Note From the Editor by Raechel Logan
If you're a project manager, then it's probably not news to you that "poor communication" is often cited as one of the top reasons for project failure. I would even venture to say that most project failures can be traced back to poor communication in one way or another. If you really think about it, there are so many individuals involved in projects – the project leaders, individual team members, stakeholders, vendors, clients, etc., that it's not hard to understand how miscommunication happens so often (especially if you've ever played the game "telephone" – we all know how that turns out!).
So, how do we combat or prevent this issue? Well, there's probably an ever-growing list of answers and advice, but when it comes down to it, every team is different and you have to figure out what methods of communication work best for you. This week our newsletter contains a number of ideas to try for improving communication amongst your team and within your projects. But mostly, the theme is about sharing – sharing the right information clearly and effectively, sharing "tribal knowledge" within teams and sharing experience and wisdom with newer members of the team.
Feature Article by Ty Kiisel
Knowledge is Power, or Is It?
Over the course of my career I've had the privilege of being taught and mentored by some pretty incredible people. For some reason I can't explain, they took an interest in my career and spent time coaching me to help achieve my greatest potential. They gave me the…
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What's New With AtTask
UI Turns the Wheels
When you turn the steering wheel of your car, you expect the wheels to turn with it, right? Well, we feel the same way about AtTask; when we click on a task to be complete, we expect it to mark complete. User interface (UI) is a lot more important than you may realize…
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Join Us for the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo
Orlando, Florida – October 16 – 20, 2011
We're turning the award-winning AtTask Work Management solution into a game for Gartner Symposium/ITxpo. During the conference, you can complete tasks like, "Exchange Business Cards with a Colleague," or "Introduce Yourself to an AtTask Expert." The more tasks you complete, the greater your chances of winning great prizes, like Skullcandy® earbuds and more.
Visit our booth (#1237) in the Pacific Hall to claim your prize and learn more about how AtTask brings work to life for people by helping them better understand and organize their work.
Special AtTask Discount
As a sponsor, we are pleased to extend to you a discounted rate of $3,295 to attend – a $500 savings on the standard rate.
To receive this discounted price, you must mention priority code [SYMATT] when you register online with Gartner or by calling 1.866.405.2511.
Blog Posts
As Clear as Mud
When I was in High School, I had a trigonometry teacher who was obviously a brilliant guy, but couldn't explain anything in a way that we (I don't think it was just me) could understand it. If I couldn't figure it out by reading the textbook, I wasn't going to understand it by listening to his lecture either. I would often leave his class feeling like everything was "clear as mud". I've been part of project teams where I felt the same…
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Does Anybody Still Use the Pony Express?
From April 3, 1860 to October of 1861 the Pony Express carried mail from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. Before the telegraph, the Pony Express was the most direct means to send a message to points west. During the 18 months the the Pony Express operated, it reduced the time it took for mail to reach California from weeks or months to about ten days. It was state of the art for its day. However, I don't think anyone uses the Pony Express anymore…
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Tribal Knowledge
I spent the last few days in the Uintah Mountains fishing and camping with my family. As we sat around the campfire each night, telling stories about each other, I couldn't help but think about the "tribal knowledge" our family likes to share at times like these with in-laws and other family guests. Now that I'm back and in front of the computer for the first time in five or six days, I can't help but think about the tribal knowledge that exists within our project teams and the organizations we work with…
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Teamwork and Rock Crawling
I don't know how many of you are familiar with the term "rock crawling" or have actually had the experience of spending time behind the wheel of a Jeep or other four-wheel drive vehicle and picked you way up a boulder-strewn stream-bed or other similar trail. However, if you live near the mountains like I do, it's one of the pleasures of owning a Jeep. Yesterday, my colleagues and I had the opportunity to take some Razr 4x4s out into the mountains for a working? off-site to cap off a successful end of the second quarter. The highlight of the day for me was watching one of my colleagues who had never done anything like this before pick his way up a very technical section of trail…
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