Project Management Recommendations

As both an active project manager and a project management trainer, people often ask me what are the fundamental aspects to successful project management. Whilst there have been many great books written on the subject, I always summarise what I believe to be the best practices at the heart of good project management.
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What is a Work Breakdown Structure Diagram?

This article approaches the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) from a beginner's standpoint. A Work Breakown Structure is used for breaking down a project into easily manageable components, or bites.

Introduction

Company owners and project managers use the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to make complex projects more manageable. The WBS is designed to help break down a project into manageable chunks that can be effectively estimated and supervised.
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Writing a Scope Statement: Part 2

Prerequisites, Deliverables and Non-Goals

The subsequent section inside the scope statement should list the prerequisites of the project. The prerequisites are targets that needs to be met throughout the project, and frequently they include major milestones or targets. The goals must be quantifiable and recognized clearly. Any milestones or objectives have to be also clearly recognized, along with any non-goals. Non-goals are items which are specifically not likely to be addressed through the project, which really helps to get rid of the scope creep. By clearly identifying these as non-goals, the scope cannot contain them afterwards without undergoing a change management process. Ultimately, many project managers track their milestones, targets, and/or deliverables by using a Work Breakdown Structure.

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Writing a Scope Statement: Part 1

This informative article illuminates the need of effective scope statement and how you can write one which might help guide a project to successful achievement. The different chapters of a scope statement are discussed, in addition to suggestions on how to reduce scope creep.

Introduction - Where to Start

A scope statement is among the most important pieces of a project, and writing one can be a struggle for a project manager – regardless of what sort of project management method is being utilized. But, an effectively written scope statement will help all of those other project flow along with minimal problems. Lets have a look at how to write a good scope statement, its essential elements, and the pitfalls to avoid during its creation.

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Human Resource Management Tale1

One day while walking down the street a highly successful Human Resources Manager was tragically hit by a bus and she died. Her soul arrived up in heaven where she was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself.

"Welcome to Heaven," said St. Peter. "Before you get settled in though, it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we've never once had a Human Resources Manager make it this far and we're not really sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," said the woman.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose whichever one you want to spend an eternity in."

"Actually, I think I've made up my mind, I prefer to stay in Heaven", said the woman

"Sorry, we have rules..."

And with that St. Peter put the executive in an elevator and it went down-down-down to hell. The doors opened and she found herself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of her were all her friends - fellow executives that she had worked with and they were well dressed in evening gowns and cheering for her. They ran up and kissed her on both cheeks and they talked about old times. They played an excellent round of golf and at night went to the country club where she enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner.

She met the Devil who was actually a really nice guy (kind of cute) and she had a great time telling jokes and dancing. She was having such a good time that before she knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook her hand and waved goodbye as she got on the elevator.

The elevator went up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates and found St. Peter waiting for her.

"Now it's time to spend a day in heaven," he said. So she spent the next 24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing the harp and singing. She had great time and before she knew it her 24 hours were up and St. Peter came and got her.

"So, you've spent a day in hell and you've spent a day in heaven. Now you must choose your eternity,"

The woman paused for a second and then replied,

"Well, I never thought I'd say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a better time in Hell."

So St. Peter escorted her to the elevator and again she went down-down-down back to Hell. When the doors of the elevator opened she found herself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. She saw her friends were dressed in rags and were picking up the garbage and putting it in sacks.

The Devil came up to her and put his arm around her.

"I don't understand," stammered the woman, "yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and we danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland of garbage and all my friends look miserable."

The Devil looked at her smiled and told...


"Yesterday we were recruiting you, today you're an Employee.."

Contributed by : Yongsn

Fraudster gadget at Bank ATM

A team of organized criminals are installing equipment on legitimate bank ATM's in at least 2 regions to steal both the ATM card number and the PIN. The team sits nearby in a car receiving the information transmitted wirelessly over weekends and evenings from equipment they install on the front of the ATM (see photos). If you see an attachment like this, do not use the ATM and report it immediately to the bank using the phone on the front of the ATM.

The equipment used to capture your ATM card number and PIN are cleverly disguised to look like normal ATM equipment. A "skimmer" is mounted to the front of the normal ATM card slot that reads the ATM card number and transmits it to the criminals sitting in a nearby car.

At the same time, a wireless camera is disguised to look like a leaflet holder and is mounted in a position to view ATM PIN entries.

The thieves copy the cards and use the PIN numbers to withdraw thousands from many accounts in a very short time directly from the bank ATM.

Equipment being installed on front of existing bank card slot.



The equipment as it appears installed over the normal ATM bank slot.



The PIN reading camera being installed on the ATM is housed in an innocent looking leaflet enclosure.



The camera shown installed and ready to capture PIN's by looking down on the keypad as you enter your PIN

Bitching about White Ants

You don’t know they are there until it’s too late.

They are the unseen enemy.

Each year, the damages caused by this insects are more than the total damages from floods and fires combined.

On September 11, 2005, teacher Chan Boon Heng of SRJK (C) Keat Hwa (K) in Jalan Seberang Perak dies of internal injuries when he plunged 15 feet down due to the collapse of the plywood floorboard in the school which had been infested by white ants.

Chan was at the school’s office located on the first floor at 7.30am when the rotting wooden plywood floorboard suddenly gave way, and he plunged 15 feet down onto the hard cement floor below. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he died of internal injuries.

As our governmental system are basically reactive, on September 20, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin announced that the government has now approved RM10 million for repairs and upgrading of schools following the death of teacher Chan Boon Heng.

Hishamuddin said the number of schools that needed repair were huge which is why schools deemed “really dangerous” would be given priority. He said he did not blame anyone for the insufficient allocation.

“We have already spent a lot on equipments and computer laboratories."

So, we now hear the mourning over the fact that billions are spent building computer labs, installing Astro and paying multi-millions for the TV programmes and building hostels worth hundreds of millions; but no money to repair and upkeep schools, in particular, national-type schools and religious schools, and no money to repair delapidated bridges in kampungs too.

What caused the plywood floorboards to rot and yet is not visible to the naked eyes?

Termites! White-ants!

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