Artificial Intelligence and Project Management with Ricardo Vargas

PMI Fellow Ricardo Vargas and Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez recently had an article published in Harvard Business Review called: How AI Will Transform Project Management. It is a very interesting read and you can find it here: https://hbr.org/2023/02/how-ai-will-transform-project-management

After reading it I had a lot of questions so I reached out to Ricardo and asked if he would be willing to do an interview. He was kind enough to share some time to answer my questions and dig a little deeper into how prioject management is changing as a result of Artificial Intelligence, and how AI is going to completely redefine the role of the PM in the very near future. 

You can find a video version of the interview here

You can find an audio version of the interview here

2019 Retrospective - 10 Years as PMPs Working in Agile with Jesse Fewell

It has been ten years since Jesse Fewell and I became Certified Scrum Trainers. During that time a lot has changed in the space occupied by PMPs who work in Agile. To close out 2019, Jesse and I did a retrospective on how things have changed, how the work we do has changed, and what kinds of things PMPs who are interested in Agile need to prepare for as we head into 2020 and beyond.

You can find the interview here.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Is PMP still worth it if I am doing Agile? - w/ Jesse Fewell

In each of my CSM and CSPO classes someone asks “Should I still get PMP?”

In this podcast I got the chance to check in with Jesse Fewell on the value of certification. Jesse and I have been friends since 2008 when we both started working on trying to find ways to get PMI to pay attention to Agile. We both come from a traditional background, have been heavily involved with PMI and now make a living teaching Scrum certification classes. 

Jesse and I debate the answer to the PMP certification question and along the way, discuss our differing views on the value of PMI-ACP, CSM and CSPO certifications. These are things we don’t always see eye to eye on, so regardless of your viewpoint, there is sure to be something in here to help you see things from a different perspective. 

We also have a brief conversation about what do to about PMO’s in Agile organizations.

Note: You may hear some odd background noise. This time it isn't me slurping coffee … #blamethefidgittoys

Show Notes

00:08 Podcast Starts

00:34 An update on Jesse’s recent and upcoming Agile PMO sessions, VirtuallyAgile.com and his Certified Agile Leadership Training classes

07:53 Does PMP Certification still matter? And if you are working in Agile, do you still need it?

09:57 If you are a traditional PM, are you in danger of becoming unemployable if you do not have agile?

11:50 Can a traditional PM avoid the trap of thinking they “get” Agile before they actually do?

14:26 Jesse’s involvement with PMI-ACP, it’s evolution and current relevance

16:20 What can you expect of someone who has PMP or PMI-ACP Certification?

18:10 PMI and Agile Alliance collaboration and what we can expect to see from it

20:10 PMI is working with the Agile Alliance… “It’s like the X-Men and the Justice League tried to plan something together”

21:10 “Everyone has the same mission - improve outcomes and people doing their job well”

21:43 It’s not a “standard”, it’s a “guide”

22:07 How much Agile will be in the new (6th) edition of the PMBOK?

23:00 For the skeptics… there is good on both sides of PMI and the Agile Alliance working together

24:30 Understanding the distinction between the work done by PMI and the Agile Alliance (stabilize and align vs. disrupt)

26:42 Will there be a new Agile certification coming from PMI?

29:26 If you know a PMP trying to decide between taking a CSM or a PMI-ACP course and they need advice on what to take

32:42 Dave and Jesse debate whether getting PMP is still valuable for a CSM or CSPO

36:17 “Most Agile people are punching above their weight…”

39:18 What do we do about the PMO if our organization is adopting Agile?

44:22 Want more Jesse? Here is how to get it….

45:02 Interview Ends

Links references in the podcast:

The Hybrid PMO (part of Seminars World) http://bit.ly/2tbOvM5

Solving the PMO Paradox (at Agile 2017) http://bit.ly/2sJ8wJj

Certifications and Agile Organizations Mentioned in the Podcast

PMP Certification http://bit.ly/29NtawC

PMI-ACP Certification https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/agile-acp

CSM Certification http://bit.ly/ZtotC1

CSPO Certification http://bit.ly/1HeXnC5

Certified Agile Leadership Certification https://www.scrumalliance.org/agile-leadership

Agile Alliance: https://www.agilealliance.org

Scrum Alliance: https://www.scrumalliance.org

PMI: https://www.pmi.org/

IC Agile: https://icagile.com

Contacting Jesse

Website: http://www.jessefewell.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessefewell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessefewell/

Contacting Dave

Website: https://drunkenpm.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrsungo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsungo/

ProjectPotion 18 - Dave Goes to Øredev

Project Potion #14 - Vuvuzela

Are you tired of filling out those boring old Red Amber Green reports?


Introducing THE FIRM REPORT!

Last week I was talking with a co-worker about the status report we have to file each week. It’s called a RAG Report. He asks why it is called a RAG Report. I explained to him that RAG stands for Red-Amber-Green and we spent some time discussing the various merits (or not) of completing that type of report. The intent is clear – show red, amber or green to quickly convey a message about the state of the project, but in practice, the sad thing is that the simple color system easily lends itself to a situation in which an executive will simply look at the color and ignore the rest of the detail that has been painstakingly crafted and tuned by the highly developed creative spin tactics of the project manager (or lead).

So, that conversation got me to thinking that maybe a RAG format had outlived its useful(less)ness. Being the hard working, creative mastermind that I am, I started trying to work out a new alternative to the Red-Amber-Green… and now I am proud to give you…

(drumroll please)

THE FIRM REPORT!

The FIRM report embraces a new model for rating project health:

F = Fonzi
I = Isaac (your bartender)
R = Radar O’Reilly
M = Mr. T

Here is how this works:

If you get a Fonzi, that means “AHHHHHHEEEY”  -  things are very, very coolamundo!

If you get an Isaac (portrayed here with his classic “Double Issac” hand gesture), this means things seem to be more or less okay, but it would probably be a good idea to head down to the Lido deck and start having at the Mai Tais (yes that is the plural… I looked it up) post haste.

If you get a Radar you should be remembering all those times in the TV classic M*A*S*H (ATTN Gen Y… TV Land is your friend) when Radar (IMHO, the greatest PM ever portrayed in film or TV) cocks his head ever so slightly, and says “CHOPPERS!” This usually happens about 20 seconds before anyone else hears them. In other words, there is some seriously bad stuff in the air, some of which is bound to be missing a few limbs, and they are headed your way Sport!

Finally, we get to Mr. T… as in “I PITY THE FOOL!” which means… Dude, you are simply screwed, and no amount of gold around your neck is going to save you from the fact that someone is going to be taking you sweet, sweet iconic 1980's van away very soon.

More on this in the next episode of Project Potion… and I’ll be posting a status template for you to test your job stability with very soon. 

Stay tuned!