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Kiron D. Bondale posted about the Seven Deadly Sins of project scheduling. After you read this very useful post here’s my experience of putting this advice to work in ways you’d see if you were on the site of one of our defense programs.

1. Scheduling Tools are necessary but not sufficient – we use MindJet to capture the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), the Integrated Master Plan (IMP), and the Work Packages under the IMP’s Accomplishment Criteria. The structure of the IMP/IMS can be seenhere. The WBS is similar. The great thing about MindManager, is the “export to Project” button. Once you get close to what you want, just export the map to Project and continue working. When the WPs are sequenced, this is called the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS). The details inside the WPs are supplemental schedules held by the WP Manager. In other domains there are Tasks under the Accomplishment Criteria.
2. Scheduling constraints are forbidden in any credible schedule. Just don’t use them, period. The only constraint should be Must Start On (MSO) for the milestone titled “Authorization to Proceed” (ATP). All other constraints are As Soon As Possible. You should avoid like the plague leads and lags. In some of our defense domains (NAVAIR, the Navy’s aviation division) not leads or lags are allowed longer than 5 days. On a large program 5 days is the same as zero days. If you need leads or lags, make a “holding task,” label it as a “holding task,” and put it between the two tasks you want to lead or lag.
3. Automated resource leveling is an oxymoron, used by morons. Do not let a machine do your work for you. Touch every resource issue. Confirm the resources are what you need, their availability and what they are capable of doing. In some organizations there is a separate “resource management planning tool. Use it. NEVER let MSFT Project do this, it simply screws uop the entire IMS. This is a transition to the topic of Work Packages (WP). WP’s are resource loaded but resource leveled. The WP manager figures out how many people she needs over what period of time. Then looks after assigning them work inside that period of performance.
4. Too Many Tasks – use Work Packages to collect detailed work. In formal scheduling domains, changes to the schedule go through change control. There is no way anyone can know what work is going to be done at the detailed level in 6 months. Or even in 2 months, let alone 18 months. Work Packages collect these tasks and the assigned staff and define a period of performance, the tangible outcomes of the work effort. the WP manager looks after the details. Put the WP in the schedule as a “task.” For future work create a Planning Package (PP), with a period of performance, forecast resource loads. This WP and PP is the standard in the US DoD Earned Value Management approach. Don’t let anyone talk you out of this. Make thew WP manager accountable. The PM can then see physical progress without all the gory details of tasks. Push responsibility down. Make the PM accountable.
5. Out of Date Schedules - if you don’t status your schedules every week, you should look for a new job. On large – I mean billions of $’s manned spaceflight programs – we status the schedule every Thursday afternoon in preparation for the “stand up” meeting on Monday to answer the question “what have you done for me lately?”
6. Outline Levels – match the structure of the Work Packages that sit at the bottom of the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), shown in the notional picture here. The construction of the IMP/IMS is more subtle that a narrow bandwidth blog can deal with. But, the indent structure of the IMS should only go to level 5 – Program Event or Major Milestone, Significant Accomplishment, Accomplishment Criteria, Work Package or Planning Package, and maybe a sub-WP. Details are in the Work Package. The WP can be no longer than 60 calendar days for big projects.
7. Starting Over – once the Performance Measurement Baseline is “set,” making changes means a change control process. The way out of a continuous change process is to use Rolling Waves. Planning Packages are in the the “out years,” Work Packages in the current (active) Rolling Wave. Future Rolling Waves contain the remaining budget, define the future deliverables at a macro level and always have a critical path through them to the end of the project. But the details are defined yet. So as the requirements emerge (become definitized as we say), then the actual contents of the Planning Packages in the future Rolling Waves also becomes definitized. What this avoids is having to replan the work that never should have been planned in detail in the first place.

Taken from: http://herdingcats.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/03/seven-deadly-sins-of-project-scheduling.html

Continue reading »]]> Tuesday, March 30th

Continue reading »]]> Wednesday, March 24th

Boise Young Professionals (BYP)
5:30pm – 7:00pm at the Idaho State Capitol Auditorium (Garden Level – West Wing)
Topic: Why Should Young Professionals Stay in Idaho? – a discussion with Idaho’s Governor, C.L. “Butch” Otter,
and BYP. Cost: Free to members and the general public. Visit this link for more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150141543945268&index=1

Thursday, March 25th

Coffee with the Meridian Mayor
8:00–9:30 am at The Ground Floor (136 E. Idaho Avenue, next to Rick’s Press Room) – FREE
Ask questions, discuss community issues, network, or simply enjoy great conversation, all in a casual atmosphere. No RSVP is needed.

TWEET UP!
4:30 – 7:00pm at Sweetwater’s Tropic Zone – FREE
Come meet your Facebook & Twitter friends in real life. Just like Twitter & Facebook, it’s a cocktail party, so let your social networking friends get to know you & bring plenty of business cards so you can connect later as well. More info is on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150150393580500&index=1

Continue reading »]]> Tuesday, March 16th

KBOI Business Breakfast
7:45 – 8:45am at Holiday Inn Boise Airport - A continental breakfast will be provided.
RSVP by calling 336-3670, replying on Facebook, or by emailing breakfast@kboi.com
Include your name, business name, and number of attendees. RSVP no later than 5pm Monday,March 15th.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=356465860842&index=1

Wednesday, March 17th   Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

March Urban Lunch
12:00 – 1:0opm at the Watercooler in Boise – Event is FREE but $10 if you’d like to RSVP for lunch
Please join the Urban Real Estate Team for March’s Urban Lunch with Dr. Melissa Lavitt, Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs at Boise State University. This month, Dr. Lavitt will talk about the newly launched Brookings Mountain West, and Boise State’s role as a regional partner. If you’d like to reserve a lunch provided by Jenny’s Lunch Line please RSVP by emailing us at: urbanlunch@gmail.com. Make sure to let us know of any special dietary needs you have. Event cost is free, if you would like lunch (including drinks) the cost is $10. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=380073205655&index=1

Thursday, March 18th

Jelly Boise!
10am – 2:00pm at Season’s Bistro in Eagle (off of ‘Old State St’ — 1117 E Winding Creek Rd. Suite 150) - FREE
Bring your laptop for this casual co-working event. We are a group who gets together primarily to avoid the isolation of working from home and to collaborate while sharing ideas with others! Season’s bistro has coffee, pastries and lunch in case you get hungry! RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=496634870634&ref=ts

Art & Copy
7:00 – 9:00pm at the Egyptian Theater  - $10.00
ART & COPY is a powerful new film about advertising and inspiration. Directed by Doug Pray, it reveals the work and wisdom of some of the most influential advertising creatives of our time — people who’ve profoundly impacted our culture, yet are virtually unknown outside their industry.  If you’re unfamiliar with the film check out the trailer and reviews here     at: http://artandcopyfilm.com/. Tickets benefit the non-profit organization TRICA (Treasure Valley Institute for Children’s Arts). You can buy online  here http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/98033 or at the Egyptian Theatre box office. Tickets will also be sold the night of the event. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=263773984763&index=1

Continue reading »]]> Spring is near and we’re all coming out of hibernation! Hooray! Below are some events you can use to get out-and-about next week and start building your business relationships.

Tuesday, March 2nd

Vibes Breakfast & Books
7:30 – 8:30am at Flatbread Community Oven in Meridian – (FREE but coffee donations accepted)
For the early birds, come at 7:00 for breakfast prior to the book club! RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=320019168557&ref=ts

League Night
5:00 – 7:00pm at the Modern Hotel Bar downtown Boise – FREE
This event put on by the Idaho Business League will offer hosted appetizers, a full no-host bar, and of course amazing B2B networking. This event is free to members and prospective members, must RSVP to attend. http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=311869829861&ref=ts

Wednesday, March 3rd

Girls in Tech
5:45 – 7:00pm at the WaterCooler in Boise – FREE
Join us for the March meeting. RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=322751438665&ref=ts

Thursday, March 4th

JELLY BOISE!
10:00am – 2:00pm at Alia’s Coffeehouse downtown Boise on Main Street. – FREE
This is an event close to my heart and Alia’s has won me over with their Facebook posts of delicious daily homemade soups and goodies. This is a “casual-coworking” event so remember to bring your laptop! I normally don’t plan Jelly’s where there isn’t free parking, but we’ll make an exception this week. There is 2 hour free parking WEST of Alia’s on Main Street and there is a dirt lot that is only $3 per day. RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=328766029756&ref=ts

Don’t forget 1st Thursday!!! Not necessarily networking, but cool downtown Boise event!

Friday, March 5th

Empowering Women Conference
Time: Friday, March 5, 2010 at 10:00am through Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 10:00pm
Location: Nampa Civic Center | Street: 311 3rd Street

Join us for the 3rd Annual Empowering Women Event. 2010 brings us not only the two-day conference but also a Trade Show and Expo plus a Benefit Concert! We are expecting over 5,000 people through the Trade Show & Expo. This conference is designed to empower women in their personal, professional and home/family lives — we have dynamic workshops, keynote speakers and food, fun and prizes. Check us out at www.empoweringwomenconference.org or call/email Kim Lewis at 208-989-5102 or kim@idahobaglady.com. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120678411213&index=1

Happy Networking!