Tag Archives: Malcolm Peart

#213 – KISS: A PRINCIPLE FOR PROPER PROJECT PLANNING – MALCOLM PEART

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Picture1KISS, “Keep It Simple, Stupid” is a US Navy principle from the 1960’s advocating that systems function best if they are kept simple rather than made complicated and that unnecessary complexity should be avoided.

In our politically correct world ‘stupid’ is often taken as an insult and ‘keep it short and simple’ or ‘small and simple’ is often substituted.  ‘Stupid’ is not an insult, it’s a warning!  It takes a bright person to keep things simple, particularly when it’s easier to have a complex mess under the guise of sophistication.  Projects inevitably become complicated as they develop which increases the risk of potential failings. Continue reading →

#208 – LESSONS LEARNED: SELDOM REMEMBERED? SOON FORGOTTEN – MALCOLM PEART

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Picture1Something on the Project goes wrong and is fixed – “Let’s put this down for lessons learned” goes the management mantra.  But was this experience just a failing that should not have happened in the first place and relearning a previously taught, but now forgotten, ‘lesson’? Continue reading →

#207 – CHAINS OF COMMAND: UNFASHIONABLE BUT NECESSARY – MALCOLM PEART

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Picture1Chains are often associated with oppression and stultification; chained to one’s desk or being on a ‘chain gang’ are immediate analogies.  But chains also drive machines, and provide security through their links.

There are also chains of command which, in the security forces such as the military and police, allow command to be exercised through a clearly defined rank structure with defined responsibility, accountability and liability at all levels.  Continue reading →

#205 – UGLY COMMUNICATIONS – MALCOLM PEART

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Picture1Good communication; the effective and efficient issue and receipt of the right information, by the right parties, at the right time, and in the right medium allowing both timely responses and decisions.  It’s easy on paper and in theory but oftentimes the ‘noise’ in the communication channels are blamed for ‘bad’ communication.

This ‘noise’ is attributed to the distractions of an inadequate meeting room, noisy neighbours, a flaky internet connection, black & white rather than colour copies, decentralised teams, and even international time differences.  But are these just excuses rather than real reasons? Continue reading →

#202 – COMMUNICATION FAILURE: WHAT TO DO? – MALCOLM PEART

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Picture1“Communication failure” is an often cited reason for project failure or cancellation.  All too often it is only recognised after the fact even though ‘poor communication’ will almost inevitably have been included on the risk register.

Communication is the transfer (and receipt) of the right data, information and knowledge to the right party(s), at the right time, in the right place, and in the right medium.  Information provides the power to make the decisions that are needed to make a project successful and resolve and overcome difficulties. Continue reading →