Lessons Learned

01/05/12 In Process Lessons Learned

mbost@botinternational.com (Mel Bost) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Those of you who follow my blog site know that I have written recently about the fact that Lessons Learned are all about us. They occur in every discipline and field of endeavor we might pursue. They arise as the result of actions of the participants and consequences of those actions or what is commonly referred to in project jargon as "outcomes." (read more)

01/01/12 Finesse in Project Management

mbost@botinternational.com (Mel Bost) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Recently I was watching an episode on HGTV–Home and Garden TV–in which a couple was renovating and redecorating a patio area of their home. They wanted to place some three foot high planters with flowers at different locations on the patio perimeter for privacy and for decoration. (read more)

12/19/11 Developing Project Lessons Learned as a Strategic Capability for Your Firm

mbost@botinternational.com (Mel Bost) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Early in 2011, I predicted that we would see more Program Management Offices (PMOs) focusing on Project Lessons Learned as a primary rather than a secondary focus (as has been the case in the recent past). My interactions with many PMOs have revealed that more organizations are seeking to close out projects in a more formal, systematic, and documented manner, and that Project Lessons Learned is an excellent framework to follow when closing-out projects. There is no doubt that those organizations who successfully “convert” Project Lessons Learned into process improvements will gain a competitive advantage. (read more)

10/26/11 Looking Backward, Looking Forward

mbost@botinternational.com (Mel Bost) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:00:00 GMT

I find it really interesting that people are all clamoring to get copies of Steve Jobs’ biography. And the press is continually revealing their own interpretation of passages from his book and key events from his life. Why is this? (read more)

10/16/11 Gaining Self Awareness by Conquering a Great Project Challenge

mbost@botinternational.com (Mel Bost) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Several project managers have asked me to expound about conquering the great challenges in life, and the six “ADD-vantages” one gains by this effort. In this post, I want to share about the self awareness that I gained as a result of developing and facilitating Lessons Learned classes for the Panama Canal Authority. Here goes. (read more)

10/02/11 Was It Irrational Decision Making or Just Reframing the Positions?

mbost@botinternational.com (Mel Bost) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Last week’s episode of Parenthood on NBC had a number of dimensions. I would like to review, from my perspective, what happened in this episode, and then draw some conclusions for the project community followers of this blog. (read more)

09/23/11 Conquering Life's Great Challenges: Developing and Facilitating a New Project Discipline.

mbost@botinternational.com (Mel Bost) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Sometimes project managers are as much informed by their projects, as they inform their projects. And sometimes the lessons they learn are as valuable to the broader scheme of life, as they are to their projects going forward. What does that mean? (read more)

09/11/11 Conquering Life's Great Challenges: Developing and Facilitating a New Project Discipline.

mbost@botinternational.com (Mel Bost) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:00:00 GMT

John C. Maxwell can be a mesmerizing speaker. When he exhorts you to give your best, you give your best. When he beckons you to take on a great challenge, you say "How soon can I start?" (read more)

08/29/11 Let's get with it..! Lessons Learned are Here to Stay.

mbost@botinternational.com (Mel Bost) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Everyone is talking about “Lessons Learned.” With the wrath of hurricane Irene being felt up and down the east coast this week, David Gregory asked the FEMA Director on “Meet the Press” Sunday what lessons had been learned from Katrina that positively impacted the response to Irene. Governor Christie of New Jersey declared that there would be an after action (review) of the response in his State to Irene. “Lessons Learned” became a buzzword in the press again. (read more)