Frank Walker Resume.

I haven't updated my resume in a long time.
When I did, I realized what a lucky life I've had.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0YFXFFpDLIbcXZ1LWJBVE1qNW8

Professional CPM-based Project Management

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Our updated checklist.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0YFXFFpDLIbM1BsdzN0TUFUbVU

Charlie Rose Interview of Sebastian Thrun, Big Data, etc.

http://www.businessinsider.com/udacity-google-x-founder-sebastian-thrun-interview-2015-8

Happy New Year, everyone!

I was blown away by Charlie Rose’s interview of Sebastian Thrun last night. See also:

http://www.businessinsider.com/udacity-google-x-founder-sebastian-thrun-interview-2015-8

80% of the workforce used to work on farms and we found work for most of them in undreamed of occupations. Automation and AI are speeding up job loss and creation exponentially.

The analysis of big data is fascinating. I went to a conference in NY City recently. It is really going to change the way we see the world, fight disease, poverty, etc. ​

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_on_poverty

What exciting times we live in!

Response to LinkedIn question.

We load resources rather than costs so we can resource level and get the cost estimate and PV early, late and resource leveled, free as a byproduct.

We decide whether to use direct costs or indirect costs or both, or include overhead, for each project.

Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is a fantastic metric. If you manage by exception and fix just the activities that are close to critical and behind schedule you stay on schedule. If you stay on schedule you generally stay on budget unless the budget was wrong. If you stay on schedule and budget, quality is generally high. The great thing about EV and SPI is that they are free! CPI is a lot of work, depending on the level at which you capture your actual costs. You get 80% of the value of Earned Value just from SPI. Only our best clients are doing AC and CPI really well, each week. 

Top 28 List for using PM Software.

We are seeing many people misusing Microsoft Project, Primavera, etc.
Here is a simple checklist.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0YFXFFpDLIbc29zOHpad040dEU/view?usp=sharing

Infrastructure projects at last?

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/17/us/politics/obama-proposes-tapping-private-investors-to-fund-infrastructure-projects.html?action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&region=Footer&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=article

Tennis anyone?

Happy New Year!

The other day we were asked to litigate yet another IT project. How sad, for both the Owner and Vendors, to see how little professional Project Management they used to plan, negotiate, communicate and control the project and how inevitable the result.

Recently we went through old manual and mainframe CPM schedules and I was reminded how seriously we took planning and how much work it used to be.

It is relatively easy and so inexpensive now, and yet so few people are really expert at it. Many people are trying to do PM light without the tools, “Trying to play tennis without a racquet!” We analyze schedules each week if you would like to send them to us for comments and suggestions. The first ones are free. Please keep our classes and videos in mind too. They will save you a lot of the time and pain we went through and they come with PDUs.

This is a great time to plan New Year’s Resolutions using CPM. When you find your plans will require 23 of you, it forces you to prioritize, set realistic goals, resource level, look for areas that will fulfill multiple roles and goals, negotiate with your spouse and colleagues, etc.

Discourage litigation.  Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser.... in fees, expenses and waste of time.”

                                                                                Abraham Lincoln