Linux News: Project Management

Gearing Up for the Project Management Explosion
October 12, 2009

The economic stimulus assistance injected into major industrial countries to counter the effects of a global recession shone a spotlight on the need to rebuild their infrastructures. The need to manage such public works investments efficiently has generated a huge potential market for project management software and related services.

Management From Afar: Coaching a Team of Remote Workers
October 05, 2009

In our global economy, where outsourcing is common and the Internet makes it possible to work from almost any location under the sun, it's not unusual for a company to find itself in the position of having a large portion of its staff in various locations outside the main offices. Particularly in the technology industry, software and application development jobs are often filled by freelance workers.

Best Practices for Managing Small Projects
September 15, 2009

Small projects, though often overlooked, can make up the bulk of the portfolio and are crucial to a company's success. They might not involve large sums of money, but the fact is that if managed improperly, these small projects can add up to some major costs in the long run. The good news is that project managers need only apply standard best practices to these smaller projects.

6 Tips for Narrowing Your PPM Vendor Shortlist
July 07, 2009

Due to the economy, many businesses are now looking at project portfolio management solutions to help them isolate and execute mission-critical projects more effectively. These businesses have also found that Software as a Service solutions are both more affordable and easier to deploy than traditional ones.

Collaborating in the Cloud: Q&A With PBworks CEO Jim Groff
June 22, 2009

Cloud computing is remaking just about every software category -- and project management is no exception. In the on-premise software era, collaboration was limited by the technology of a particular firm, as well as the security requirements of a particular industry. That was then, of course.

Plan Your Project's Testing - or Plan to Fail
May 26, 2009

Does testing require a plan? That may sound like a silly question, but many organizations leave the testing to the end of the project, and whatever time is left is the time that will be spent on testing. Testing, like any other part of a project, must be carefully planned in order to accomplish the objectives.

The Crucial Role of Application Testing in Software Development
May 13, 2009

During the software development life cycle, time and resources need to be committed to application testing. This is the testing that is done by the testing group, or black box testers. The allocation of time and resources is always a problem, as some organizations aren't quite sure how much should be assigned.

Project Success vs. Fear of Leading
May 12, 2009

Mission-critical IT investments are inherently risky, even with a certified project management professional in place to guide the project. Factors like unrealistic timelines and poor planning can certainly jeopardize project success -- but could these factors be symptoms of a larger issue? Perhaps the root cause for project failure lies in an inability to lead projects.

Investments Bleed When You Cut Costs: Q&A With Tigerpaw CEO Dave Foxall
May 11, 2009

Tigerpaw Software is a family-owned software company that, 24 years after it was founded, is about to enter a new phase of growth. The company's enterprise CRM, inventory and project management platform has always had a loyal following, in no small part because of the care and attention Tigerpaw lavishes on its customers, said CEO Dave Foxall.

Why Should We Let Your Department Live? PMO Survival 101
April 24, 2009

Josh Nankivel of PMStudent.com recently polled project managers about how the current economic climate is affecting them, and he found that 27 percent had experienced project cutbacks, 14 percent had experienced PM layoffs, 11 percent had experienced financial scrutiny of projects, and 10 percent had experienced project staff reductions.

Now Software and the Mac/PC Office: Diversity in the Workplace
April 20, 2009

While it's always nice to be the first mover in a market, there's some satisfaction in grinding it out in a niche and watching a market move into your wheelhouse. That seems to be the case with Now Software. The Columbus, Ohio, maker of contact and calendar software is poised to take advantage of two burgeoning trends: information sharing and the increased presence of Macintosh computers on business networks.

Do You Know Where Your Project Is?
March 17, 2009

Do you know what your people are working on? Do you know why your project is late? Do you know if you are getting the ROI you need? You may not realize it, but what you don't know can hurt you and your organization. You might be planning projects that your resources cannot accommodate, or spending too much money through labor hours to bring in the right profit.

It's All About Execution: Q&A With Journyx CEO Curt Finch
March 09, 2009

Journyx, a company that provides Web-based time-tracking and project management applications, also offers its customers a back door into customer service. That is, its application lets users track what a customer cost. That is a number that is often surprisingly miscalculated or not calculated at all, said CEO Curt Finch.

How to Shave Costs With Precision
January 02, 2009

The global financial marketplace has recently become quite volatile, as fears of an American recession affect economies all over the world. Such fears can be especially dangerous for businesses. In times like these, many top managers panic and make unwise decisions such as firing quality employees and slashing important programs.

Social Media Outsourcing, Part 2: Weighing Risks and Rewards
December 17, 2008

Social media outsourcing will be the next big business opportunity for India after business process outsourcing and knowledge process outsourcing, contends Gaurav Mishra, Yahoo fellow in residence at Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.

Social Media Outsourcing, Part 1: Choosing an Image Maker
December 10, 2008

The familiar social media paradigm of "Listen ... Learn ... Engage ... Earn" has a correlative imperative: "Publish or Perish," and enterprises probably need to find someone else to do the job for them. But be really careful about whom you select. I've covered the specifics of B2B digital media relations and social media marketing in previous articles.