Project Management Latest

Here are some of the latest project management and productivity related news that have caught my eye over the last few days.

The Next Generation of Project Managers

Over on our ProjExc website I argued that SME project managers are the Next Generation of project managers, and that they face considerable challenges over-and-above those of 'traditional' project managers, i.e.:

• Broader responsibilities,

• Greater sensitivity to a project not meeting it’s objectives, and

• A lack of knowledgeable support.

With the projectification of business over recent years I've been growing increasingly concerned about this (hence the PM Advisor website for example), and doing my best to support. Right now there are huge economic challenges from the Covid-19 contractions. Here in the UK, further turbulence and uncertainty is coming by the end of the year as we head to Brexit.

The recovery of our economy will depend heavily on the resurgence of SME business, and particularly on their innovation. Projects are at the heart of innovation and project management is key to providing a common language and toolset for enabling the collaboration that supports that innovation. This is, in my opinion, the biggest challenge to have faced the PM profession and how we respond to it will be pivotal.

Please let me know if you agree or disagree, or indeed have any ideas/suggestions.

 WWDC 2020

At this annual (this time virtual) conference for their developer community, Apple announced the coming direction of their platforms, which we'll see in our pockets and on our desks this coming Autumn.

There is lots of great coverage on the web from analysts who are much better equipped than we are to report on it - take a look at some of the round-ups from:

• analyst Rene Ritchie (see his insightful YouTube videos),

• writer Federico Viticci on MacStories, or

• read what Apple has to say about it.

Some of the standouts for me were:

• iPhone (iOS14) - there are lots of nice enhancements. The biggest productivity booster will either be the enhanced system search, or for some the automatic grouping of the app library, but not really anything exciting for the iPhone,

• iPad (iPad OS14) - Scribble. The system will accept handwriting and text manipulation with the  pencil anywhere typed text can be entered with a keyboard. This will be a productivity game-changer for a big group of people as long as it works well.

• Mac (MacOS11) - 'Big Sur' brings the software right up to date in readiness for the much awaited "Apple silicon" and highly speculated 'touch-enabled' Mac. There is more visual and UI parity with the iPad and iPhone software making it much easier to move between devices while doing a task.

Tempted as I am by the shiny new betas, I'm holding off until the formal releases so that work and data are not compromised!

Metagility

On dpm David Bishop describes the story behind his book Metagility, which provides a research based patented framework for transformation. Another book for the ever-growing reading list.

If you have some project management or productivity related news or opinions you’d like to bring to my attention or for me to share on PM Advisor, feel free to get in touch. Comment below, or send an email.