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Posts Tagged ‘Projects’

As a project lead for a software development company my primary role is to facilitate the implementation of our software products with new customers in a healthcare niche market. Implementation projects are complex and often filled with unspoken expectations, assumptions and demands from customers who do not understand (or accept) the process used by our organization.

Experienced project managers are probably either smiling as they read this, or wondering “what’s the big deal?” The big deal is this – unless I can, as a project manager, find the “key” to the customers and people that work on this team, projects I am responsible for will undoubtedly falter and could even fail.

Even as I write this article, I am faced with a new challenge with a particular customer that has me, admittedly, a bit stumped. This particular customer has not responded to all the “usual” tactics, approaches, instructions, or even accepted our help and assistance to collaboratively manage the implementation project. In fact, for the most part, I believe that this customer truly believes that because they have purchased our product that they literally, and wholly, own those of us assigned to the tasks. Sound familiar? I have spent a good deal of time thinking about this project and trying to identify methods and tools to use to bridge the gap with this customer. It is this quest that prompted me to return to some of my reference materials and books where I found something that I wanted to share with you. I hope you find this information as valuable as I.

One of my favorite books, and role models, is Eleanor Roosevelt. Her book, You Learn by Living, is literally packed with words of wisdom, common sense, and caring for the people in her family and public spotlight. In her day, Mrs. Roosevelt was an incredibly dynamic woman who had a profound impact on many people. She wrote about how to get the best out of people. I find these words very applicable for project managers and teams.

“If such a search is to be successful, however, you will need two qualities which you can develop by practice. One is the ability to be a good listener. The other is the imaginative ability to put yourself in the other person’s place; to try to discover what he (she) is thinking and feeling; to understand as far as you can the background from which he came, the soil out of which his roots have grown, the customs and beliefs and ideas which have shaped his (or her) thinking.” (page 136)

This very simple paragraph made me sit back and take notice! Have I been a good listener to my customer and their needs? Did I truly hear them, or did I passively listen? And, have I done everything I can to put myself into their situation and try to learn and understand what their basic needs and expectations are? Do I really understand how their operations and goals have affected this project? Am I supporting the customer in their need to transition to a new system and to effect positive change and improvements to their business?

After spending some time in introspective review I find that I have probably not been as diligent as I should have been with this customer. The good news is that all is not lost and I can immediately apply these principles (and questions) to my communication and work with the customer. Realistically it is going to be harder and more complicated to “fix” any damage that has been done because of my lapse in active listening. Is it worth it to try now, when the project is almost done? Absolutely!

DIY projects and what they can mean for the homeowner or automobile owner in terms of money-saving work will mainly rely on the ability of the person contemplating doing such activities to at least realize that a small bit of research before carrying out do it will be in order. There’s really no limit to the kind of work that can be considered, but knowing what has to be done correctly will be vital.

As this is our new information age, and everything that can be learned has probably been put out on the Internet, it will be important for a person contemplating a DIY job to get online and start looking into what is going to be involved with the project. As an example, consider the typical living room repainting job. A quick search of the Internet will reveal a lot, and in fact, most work on homes and cars can actually be DIY these days.

For instance, that living room repainting job is made all the easier by the fact that many websites exist which will show a person how to repaint such a room from start to finish. This is why a person who can should always go online and look at all of these step-by-step instructions, videos and manuals that show how to accomplish such a job in a fairly easy manner.

Quite honestly, anything having to be done on a home or on a car can be do it yourself in this day and age, but people should realize that even though the cost savings when it comes to DIY can be substantial they will have a responsibility to educate themselves appropriately before considering doing such work.

The first thing one should keep in mind when it comes to do it yourself projects is that there will be a crying need study up on what’s going to be required. This means gauging the scope of work and then assembling a plan of action for accomplishing it. This will mean learning what sorts of tools and materials will be required in order to do the job properly and also learning to stick with the job and finish it.

That last part is important, as many people tend to start on a DIY project and then quickly tire of it and never finish it off. This can drive wives or spouses to distraction when their favorite room is halfway painted or the promised addition to the house has resulted in nothing but a big hole in the side of the building with no expectation of it being covered over anytime soon.

Still, for those who have the desire to engage in do it yourself work, it can save quite a bit of money but it should also be treated very seriously and with an idea of what it’s going to take to accomplish it, much as a professional house painter or contractor would look at the same job. This applies to automobiles as well, and those who don’t treated seriously can often find themselves in a kind of crisis later down the road.

Even though we like to think of our pets as important and treasured members of our families, we sometimes forget about ways we can include them in our home design and decorating plans.

Thanks to new products and technologies, it has never been easier to incorporate the needs of our four-legged (or in some cases, two-legged and gilled) friends into our home designs.

Fabrics: In addition to fun and whimsical pet-inspired patterns, the growing popularity of outdoor living spaces has led to the development of new moisture-resistant and antimicrobial fabrics that are indistinguishable from traditional indoor fabrics. Whether you choose them to upholster your pieces or use them just as slipcovers, these fabrics are ideal for pet owners who like to share their favorite sofas and chairs with their furry friends. Check out Crypton Super Fabrics to see new fabrics created by photographer William Wegman and architect Michael Graves that appeal to pet-loving families. Perennials Fabrics carries an extensive line of products ranging from contemporary to traditional patterns and has recently teamed up with textile designers Galbraith & Paul® to create an exciting new line of durable and beautiful products.

Flooring Surfaces: If you have a family member (or members) who suffer from allergies and you don’t enjoy heavy cleaning on a frequent basis, you should avoid deep pile carpets such as shag rugs. Hard surfaces enable you to control allergens better, but in the past many pet owners shied away from hardwood floors because of concerns about claw and scratch marks. Thanks to a new water-based, low VOC polymer floor finish called “Traffic” from Bona , pet owners can put those fears to rest and once again enjoy beautiful and easy-to-clean hardwood floors.

Air Quality and Odor Control: Pet owners and non-pet owners alike should consider room or whole- house air purification systems that are attached to the air conditioning unit. These filtering systems, along with a good vacuum with a HEPA filter, can help remove allergens and irritants from your home (and not just pet irritants) thus making the air healthier for everyone. To help control pet odors, make sure you clean up any messes on carpets and fabrics as soon as they occur and use good quality kitty litters with maximum odor absorption capabilities. Yesterday’s News® by Purina is made from recycled newspaper and is a good choice. Avoid scented cat litter – the chemicals used can irritate both you and your pet.

Space Planning – Indoors and Out: If you own a large dog or a big bird, you should consider this animal’s space needs just as you would consider the space needs of another member of your family. Make sure your most-used living spaces (kitchen, family room, bedrooms) can accommodate your large animal. And regardless of whether your pets are big or small, find ways to integrate your animals’ needs into your daily life by ensuring that pet beds, cages, fish tanks and crawling trees blend with the flow and style of your home. Depending on your style, you might find something appealing at postmodernpets.com or barkdeco.com. Try the Lotus Cat Tree or the wicker litter box from dogbedworks.com or petsnap.com

If your animal enjoys the great outdoors, you may want to consider a pet door for easy access in and out. Make sure your yard offers a cool, shady spot for those occasional (and much needed) cat, rabbit and dog naps and keep it enclosed to keep your special family members safe from traffic and other hazards, including wildlife that may prey on them. An outdoor bird aviary is perfect for milder climates and adds a touch of elegance to your garden.

A Room with a View: Lucky for us humans, many of our pets’ special homes serve as more than just a place for them to hang their hats, so to speak, and can actually accentuate the aesthetics of our homes. The light, color and movement of a beautiful glass tank filled with azure water can reflect surrounding room light and highlight the bright colors of the exotic tropical fish that zip and zag about inside it. The rustic charm of an antique rabbit hutch might be the perfect anchor for a terrace or porch corner. A whimsical bird cage hanging gracefully from the ceiling can add vertical visual interest to a room. As evidenced by the items available through some of the websites listed above, the choices for stylish pet homes have exploded in recent years, so you no longer have to limit your choices to cheap plastic tubes in gaudy colors but can actually choose pet homes that enhance your existing decor.