions.   Douglas McGregor described Theory X (not trusting) and Y (trusting) managers.   The 1950s were an inf…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker The virtues of high-performing teams are well documented.  They are 50% more productive.  They are more creative, and members are 76% more likely to be engaged.  Gallup studies of organizational performance find that companies with highl…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker The traditional definition of optics is the scientific study of sight or light.  An alternative description relates to politics and refers to the perception of a situation.  The political origin dates back to the Carter Administration when a …

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker In one of my training classes, there is an exercise to conduct a daily stand-up meeting.  The meeting should be no longer than 15-minutes and be well structured.  In class, we challenge the leader with common distracting and unproductive beha…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker There are many tools to help project teams manage their work, collaborate, and track performance.  The number of options is overwhelming—Capterra has published over 900-project management tool reviews.  I teach project management classes and …

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker I called an old colleague just to say “hello” and see how he was doing.  We have worked together at different companies over the past dozen years.  He is an inspirational finance executive and counted on me to implement his vision.  &#16…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker This year was like living through a 500-year storm.   COVID has infected 1 in 20 Americans, and 1 in 1,000 have died of the disease.  Nearly 15 million people are still out of work.  Thirty-three million have been remote for 9-month…

PMP Certification Exam Prep & Training – Velociteach https://www.velociteach.com/ by Alan Zucker Balancing our work and home lives is a challenge that nearly everyone faces.  I was a single parent for many years and managed large teams and projects in Fortune 100 companies.  It was not always easy.  Recently, I was talking to an old…