How cloud computing affects projects

July 30, 2010 — Bruce McGraw

“Human knowledge has been changing from the word go and people in certain respects behave more rationally than they did when they didn’t have it. They spend less time doing rain dances and more time seeding clouds.”
Herbert Simon

Cloud computing – that server in the sky – has gotten a lot of press recently. Organizations are investigating its power to offer less expensive client services, to more tightly couple dispersed organizations, and to integrate open source applications with proprietary ones to improve the comprehensiveness of services. Cloud computing is also touted as a way to save money and be more green because less energy and natural resources are used.  In fact, I just got back from the Microsoft Worldwide Partner conference in DC where every presentation had something about “the cloud” and how you needed to be “all in.”

Tim O’Reilly, CEO of founder and CEO of O’Reilly Media, talked with operations personnel at OSCON 2010 about cloud coordinating services during the relief efforts after the Haiti earthquake. He discussed using information services provided through Ushahidi (Tufts University) to take source data from SMS, creating interactive maps using Google Earth, provide instantaneous translation with software developed in close to real-time, and connecting people through Skype.  

How will cloud computing change development and project management?

From a project management perspective, several things about business change in a cloud environment. Costing, for example, reflects service agreements rather than hardware and software purchases. Maintenance and troubleshooting becomes more difficult because it is the responsibility of the service provider. How queries are written against stored data changes because of the way that databases are handled in the cloud. Comfort in data security services from providers becomes a huge deal. Developers need proficiency in dynamic programming languages such as Python, Perl, Ruby etc.

Architectures change as Lew Tucker, Sun’s CTO of Cloud Computing cautions, “Different parts of an application might be in many places in the cloud. For example, a presentation layer might be on Facebook, storage could be on Amazon.com’s S3, and application logic could run somewhere else entirely. "

Nikita Ivanov,  CEO of GridGain Systems – Cloud Computing Software suggests that The best way to think about cloud computing is as a data center with an API. In his blog, he presented a provocative list of real-life challenges and observations about cloud computing from which I have selected a couple major ones for consideration by project managers and developers:

  1. You will spend weeks and months fine tuning your application and developing additional functionality; plan accordingly
  2. With 1000s of remote nodes, things that worked in 10s of nodes often “mysteriously” don’t work on the “cloud” scale.
  3. Debugging problems require pretty deep understanding of distributed computing; learning curve is very steep; trial and error is often the only solution
  4. Cloud(s) are implemented based on hardware virtualization – make sure your grid middleware can dynamically provision such images on demand.

Cloud computing requires a platform that can manage the dynamics of the application including troubleshooting performance issues. There are currently no great approaches to identify quickly the root cause of application performance issues in the Cloud. Existing tools and solutions are limited in the way they capture information reports Andreas Grabner in the post, “Challenges of Monitoring, Tracing and Profiling your Applications running in The Cloud”.

To cloud or not to cloud, that is the question. There is certainly potential value added to applications and organizations using the capabilities of cloud computing. However, before making the plunge into territory that will significantly change the way you do application development and manage projects, I strongly recommend educating yourself on process and procedures and get advice from experts.  There are several good places to start and Microsoft has some good resources to help you get started.

Please share your thoughts and experience with computing in the cloud.

 

 

Posted in General Project Management, Technology, Tools. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

Project Management Collaboration and Communication Tools

July 16, 2010 — Bruce McGraw

It seems I cannot go anywhere these days without seeing people talking on cell phones, texting, taking phone pictures and sharing them – sometimes many of these at once. People want to use every free minute to communicate with someone. And, before you ask; yes, this is the pot calling the kettle black. I am wired and I stay in contact with clients, team members and family 24/7.   And it is not just being a PM that requires this connectivity.

At work, I appreciate and recommend tools like SharePoint to facilitate collaboration and communication (see Collaboration tools for virtual project teams). However, as the capabilities of these tools continue to expand, the line between our personal and work lives blurs.

Dean Halstead, Microsoft Collaboration Architect for U.S. Federal Government Sales Team presenting to the Gov 2.0 summit in 2009 offered this list of commonly used content sharing capabilities that may crossover between project life and home life:

  • Blogs with collaborative comment capabilities
  • Video and multimedia sharing
  • Podcasting
  • Social networking
  • Syndicated web feeds (RSS)
  • Mashups
  • Social bookmarks and news
  • Microblogging
  • Cloud Tagging

(Note: If you are like me, some of the words are new and I had to look them up on the internet – you should too)

Many organizations wrestle with the desire to use some of these tools to improve communication on projects while trying to control privacy, confidentiality and make the best use of time available. Privacy is often handled through firewalls or intranets that provided a barrier to web-based tools for communication. However, advances in tool capability now allow intranets to offer these communication and collaboration tools inside the organization or project.

SharePoint, for example, offers tools for video sharing through its interactive media manager and podcast kit — available as free downloads. Mashups – combining content from multiple sources – can be created from SharePoint’s Business Data Catalogue connector, XML Mashup, Visual Studio and SharePoint Designer. And, the SharePoint Community Kit (another free download) supports social bookmarking and sharing news. Not to mention instant messaging. How much real-time information is too much? (You might enjoy reading Daniel Tenner’s perspective on this from Technology, “The questionable value of the real-time web”)

There is more …
In 2009, Google announced the release of Google Wave. Initially by invitation only, the software is now available to anyone. Described by CNET as "the e-mail of the future," Google Wave blends e-mail, instant messaging, photo sharing, and potentially connections to the world of social networking. According to Google, a wave helps make communication better by integrating formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more. Because a wave is shared within a group, members can reply anywhere in a message, edit content and add participants to the discussion at any point in the process. A playback feature lets newcomers rewind the wave to see who said what and when.

Google Wave is an attempt to "combine conversation-type communication and collaboration-type communication. As summarized by Mashable, Google Wave offers innovative features one could imagine using to improve communication and collaboration on projects including:

  • Wiki functionality: Anything written within a Google Wave can be edited by anyone else, because all conversations within the platform are shared. Thus, you can correct information, append information, or add your own commentary within a developing conversation.
  • Natural language: Google Wave can autocorrect your spelling, even going as far as knowing the difference between similar words, like “been” and “bean.” It can also auto-translate on-the-fly.
  • Drag-and-drop file sharing: No attachments; just drag your file and drop it inside Google Wave and everyone will have access.

Also take a look at all the new Instant messaging products (I think they still classify as that!).  One that I have used is Trillian Astra from Cerulean Studios.  It brings together IM (from multiple sources), Video chat, Audio chat, Social Networks (like Myspace and Facebook), Twitter, Skype and email.  It is kind of a one stop communicator.

And, even Microsoft’s communicator now lets you go beyond IM and do VOIP calls or even integrate calendar and Net meetings.

Deciding which tools and capabilities will facilitate communication and collaboration on your project
Before jumping on any new technology bandwagon, remember that new processes require training and distract staff from ongoing tasks. As project manager, you need to do a realistic cost/benefit analysis before you commit that delineates who will use the technology, how they can use it within the context of the project, and understand what – if any – communication or collaboration technologies could be lost in the transition.

Like every new technique or technology that comes along, we must decide which tools to incorporate and what processes to use to “improve” our team collaboration.  Those that never try new technology will turn around one day to find they are still typing status reports on a typewriter!

 

Posted in Collaboration, management, Technology, Tools. Tags: , , , , , . 2 Comments »

“A Fool with a Tool is Still a Fool”

April 29, 2010 — Bruce McGraw

Credit the quote in the title to Grady Booch, developer of the Unified Modeling Language in conjunction with Ivar Jacobson and James Rumbaugh, and Chief Scientist in software engineering at IBM Research. Like all memorable quotes, its value is the pithy, clever way it communicates a basic truth.

Human beings believe in the power of tools to make work easier and solve problems. For centuries, until recent work of biologists and zoologists proved us incorrect, we believed that the use of tools distinguished humankind from lower animals. In previous posts, I have talked about tools I believe are essential to effective project management (Collaboration Tools  and How to create and use predictive project scheduling).

However, there is more to the story. Purchasing a tool for planning a project, tracking performance, or communicating with team members and stakeholders is the beginning not the end of your journey. I know that seems obvious, but you might be surprised how many times I have encountered managers who tell me, “I brought XYZ tool and required everyone to use it, but it did not help.” Only to find out on deeper questioning that they didn’t gather requirements and configure the tool, no one was trained to use the tool, no one was told how to apply the tool to get meaningful results, and no one asked for the output. Duh!

A Case in Point
A tool that we at Cognitive Technologies have found to be useful and highly effective in organizations is Microsoft’s SharePoint®. I applaud its flexibility, scalability and its support of collaboration among many teams and projects. However, we have learned when recommending SharePoint to others to remind them that it only works—it is only useful—when configured properly, designed to fit the needs of the users, and tailored to the types of content being stored.  Let me explain what SharePoint is designed to do.

Microsoft SharePoint is a collaboration and content management system offered from Microsoft in either the 2007 server version or a beta 2010 version. SharePoint supports integrated search in a web-based collaborative environment. SharePoint’s software elements include collaboration functions, process management and document-management. SharePoint can be used to host shared workspaces such as wikis and blogs.

Navigating the SharePoint options can be challenging. Therefore, Microsoft offers a guide to help figure out which SharePoint products and services you need.  The Microsoft SharePoint website provides resource to learn about SharePoint through books, whitepapers, and formal training courses. But how many organizations actually have or hire an expert to figure out how to implement this great tool for their needs?

Because SharePoint can be pricey for small organizations, WarePrise offers some thoughtful comments in their article, “A simple comparison between Alfresco (a freeware content management system) and SharePoint”.  For what it is worth, they continue to use SharePoint to meet their needs. CMS Wire shares comments and insight in using SharePoint in “The Future of SharePoint Project Management”.

What do you need to do?
If you think that SharePoint (or any tool that you are considering) offers your organization a useful mix of tools for project management and collaboration, I recommend you do the following:

  1. Establish an internal expert. Designate someone to learn about SharePoint and/or hire an outside consultant to work with them. Give that person time and resources to attend training, work with the tool, work with the implementation consultant and purchase other educational resources.
  2. Gather requirements.  This doesn’t have to be an extensive project – just make sure you figure out which problem(s) you want to solve and how to solve them best with the tool.
  3. Pick a project or organization and field test SharePoint (or the tool you are implementing). Set up the tool correctly even if that means hiring a consultant to help. Collect data, comments, and observations. Use the data to create a presentation that educates and informs.
  4. Find a champion. To move an organization, you need a champion with influence. Someone whose opinion is respected across the organization especially by those who control the purse strings.  Utilize change management techniques and process to capitalize on your sponsor’s backing.
  5. Once a commitment is made to use SharePoint, prepare teams and project managers thoroughly. Your dollars will be wasted and you will lose “street credibility” if the implementation does not show results. So, hedge your bets by making sure that users know what they need to know to use the tool effectively.
  6. Value SharePoint expertise with both tangible and intangible rewards.

If your organization has worked with SharePoint or other tools that significantly improved productivity, please share your experience.  Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that all you have to do is buy a tool, install it, and all your problems will be solved!!

Posted in Best Practice, General Project Management, Professional Development, Tools. Tags: , . 3 Comments »

The Accidental Project Manager – Part 1

January 21, 2010 — Bruce McGraw

Did you hear the one about Jim? It seems that the boss called the project team together and asked a volunteer to step forward to manage the project. Instantly, everyone but Jim (because they knew the drill) stepped back. Congratulations Jim, you are now a project manager.

I am appalled when I encounter the attitude toward project management reflected in the above anecdote.  In the minds of some managers and executives, a project manager is just the person who could not do anything else useful. That attitude is so wrong and so damaging to the project, the organization, and the profession. Poorly managed projects lead to cost over-runs, failures to deliver what the client wanted on time (or even at all), and often is a valid reason that developers look for alternate employers. It also undermines the value that good and professional project managers bring to a project.

The Basics
So, thinking of Jim, who became a manager by accident, here are some resources to help get your management feet on the ground. I want you to see project management as an opportunity not a penalty. Project management can be fun. Effective project management makes a difference, period. In addition, being a good project manager can become a career path.

Being a project manager requires knowledge, skills, attitude, and tools. It all may seem a bit overwhelming, so here are some resource suggestions that may help. First, step back and reflect on the project managers who know, have worked with, wish you had worked with, or glad you didn’t. Can you summarize character traits and behaviors that distinguished the good project managers from the bad ones? Try to emulate what you respected.

Learn what being a project manager is about from professionals. One place to start is the Project Management Institute which is a non-profit organization dedicated to the profession of project management (Most of the time – I will cover that one in another post). Membership offers guidance and resources including PM Network, Project Management Journal, and PMI Today. But mostly it is the PM Body of Knowledge that they have nurtured that gives the practitioners something to guide the profession.  There are many other valuable resources available and I have listed some of my favorite project management blogs and websites in a past post – Bruce’s Favorites.

Scott Berkun, one of my favorite bloggers, posted an interesting take on this conundrum of project management as a profession and not just a glorified administrator in his thought piece, Why Project Managers Get No Respect. Scott suggests that to gain respect for project management, PMs should focus on achieving and communicating outcomes. The process minutiae are what you know has to be done to achieve the desired outcome. However, the ability to predictably produce desired outcomes is what differentiates a professional project manager from an accidental one.  

What about project management tools?
Professional project managers know the status of their project, they create schedules and assignments that make sense, they know when trouble is on the horizon, they solve problems, and they keep stakeholders informed. Your basic PM tools must cover scheduling, budgeting, communication.  Looking back over previous posts at Fear No Project, here are three that focus on the tools and techniques professional project managers use.

Predictive Scheduling

Collaboration Tools for Virtual Project Teams

Why Projects Fail

Next week, I will look at how to make project management and project managers valued positions in your organization. Meanwhile, any comments or suggestions are encouraged.

Posted in management, pm, Professional Development, Tools. Tags: , . 5 Comments »
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