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The most important areas to keep track of for a project manager are time, scope, quality, and cost.  It is also important to align a project with the needs of the stakeholder.  Project managers should treat stakeholders individually but serve them collectively.

The project management office portfolio deals with strategy. The program deals with the roadmap and tactics. The project deals with the task.  A project manager’s job is to help task managers see the vision of the portfolio managers.

Project managers should keep objectives relevant, communication short and concise. The key to good requirements also applies to the key to good objectives: they need to be specific, measurable,  achievable, relevant, and time boxed.

The number one successful practice is the standard practice. Number two is a mature portfolio of good practices. Our processes help us avoid some of the most common errors in project management.

Project culture also plays an important factor in the quality of a project. It may be weak if one of these occur in a project team’s culture: inward focus, moral problems, fragmentation, inconsistency, ingrown subculture, warfare among subcultures subculture elitism.

Going back to communication, here are some key things to remember regarding good communication.  Do not assume. Seek first to understand, not to be understood. Until the deliverable is in the customer’s hand, communication is the project manager’s job. A good communicator has a clear understanding of the needs of the audience. He also has a good awareness of how the communication was received.  Talk to stakeholders early on, set communication schedule, be clear, concise, and complete. Use simple words, set a good cadence.

Ideal qualities for a good project manager are a shared vision, good communication, integrity, enthusiasm, empathy, competence, ability to delegate, keep cool under pressure, team building skills, and have good problem solving skills.

Here are tips on running meetings. Since planning is very important, prepping for a meeting is very important. There should be a good reason for having the meeting. At a meeting an agenda should be distribute. Keep the attendance limited. The meeting should have at least a one day notice, and specific start and end time.  Participation should be encouraged with visual aids. Most importantly, there should be follow up after the meeting.

Much of project management deals with change to an existing organization. Employees resist change because of lack of communication. There is a lack of inertia which comes from a misunderstanding of a lack of skills, and lack of training.  Forcing issues can create anger and passive resistance. There is usually a lack of trust to the newcomers.  Promises of better future means nothing unless there is trust in the manager

Further barriers to change result from a fear of failure.  Personality conflicts, poor timing, lack of tact, a threat to job security, a           breakup of work group, and competing commitments also contribute to a resistance to change.

The Alpha Project Management Style

There are many different project managers with different project management styles.  This article will focus on the Alpha Project Manager.  These are project managers who are at the top of their game and who are the most successful.  Their projects have consistent results, efficiently managed teams, and deliver value to their customers.  Alpha managers do not take on projects as a stepping stone, but rather as a challenge they have a passion for.  They love their jobs and are loved by their line managers, stakeholders, and team.

Project managers are empowered by their line managers, but this power is not always given to them. The alpha project manager will not patiently wait for it to come to him. One motto I have come across often is ‘do first, ask for forgiveness later. ‘  This concept is highly effective in most occasions, and I have learned this from the alpha project manager types.  I say most occasions because the cautionary rule to pair with this is to do the necessary background research on who it is that you plan to ask forgiveness from.   Some are more forgiving than others.

Communication is the key in managing projects.   Alpha managers talk to stakeholders early on in a project to understand their needs and concerns. Communication is tailored to the audience.  On top of this, a communication schedule is set early on and strictly adhered to.  This is how individual email requests and answers are cut down since customers know their questions will be answered periodically at a set time.  One of the most frequent complaints from stakeholders was that information was sporadic and irregular. Inconsistent and unpredictable communication did as much or more damage to the relationship as no communication at all.

An alpha manager’s communication style is clear and concise, without wasting time.  They create an open channel, frequently asking feedback on the communication itself.  Most project managers do not know how their communication was received, or interpreted on behalf of their stakeholders.

It is an interesting observation that the alpha project manager spends less time in meetings and respond to fewer emails per day than non-alphas. They are also the most responsive to project related requests. How are they able to manage this? The key is how an alpha project manager handles information.  They practice need focus and prioritization of information, rather than allow themselves to become victims of information overload.

The alpha project manager does not manage projects via email. He also does not allow others to manage their projects via email.  Rather, face to face meetings are preferred because this promotes better communication and generate positive feelings for participants.  There is less room for miscommunication of intent and information.

Balancing competing or conflicting goals with overall satisfaction of stakeholders is at the heart of project management.  It is important for project managers to identify early, understand, and satisfy these goals for the project to be successful.  An alpha project manager builds extensive networks to get to these goals.  Their relationships stem from informal networks that take on more importance than formal ones.  They will use whatever network that will produce the best results.  Any conflicts will be identified early, addressed and resolved as soon as they occur

Alignment with team as well as alignment with a performing organization’s goals is just as important for the success of a project.

In summary, there are many characteristics that attribute to the success of the alpha project manager. They are proactive, in control, and able to prioritize effectively.  They understand the importance of early planning, proper communication, and alignment with stakeholder goals as keys to project success.

It may have taken a long time for Google to get around to releasing its popular Chrome browser for the
Android platform, but that day has finally come.

In order for your tabs to sync from the desktop version of Chrome to the Android Chrome Beta, you will first need to install Chrome Beta on your Android device, and ensure you are running the latest version of Chrome on your desktop.

Once you have both apps installed and up to date, sign in to each respective browser using the same Google account. You can sign into Chrome desktop under Preferences Personal Stuff. Chrome Beta on Android will prompt you to sign in the first time you launch the app.

Now that you’re signed in under the same account in both browsers, launch the desktop version of Chrome and open the Preferences tab.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani)

1. When viewing the Preferences tab, click on Personal Stuff and then under Sign In, click on Advanced.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani)

2. Under the Advance menu, you will need to ensure the “Open Tabs” box is checked. If you have enabled Chrome to sync everything, you won’t have to change anything. However, if you are manually managing what Chrome syncs, you will need to check the box next to open tabs.

That’s all there is to setting up tab sync with Chrome desktop. You can repeat these steps as necessary on more than one desktop. Now let’s take a look at how you view the open tabs in desktop Chrome on your Android device.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani)

1. You have two options to viewing the open tabs on your other devices. You can either drop down the menu and select Other devices on any screen, or you can tap on the folder in the lower-right corner. Both methods will bring you to a view of the open tabs on your devices.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani)

2. As you can see, I have two devices set up to sync my open tabs. The device name the tab is open on, as well as last sync time, is displayed above each tab listing. You can then view any of the tabs by tapping on it.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani)

3. If you would prefer to remove one of your devices from your list, you can long-press on the device name and you will be presented with a Remove option. Doing so will only remove the device from your view, it will not stop the syncing of open tabs on that device.

One more note about the syncing of tabs. As it is now, the sync is one way–from desktop to Android. Tabs you have open on your Android device won’t sync back to Chrome desktop.

Are you familiar with Skylanders? If you’re not, here’s a primer: Skylanders is a combination toy and video game franchise, in which real-life plastic toys interact with a special “portal” for gaming consoles and become living, breathing in-game characters. Players can use any character for which they have the toy. Skylanders is, essentially, a machine engineered to harvest money from helpless parents. It’s also a pretty cool game.

At this week’s Toy Fair, Activision reportedly has plans to announce a few new figures in the Skylanders line-up. There are eight new special figures, all of which are “giant-sized” and feature special abilities. Some of them even light up when near the game portal. There will also be eight new regular Skylanders launched at the same time as the giants.

Skylanders has been a sales juggernaut, generating more money than any other new children’s IP last year. Now that Activision smells blood, you can bet more figures will be on the way at steady intervals.

Have you played Skylanders? What did you think?

[Game Informer]

Apple has sent a stern warning to developers who try to inflate their App Store rankings.

“Once you build a great app, you want everyone to know about it,” the company announced to developers last night. “However, when you promote your app, you should avoid using services that advertise or guarantee top placement in App Store charts. Even if you are not personally engaged in manipulating App Store chart rankings or user reviews, employing services that do so on your behalf may result in the loss of your Apple Developer Program membership.”

App Store rankings are based on a closely held algorithm Apple has developed. The algorithm is believed to include elements of an app’s download figures, news articles about a respective program, and whether it has been featured by Apple. User ratings also appear to be a key ingredient.

Getting into the Top 25 in Apple’s App Store is a near-obsession for developers. The apps that make it into that list generate far more revenue, and usually help companies expand their sometimes-small operations into real businesses. Angry Birds developer Rovio is a huge business today partly because of its ability to find its way to the Top 25.

Developers hoping to be the next Rovio have been hiring third-parties that focus solely on improving an application’s ranking in the App Store. Some of those services do so through legitimate means, by promoting applications and increasing awareness. However, as Apple points out, there are some services and developers attempting to game the system by adding fake user reviews that celebrate a title’s features.

Last year, Apple made waves by reportedly changing its ranking algorithm to give more weight to apps in certain categories. Social-networking applications benefited greatly from the modification.

Developers who didn’t benefit so greatly have relied upon the services of companies like Flurry or TapJoy to help boost their rankings. TapJoy’s advertising network for developers, for example, helps get apps in front of users. Last year, TapJoy said its program can push as many as 100,000 new downloads a day.

Apple did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.

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Working quickly to prepare for the worldwide release, Sony will this week release firmware 1.60 for their latest console, the PS Vita. This firmware will include some major additions to functionality, including a map application and the ability to record video, as shown below.

Firmware 1.60 is set to be released tomorrow, February 8th. Although the addition of functionality is always welcome, what we really want to know is if this firmware update addresses the Vita version of the HBL currently being developed. We’ll let you know as soon as we find out, so keep it here for the latest news from the PSV scene.

Source: IGN

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The world of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is less generic than it seems.
Image courtesy Electronic Arts

If you’ve seen the incredibly dull marketing campaign for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which makes the upcoming role-playing game look like just another generic Tolkien clone, you probably aren’t that excited. But this Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC game, to be released Tuesday, is an addictive good time.

I’ve spent about 10 hours immersed in this fantasy RPG created by a squadron of proven talents: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind game designer Ken Rolston, writer R.A. Salvatore and artist Todd MacFarlane, all with the backing of former MLB pitcher and gaming entrepreneur Curt Schilling. I’ve had nothing but good times hacking and hunting my way through its monsters and dungeons. Sort of like a cross between Fable and World of Warcraft, Amalur’s world is a delicious mixture of vibrant reds, greens and blues. The art team knocked it out of the park, crafting a large variety of landscapes that feel both unique and harmonious: alluring, mystical elf havens or industrious, worn-out villages.

Uniting this world is a widespread belief that its people’s fates cannot be changed. In Amalur, each person believes he has an immutable destiny, one that defines how, and how long, he will live. Until you come along.

But of course, your character is the anomaly, somebody who can change both his own fate and the destinies of the people he interacts with. So, naturally, it’s up to you to save the world.

It’s a fun world to save, mostly thanks to a flashy but simple combat system that owes more to action games like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta than it does to games in its own genre. You can use several types of weapons, like hammers, bows and an extensive and satisfying set of chakram to unleash combination attacks on your foes. There’s also magic, ranged attacks and a host of other special abilities.

Further enhancing this system is the fact that you can customize your character’s skills without getting too pigeonholed in one specific archetype. There are three different skill trees — Finesse, Might and Sorcery — and you can mix and match between them to create any sort of hybrid character that you can imagine. Skill trainers across the world allow you to easily reset these skill trees, in case you screw up or change your mind.

Though there is a lot to love about the world, it’s hard to stay attached to any of the people in it. Amalur’s user interface is designed much like a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, liberally sprinkling yellow exclamation points and markers all over your mini-map in order to show you where to quest next. It’s easy to ignore the people and their plights in favor of endless side quests.

Like any good RPG, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is adept at digging its claws into that part of your brain that just loves accomplishing things. It can be exceptionally soothing to sit on your couch for a few hours and just bang out quests. If you need a taskmaster in your life, this just might do the trick.

The updated app lets you play around with the hearts on the cup.

(Credit:
Starbucks)

Starbucks is giving its augmented reality mobile app a little bit more love. Literally.

As part of a new update, users of the company’s Cup Magic app can now point their phones at Starbucks Valentine’s Day-themed cups to see new, love-themed effects that appear to be happening on the cup itself.

Starbucks originally launched its Magic Cup app last November on both iOS (iTunes) and
Android (Market) to coincide with the coffee chain’s annual run of holiday-themed cups. Users would point their smartphone’s camera at one of the seasonal cups and it would pull up an augmented reality scene that matched up with whatever character was on the cup.

This new addition is a little more limited, with the company only using one type of cup that will be carried in its stores through February 16.

Besides looking neat, there is–of course–a business hook to get you to buy more than a cup of something for yourself. The app lets users buy and send digital Starbucks gift cards to friends that can be delivered on Valentine’s Day, as well as providing a way to send messages that require the recipient actually head to a Starbucks, buy a beverage, and aim it at one of the limited cups to see what was written.

Starbucks is just one of a handful of food and beverage companies to develop their own augmented reality applications. It’s joined by burger joint The Krystal Co., which last year put out an app to let customers see its penguin mascot dancing on cups and boxes. There’s also the more useful implementation by Dominos, which recently put up billboards in the U.K. that let customers view and order pizza from an augmented reality menu using their phones.

Here’s a demo of what it does, followed by the original holiday version:

Sony has officially confirmed that PlayStation Network accounts are going bye-bye, and will be replaced with Sony Entertainment Network accounts. If you’re a current PSN user, don’t worry – this process will happen automatically and you won’t have to do much more than sign a new EULA.

The change comes as Sony attempts to merge its various entertainment offerings into one platform. The company noted that the transition will help Sony with improving its functionality and making its various services easier for consumers to access.

The company also mentioned that the change makes it easier to establish a network that provides movies, games, music and “more,” whatever that may be.

Your login information will remain unchanged. New accounts come with software updates for the Vita and PS3 on February 8.

What do you think of the new Sony Entertainment accounts?

[Digital Spy]