The WELL: inkwell.vue.244: Scott Berkun, "The Art of Project Management"

#111: Scott Berkun (scottberkun) Wed 29 Jun 05 19:24

Wed, 29 Jun 2005 19:24:00 PDT

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 [Read entire topic]

#110: paul (paul) Mon 13 Jun 05 04:44

Mon, 13 Jun 2005 04:44:00 PDT

<hidden> [Read entire topic]

#109: paul (paul) Mon 13 Jun 05 04:44

Mon, 13 Jun 2005 04:44:00 PDT

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. [Read entire topic]

#108: David Adam Edelstein (davadam) Fri 3 Jun 05 16:34

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 16:34:00 PDT

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

#107: J Matisse Enzer (matisse) Thu 2 Jun 05 23:10

Thu, 02 Jun 2005 23:10:00 PDT

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! [Read entire topic]

#106: Dennis Wilen (the-voidmstr) Thu 2 Jun 05 22:00

Thu, 02 Jun 2005 22:00:00 PDT

<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 [Read entire topic]

#105: David Adam Edelstein (davadam) Thu 2 Jun 05 20:42

Thu, 02 Jun 2005 20:42:00 PDT

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... [Read entire topic]

#104: J Matisse Enzer (matisse) Tue 31 May 05 08:00

Tue, 31 May 2005 08:00:00 PDT

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!" [Read entire topic]

#103: Scott Berkun (scottberkun) Mon 30 May 05 20:45

Mon, 30 May 2005 20:45:00 PDT

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. [Read entire topic]

#102: J Matisse Enzer (matisse) Mon 30 May 05 16:50

Mon, 30 May 2005 16:50:00 PDT

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? [Read entire topic]