Vendor Data Requirements (continued)

In the last article I started a discussion on Vendor Data Requirements and their importance to your project. This is the vendor data you require with their proposal and later in the project should they be the successful bidder. In review, this document is typically used when purchasing equipment and outlines to the vendor exactly what information you expect him to include with his quote. In this article I will cover additional information that you should be asking for and why you need the information. Following are some additional data items typically required from a vendor ; 6. Transport As... Read More»

Closing the barn door

I live on 15 acres outside of Des Moines Iowa along with my wife, daughter, two dogs, three or so cats, and seven horses - insert your favorite "old McDonald" joke here. I mention that seemingly irrelevant fact because it causes me to use phrases that someone in midtown Manhattan may not be as familiar with, such as "That's like closing the barn door after the horses are out of the barn". The saying refers to activities that would have been a good idea about 15 minutes earlier than when they happen, whether it be equine related or in reference... Read More»

Software for All that Ails

In software development, many of us are responsible for improving the day to day operations and corresponding efficiencies of our users. We are often asked to create a system to satisfy a current or future need. While properly designed software can create much value, designing a system where there is no prototype or existing, defined process in place is highly risky. I find that for brand new systems and/or first generation automation of a system or procedure, the following should be followed: Determine Value – Review the expected return for any and all requests and make sure those involved should... Read More»

Project Management Survival Tools - Part B (Use Cases)

Good use of tools can still save your life (as a project manager)! As a project manager, you face many challenges in a project. Each of us can use all the help we can get. For this 2nd post on this subject I’d like to focus on the value of Use Cases. One of the challenges of specifying a new system, process, or product, is to capture the desired or required behaviors. These behaviors occur at very high levels of abstraction and at very detailed levels (and everything in between). A good use case describes the system’s behavior under various... Read More»