Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
Good quotes come from the strangest places - I just relieved it didn't
turn out to be something Kermit the frog or one of the Teletubies
said.

I like the diagram - much easier to follow than had you explained it
without visuals. (Though it's funny that even in 2005, ascii diagrams
are still pretty common).

Maybe proactive/reactive or aggressive/passive are better labels.
Though dominant and submisive don't necessarily have bad connotations.

In thinking about this I'm wondering if there are any popular books
focused on comparing parenting theory with management theory. I've seen
the comparison made briefly in a few books, but I've never found a
book that gives even a whole chapter to it. 
  

    
My sweetie/wife, a psychotherapist says she doesn't know of any, but that when
kids become teenagers the parents should become consultants, because you can
no longer manage them.

Interesting idea though - comparing the theories. Maybe you can do a study?
Do you have kids?
  

    
I bet there's something - it's even possible I've read book chapters
or articles on this, but just can't remember any of the specifics. I
don't have kids, but comparing the two different fields/perspectives
probably doesn't require that particular commitment :)  There's plenty
of work on both subjects to base some work on.

I'll poke around on google and see if I can find anything.  

and btw: I still like that quote. Was thinking about it earlier today.
  

    
Yeah, I've remembered it for over 20 years :-)
I do think of it as a big part of the role a leader.

The Army has an even simpler version:  "Follow me!"
  

    
Tangentially, I'm wondering if there's a GUI editor for ASCII graphics
-- drag the text block into the right position without having to do
all of the space-space-space-delete-delete-delete action that's usually
involved...
  

    
<davidam> - there are mac apps that take a photo, etc. as an input and
export ASCII art if that's what you mean.  that's how i made the
graphic for spinaltap.com
  

    
Yehh. gifscii was one.
And it just so happens....

  http://www.matisse.net/gifscii-2.2.hqx

This is an *old* application, so be careful!
  

    
I was thinking more of a sort of ASCII pagemaker.  But I've always
loved those photo-to-ascii translators.
  

    
Taking off on the discussion of open source software projects, but my
question is not about leading open source software projects it's about using
open source software to manage projects.  Right now, I have big project with
30 team members (volunteer) who are putting together a video CD and a "Tour
Watch 2005" Tour de France viewing party at Central Market in Austin  in
July.  I've been using an open source software project called "phprojekt"
and so far it seems fairly effective for managing this project if only for
the capabilty to creat a team list and an external contact list that
synchronizes with Microsoft Outlook and to send emails to these entire lists
or selected persons on these lists with relative ease.

How do you feel about this tool in particular and these types of tools in
general?

The next post, which describes phprojekt's features, will be hidden for
length.
  

    <hidden>
  

    
Paul:

Hmmm - I'm not familiar with phprojekt.  So sadly I can't offer much
commentary there. I'm not really a tools guy anyway.

Generally speaking about tools - my opinion is the simpler the better.
I'd go for a tool with the right core features that works reliably
over any fancy combination or customizable tool. 

If you're working remotely, or with people in different places, e-mail
and the telephone will be in frequent use no matter what too you use.
As long as you've got some kind of scheduling functionality (ability to
request times to meet other people) you're half way there.

By far the greatest mistake people make with PM tools is expecting the
tool to eliminate the uneliminatable (hmmmm - probably not a word) -
you always have to set clear goals, clarify assumptions and check in
from time to time with each individual that's doing the work. 

-Scott