The BEST Project Portfolio Management Show by Appfire

Is there really any such thing as Waterfall?

Project expert and author Adrian Pyne breaks down the elements of traditional project management or “Waterfall,” and determines that Waterfall is just a life cycle. He makes the argument that Agility comprises much more.

How do I work with difficult stakeholders?

Michelle Bartonico explains how different types of stakeholders (like “astronauts” and “zombies”) require special handling, and why a stakeholder register is a must-have. She offers insight into how you can work effectively with all types of stakeholders, and shares tips for keeping your projects on track.

What’s the difference between Scrumban and Kanban?

Appfire’s own Gosia Podzorska joins Kerry O’Shea Gorgone to explain Scrumban vs. Kanban: The differences and similarities, when to use Scrumban, and the benefits of that approach.

How can using common terminology improve my project outcomes?

Michelle Bartonico explains how using a common vocabulary will help your project team to deliver better results faster. We discuss how vague terms cause ambiguity and delay, how to level set your team, and how often to revisit the question of terminology as people shuffle between tasks and teams.

How do I avoid killing my own project?

Project management expert and author Adrian Pyne offers advice for keeping your projects alive. He also flips that idea on its head and shares tips for killing projects that take resources away from more strategic initiatives.

How can peer review improve project outcomes?

Project management expert and P3express.com founder Dmitrii Ilenkov talks about peer review for project management, and how it can help improve project outcomes.

How can I gain value from project agility?

Adrian Pyne explains how delivering value is at the heart of agile, and how the Agile Manifesto, designed for software development, works for other kinds of projects.

What are the 5 most expensive agile mistakes?

Project management expert and author Adrian Pyne explains the most dangerous (and costly) assumptions project management pros and organizations make about project agility.

What are the Nearly Universal Principles of Projects (‘NUPP’)?

Dmitrii Ilenkov talks about NUPP—a set of project management principles compatible with all the major methodologies, including Scrum, PRINCE2^®, PMBOK^® Guide, P3.express, and XP.

What is P3.express and how can it help me manage projects more effectively?

Dmitrii Ilenkov introduces the minimalist project management framework P3.express, explains how it’s different from other project management approaches, what using the system entails, and what it takes to get certified.

What is Parkinson’s Law
(and how can it derail my project plan)?

Dmitrii Ilenkov talks about “Parkinson’s Law.” We get into what “Parkinson’s Law” is, how it can derail your projects, and some tips for avoiding it altogether.

What’s the right way to run a lessons learned session?

Ray Sheen talks about “post-mortems” or “lessons learned sessions.” We get into why these retrospectives are valuable, when to do them, what to cover, and how to follow up afterwards to make sure your next project goes more smoothly.

To Gannt or not to Gannt?

Ray Sheen talks about the Gannt chart, the most commonly used project schedule chart. Ray explains what a Gannt chart is, why it’s used so often (and why it shouldn’t be), and what to use instead.

What are some blind spots agilists can use to be more influential?

Tracy Walton, Director of Agile Services at Isos Technology, shares three blind spots every agilist can use to become more influential. 

Do I have too many managers and not enough doers?

Andrea Fryrear of Agile Sherpas explains how to tell if you have too many managers (SPOILER ALERT: you probably do).

What are the 3 most valuable pieces of project management advice?

Certified PMP Michelle Bartonico shares the most valuable project management advice she’s ever received.

What are the top 3 things that can delay my project (and how do I avoid them)?

Certified PMP Michelle Bartonico talks about the most common pitfalls in project management, and what you can do to sidestep them.

How do I incorporate risk into my project plan?

Ray Sheen talks about taking risk into account when you create your project plan: being ready for threats, and how to avoid “opportunity risk” and seize opportunities that can help you outperform expectations.

How do I prioritize projects?

B Squared Media project manager Jaime Letter talks about prioritization, and how to focus your team on the right project at the right time.

How much communication do I need (and how often) to keep my project on track?

Michelle Bartonico returns to talk about what healthy project communication looks like, how to use project management tools effectively, when you need meetings and when you don’t!

Which project management certification should I get?

Michelle Bartonico returns to talk about the different project management certification options and which might work best for you.

What is probabilistic forecasting (and why is it better)?

Julia Wester talks about probabilistic forecasting—what it is, why it’s better for project outcomes, and how it works.

When do I incorporate data into my project?

Michelle Bartonico talks about what data you should pull together before kicking off a project (and how to get it). We get into historical documentation, how to find existing materials, whether you need to conduct some new research, and more!

How can incremental planning help align team outcomes with organizational objectives?

Alex Glabman, Director of Product Management at Appfire, talks about incremental planning: what it is and why it’s a more effective way to plan projects.

How do I use whiteboarding for project management?

Appfire’s own Agnes Józwiak talks whiteboarding: what it is, how it helps agile teams plan projects, how you do it, AND how it works when your team is distributed.

What’s a project charter (and why do I need one)?

Michelle Bartonico talks about what a project charter is, why you need one (in writing), what to include, and more. She even provides an article with templates for you to use!

How do I scope a project?

Michelle Bartonico talks about how to properly scope a project, from discovery meeting to project charter and everything in between.

How can different personalities on my team contribute to success?

Amanda Patterson talks about how team members’ personalities can make or break your project, and how to get your team working effectively together.

How do I keep stakeholders from sinking my project?

Michelle Bartonico talks about how to work effectively with stakeholders and keep projects on track.

How do I keep my team on track during The Great Resignation?

Elena Figler returns to talk about how the current “great resignation” is affecting teams.

How do I manage a company-wide project?

Appfire’s own Fila Bertrand talks about what it takes to successfully manage a company-wide initiative.

I want to go agile: how do I start?

Andrea Fryrear of AgileSherpas talks about how you can get started with agile project management at your organization (and why it’s worth the effort).

Is Project Management Professional (PMP) certification worth it?

Ray Sheen talks about what it takes to become a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) (and whether it’s worth it).

What is Planning Poker?

Appfire’s own Agnes Józwiak talks Planning Poker: what it is, how it helps agile teams estimate projects, how you do it, AND how it works when your team is remote.

How does my scheduling process affect portfolio and capacity management?

Jira rockstar Rachel Wright talks scheduling, and why your process matters (a lot).

What even is PPM?

Elena Figler covers the basics of PPM.