Corvus3

Category: Blog

  • Why We are Digital Project Managers (DPMs)

    Why We are Digital Project Managers (DPMs)

    [fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]I was really blown away by Brett Harned’s recent post and speech to the DPMUK group called Army of Awesome where he challenged DPMs to define what it means to be a Digital Project Manager.  IMHO, he nailed the qualities/DNA/skills of the DPM better than anything else I’ve ever seen.

    Still, I thought one thing that would be good to discuss: How do we DPMs differ to our non-DPM brethren?

    So, here is my stab at what it means to be a DPM and not some other type of PM.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”none” sep_color=”#789dbf” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]We are Zealots about Changing the World with Digital[/fusion_title][fusion_text]Mr. Petrell was my high school Social Studies teacher who told my class you can’t write a term paper using the encyclopedia.

    What Mr. Petrell didn’t know is that when you have access to CompuServe’s Grolier’s Electronic Encyclopedia, your definition of an encyclopedia is different: not only is it more up-to-date and comprehensive than its printed counterparts, you can download the text and paste it into WordPerfect and use it as the scaffolding for your paper.

    I did (!) which led to a seminal moment in my life: if the world had the same access to the information at their fingertips it would change knowledge forever.  And when America Online (AOL) blitzed our country with cheaper, and even easier ways to access the whole world’s information just a few years later, the Digital Revolution was fully upon us and I wanted to be part of it.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]In my experience, all DPMs share that quality: they are steadfast that a connected world is an infinitely better world and it should be part of a life mission no matter how chaotic the rate of change.  Companies/technologies that were standard yesterday, should be deprecated tomorrow if something better and more meaningful comes along.  (RIP MySpace, Friendster, del.icio.us.)  If the passion for that change doesn’t exist within the PM, then look for another PM role. DPMs thrive on that change because it is the change that leads to something even better than before.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_tagline_box backgroundcolor=”” shadow=”no” shadowopacity=”0.7″ border=”1px” bordercolor=”” highlightposition=”top” content_alignment=”right” link=”” linktarget=”_self” modal=”” button_size=”” button_shape=”” button_type=”” buttoncolor=”” button=”” title=”DPMs are steadfast that a connected world is an infinitely better world” description=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][/fusion_tagline_box][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”none” sep_color=”#789dbf” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]We Relish the Craft of Creating Digital[/fusion_title][fusion_text]If you are zealous about Digital, then the reason to Project Manage is because you have a passion about how digital is created.  It takes a lot of highly skilled people and intricate processes to make a digital experience accessible, usable and impactful. DPMs see UX/UI folks as painters, Graphic Designers as musicians, and Coders as sculptors. Creating Digital is as creative an endeavor as any art form.  To do this, you must appreciate each participant as an artist, respect their challenge, and provide them the space (read: time and budget) to do their best work. If you don’t have that passion for the Digital craft, you can’t be a Digital PM.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”none” sep_color=”#789dbf” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]We Desire to Execute Elegantly, Digitally[/fusion_title][fusion_text]Eat your own dogfood is a mantra that gets tossed around in the software world. While it references what Alpo (supposedly) did with their products, it was more famously used by Microsoft as a way to make sure that the tools that Microsoft would create/sell would be usable by the very people making it.

     [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_tagline_box backgroundcolor=”” shadow=”no” shadowopacity=”0.7″ border=”1px” bordercolor=”” highlightposition=”top” content_alignment=”left” link=”” linktarget=”_self” modal=”” button_size=”” button_shape=”” button_type=”” buttoncolor=”” button=”” title=”The DPM should be changing/
    connecting her digital teams with Digital.” description=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][/fusion_tagline_box][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Same is true for the DPM: to make great Digital, you need to be a consummate consumer of it. If Digital is changing/connecting the world, then the DPM should be changing/connecting her digital teams with Digital.  While I am a big believer in low-fidelity, high-touch ways of getting things done (being in the same physical space with tools like post-it notes is really the best way to do an Agile release plan), oftentimes its digital counterparts can provide even more elegance to its execution. Recently, I’ve been leveraging Jira and many of it’s Agile-infused tools with two remote vendors, a remote client, and several dozen people overall.  Because everyone is using the tools consistently and correctly, things are seamlessly moving between people and teams (vendors communicate directly with the client) and creating frictionless production. By using Digital to create Digital, it helps infuse the team with the power of digital and the elegance and beauty of using it to get things done better.

     [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]So, there are my initial thoughts about what it means to be a DPM and not just a PM. What do you think? I’m sure i’ll come up with some others over the year and will share them.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • New Year’s Resolution for DPMs, 2016

    New Year’s Resolution for DPMs, 2016

    Happy New Year!

    Since it’s already the second week of 2016, resolutions may seem like a distant memory. Still, I’ve been seeing posts come up including this great one from Atlassian (makers of Jira) about new year’s resolutions for agile ceremonies. And it got me thinking of a few new years resolutions for Digital Project Managers (DPMs).

    #1 – See Your Client’s POV First

    It’s so easy for those of us who work at agencies to be frustrated with the pace at which our clients get back to us or are able to innovate. Our role as an agency partner is to push our clients to do newer/better things. So, when we receive any sort of resistance/complication it can be disheartening and frustrating. Rather than get angry, try to see it from their perspective.  Most clients have way more responsibility than just working with their agency. Sometimes half of their time is spent dealing with internal issues so that they can pave the way for the agency to do amazing things for them. Perhaps there are things you can do as a DPM to make it less painful and expedite the process. See it from their side first, before you start to kvetch.

    #2 – Put People and Process before Tools

    DPMs are DPMs because they love efficiencies and the art of making things happen elegantly. And, when there is a tool that can (or, at least claims to) make a process run smoothly, DPMs are the first to try to make things change. But a tool will never be a silver bullet if you don’t have your roles/teams (aka People) outlined or the definitions of how they work together (aka Process) defined.  Many tools assume that these items have already been defined. While many tools are very flexible and accommodate many scenarios, it is possible that interjecting a tool might make things LESS efficient as you try to change the way you are naturally structured to accommodate the tool. Instead, define your roles and your processes first, then find the tool that might make things sweet.

    #3 – Be an Advocate for your Team

    I like to say that the DPM is responsible for getting everything done without doing a goddamn thing. The role, at its core, is to take all of the (potentially) disparate people working towards a goal and make them work together so that the sum is greater than the parts. Frustrations undoubtedly ensue when certain team members don’t pull their weight and this can cause the whole operation to slow down or come to a screeching halt. As humans, it’s our nature to lash out with “it’s not me, it’s you” when this happens. Resist the temptation to throw a team member under the bus and try to understand the problem so that you can be part of the solution. You’ll gain trust with that individual while earning extra brownie points with the team, leading to greater benefits in the future.

    #4 – Keep Your Skills/Knowledge Up

    This one probably should be #1 in this list as it tends to take a backseat to everything we do as DPMs. We need to continually nurture ourselves with more knowledge and skills about our work/industry. Only through continually improving ourselves will we get more out of work and life. Sure, improvements can be going to conferences or getting certification, but it can also be simply getting together with other like-minded folks at meetups or reading a new book/blog. I, for example, have been blazing through Getting Results the Agile Way which is not only helping me to be better at my profession but also is allowing me to see more things I should be getting out of life. I’ve also been regularly following the tweets of some DPM cohorts to learn about what they’re thinking/exploring. Make it a priority to enrich yourself and it will pay countless dividends.

    Do you have some of your own DPM resolutions? Do you have any suggestions? Comment down below or find me on twitter, facebook and let me know.

  • DPM Summit 2015 Recap: The Brotherhood United in Making Things Better

    [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]It’s been nearly three weeks since the DPM Summit 2015, but I’m still basking in the afterglow.

    As I suspected, it was a homecoming with 300+ Digital PMs from literally all over the world. It was pretty clear that we all have spilled the same blood and have the same scars from doing what we do:

    • Resource allocation conflicts? Does a person breathe?
    • Reconciling budgets? You betcha!
    • Unreasonable clients? Always.
    • Scope creep? Every day.

    I can go on with a list a hundred bullets long but that would be boring.

    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”none” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]The Brotherhood of DPMs[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]What was more revelatory is that DPMs aren’t just wired to make things better for their projects: they have an eye to improving the way things work for the organization. I’ve attended other PM conferences where sessions were focused on tracking tasks in a Project Plan, how to best resource level in Microsoft Project. Useless. DPMs are wired to get dirty with their organization standards to smooth things out. Tool selection, process inefficiencies, role definition inadequacies become the bane of the DPM existence when their organization don’t have it dialed. All DPMs are united in the brotherhood of making things better. Period. It was so cathartic that I’m not the only one who works that way.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonials design=”clean” backgroundcolor=”” textcolor=”” random=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonial name=”” avatar=”none” image=”” image_border_radius=”” company=”” link=”” target=”_self”] All DPMs are united in the brotherhood of making things better. Period.[/fusion_testimonial][/fusion_testimonials][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

    Other highlights

    Beyond the camaraderie, there were many other jewels I came across the two days:

    • Nancy Lyons talked about how DPMs are the natural “intrapreneurs” and have an incredible opportunity to make things better for their organization
    • Rob Harr’s idea of collaborative pricing where you provide complete transparency to clients was just sheer genius (aka why didn’t i think of that).
    • Cynthia Schmidt succinctly explained the ins and outs of getting (or not) accreditations (of which I had two) in 10 minutes that should be on any junior DPMs list.
    • Adam Connor & Aaron Irizarry’s talk about giving feedback to creatives was a revelation. They helped make it more of a science with practical ways to approach people who might not be so approachable to feedback.

    Of course there was much more. I got more out these two days, then I get out a week at most conferences.

    Kudos to Brett Harned, Carl Smith and Greg Hoy for making a “home” for the DPM community.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Homecoming at the Digital Project Management Summit 2015

    So, I just landed in Philadelphia on the eve of the Digital Project Management (DPM) Summit 2015. It’s my first time attending this event, but it feel like a homecoming.

    You see, I’ve been in working for nearly twenty years creating great digital and this is the first time I’m going to an event that focuses on the “unsung” hero: the Digital Project Manager (DPM).

    When you hear about great digital, more often you read about the great “idea” that came from a creative lead or a technical whiz. Their story is the one of how the idea came about, how they sold it, and how it changed the world. And while those folks must be relished and stories told, the truth is that usually takes someone else to make their dreams into a reality.

    That someone-else is the DPM. They’re the one “jumps on the grenade” to make order out of the chaos, deliver excellence for the client, earns money for their agency and all the while not killing the spirits of a passionate team.

    That’s what I’ve done for twenty years both as a creator and an organizer and why I couldn’t be more thrilled to be spending 3 days with a gaggle of these like minded folks. These are the folks who are both making great digital but also are pushing vision of what it means to make it great it.

    I haven’t met most of them, but I feel like I know them well.

    Digital Project Management Summit 2015: it’s great to come back home.