Hello Project Manager - Hare and Tortoise – a Classic case to tackle

Let me start with the classic story –
This refers to the team of a Project Manager. The team size may vary from project to project and organization to organization, but the story remains the same. Story is quite short and interesting. A Project manager assigns different set of tasks to his team on 5 members individually. Each member has to start the work on Monday morning and finish it off by Friday evening. One member finishes her all assigned tasks on Thursday evening (without compromising with the quality of work), goes to her project manager, reports about the completion of task and requests for an off on Friday with a genuine reason. The project manager refuses although he admits that the work is complete, it is quality work, and the reason for seeking off is also genuine. The reasons for not sanctioning her the day off given by him were – it will spoil the culture and discipline and it may lead to non-quality work production. He was more into favor of her sitting with other team members and helping them in finishing off their individual tasks.

Well said, but this is only one side of the coin. Although project manager trusts all team members but out of fear he is not ready to do a favor to one member as it may spell out wrong signals for others.

But has the project manager understood that there are always HARE and TORTOISE in a team. All have just one responsibility – finish their task in assigned timeframe and produce quality work. It is not HARE’s responsibility to help others. If HARE is able to finish off her tasks earlier than stipulated time, it is a credit and she deserves a reward for that. And above all what about her trust getting hurt and she getting demotivated by not getting a reasonable favor.

I am sure, the reader would have their individual opinion on this – would love to hear!!

IE8 is Microsoft's last chance to get it right

It's crunch time for Internet Explorer. Today, Microsoft is expected to announce version 8 of the browser. IE has a long, and mostly unpleasant, history. Will IE8 undo the damage caused by the notorious version 6?

The problems for Microsoft are going to be regaining user confidence, convincing existing users to upgrade and clawing back Firefox switchers. Most people don't understand why they should bother upgrading, and many remain unaware that new versions are even available.

There's the added problem that a lot of PC users are switching to Mac because they're dissatisfied with the Windows experience, but that's a slightly different (and much larger) issue for Microsoft to deal with.

We've seen signs recently that Microsoft has begun to listen to criticism: the Windows 7 Beta looks fantastic, and addresses a number of complaints about Vista. And there are indications too that Microsoft is innovating in new ways: the Silverlight platform has terrific potential, and Photosynth is simply jaw-dropping.

But after famously failing to get into the internet, has Microsoft pulled itself together and delivered a killer brower?

As with IE7, Microsoft is promising speed and security improvements to IE8 in addition to a number of "funky" features designed to grab the headlines. Only, to be honest, they're so boring I can't even be bothered to tell you about them.

Let's wait and see. Microsoft surely knows that another duff release will seal IE's fate. It's difficult to measure browser penetration accurately, but most agree that Firefox's share now exceeds 20% of the market. That number will skyrocket if Microsoft has screwed up again.

20 most powerful and Smart weapons for Project Manager to Lead in Recession Period

20 most powerful and Smart weapons for Project Manager to Lead in Recession Period;

Due to recession, there is scarcity of business and projects for software organizations. In such a situation, the projects in hand (and the forthcoming ones) have to be handled very carefully for a win-win situation. To attain that, there are certain smart weapons that a project manager needs to be equipped with which will not only make him and his organization a winner but would definitely have an edge over the competitors to acquire more projects. The weapons are well tested based on experience, knowledge and wisdom.

The 20 most powerful and smart weapons can be listed as:

1. Place importance on Quality
2. Be Sincere and frank in your meetings of all levels
3. Maintain and demonstrate a sense of mission
4. Work hand in hand with your peers – quality manager, development manager etc.
5. Be convinced of the trust between your product and quality
6. Let your team feel the weight of responsibility
7. Plan your course of action on all issues to avoid a crisis
8. Listened attentively to every word of your customer demonstrating great sincerity towards product and customer
9. Have strong interest in quality issues
10. Be highly knowledgeable about your product
11. Your Product and Quality (with your technological prowess and their quality strengths) must work together
12. Higher is the rate of dependence on Quality, higher is the success rate
13. To avoid major problems never leave a problem unresolved for tomorrow
14. Thinking, Innovation, Brainstorming are good tools if used regularly
15. Always have common awareness of all issues, so that your discussions are of highly substantive in nature
16. Be a linchpin (A central cohesive source of support and stability)
17. Consider customer requirements as “cornerstone” throughout the project. (The fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained)
18. Build a culture of putting fullest sincere effort by everyone in the team(s) (vertical and horizontal).
19. Maintain a continuous gently-ascending approach (act of changing in an upward direction)
20. As a bearer of the highest level of responsibility reaffirm your determination to safeguard the organizational interest and ensure the best of the results

What is P.Q.?

The first modern intelligence test, called the “Binet-Simon intelligence scale” was published by the French Psychologist Alfred Binet in an effort to identify students who needed special help in coping with the school curriculum. However, The term I.Q. or Intelligence Quotient was first coined by the German psychologist William Stern in 1912.

Emotional intelligence, the skill and capability to understand and manage the emotions of one’s self as well as of other individuals and groups, is a relatively newer concept. Even though earliest mentions of Emotional Intelligence can be seen in Darwin’s emphasis on emotional expression for survival and adaptation, it wasn’t until the mid-1900’s the term “Emotional Intelligence” was officially used.

In 2006, psychologist Reuven Bar-On developed one of the first gauging mechanisms of Emotional Intelligence that use the term “Emotional Quotient”. According to the Bar-On model, “emotional-social intelligence is a cross-section of interrelated emotional and social competencies, skills and facilitators that determine how well we understand and express ourselves, understand others and relate with them, and cope with daily demands, challenges and pressures”.

Based on my interaction with both “intellectually” and “emotionally” strong people, over the years, I feel that neither I.Q., nor E.Q. alone can help one succeed. They both have great importance as gauges and construction blocks of one’s success, but don’t do much unless put together. Collectively Intellectual and Emotional competence plays a much stronger role in forming the single-most winning characteristic of both humans and animals - Personality.

I.Q. + E.Q. = P.Q.

There have been some very vague claims of testing Personality and establishing a Personality Quotient, though I feel there’s still no real way of “testing” or “gauging” one’s P.Q. Personality is something that can be felt or experienced. Also, personality is a very dynamic attribute, but only for those who are willing on work on bettering themselves continually. Education, environment, and similar learning experiences can help you train yourself and be in an ever-evolving state.

If you want to be remembered, or to make your mark in this briefly long life, your only tool is your personality; the expression of your personality. That little twinkle that is unique to you; that sets you apart from everyone else… before and after you. It is your personality that will carve the world around you. It is the expression of your personality, you will be remembered for.

I hope liked reading this;

The text has been taken from http://personalityquotient.com/f1/what-is-pq/ written by Faisal Qureshi..!