The ezPalm Blog

If you have ever had responsibility for managing a project, regardless of how little or how big, you will understand the many nuances and special considerations that have to be taken into account behind-the-scenes. Project management success stories rarely show the struggles, problems or weaknesses of the project or team to the public. One author, Herbert Lovelace, likened this to the kitchen, which “…tends to be cleaned up before it is shown to guests! “

Understanding how projects should be managed or “by the book” methodology is a good reference guide and tool for everyone. But, in order to succeed the project manager must understand the myriad of people, their needs, and the potential problems and issues that need to be tackled before the project can be called successful. In my own experience, project management is a culmination of all the experiences and knowledge I have gained on past projects and is modified based on circumstance. There are, however, some very broad guidelines that can be implemented to help ensure the project stays on track.

1.Identification: make sure the problem, or project purpose, is clearly identified before starting. This is best done by putting the purpose into writing and having the entire team review the text. Next, solicit the team’s agreement to the purpose in a roundtable meeting. This will also help to identify the customer’s concerns and issues that need to be addressed throughout the project and help to stratify the resources and potential conflicts the team may encounter.

2.Preparation: is all about figuring out what to do and how to do it. Although most of us can handle the mechanics of preparation fairly well on an independent basis, it may be more difficult to ensure that all project team members are in agreement. It is advisable to have everyone sign off on what is to be done and his/her role in the project as part of the preparation. People are far more likely to support something that they understand and have had a role in developing. In our organization we use a document, called a Scope of Work agreement, as part of the contracts and negotiation process that details the work to be done on the project. By using this document we can clearly set the project tasks, milestones and timeline before the contracts are finalized. Here’s one tidbit, if you are trying to implement systems, and you can’t explain it easily, don’t implement it!

3.Implementation: just remember, it is always tricky! Try to keep implementation as simple as possible and have a rollback strategy in place. How you react to unexpected issues will make the difference between success and failure. Don’t demoralize a team working long hours by letting critical decisions hang or go unanswered. Make sure that everyone on the team is in the communication loop and has a stake in the project. By the same token, don’t be afraid to use the rollback strategy if unexpected events sabotage the timeline.

4.Reflection: is your most valuable tool. We all learn a lot after the project is over about what or how we might have done something differently. It is helpful to keep a written log during the project. The log can also be used as a tool after the project is over to figure out how things could have been improved. A post-project team meeting where all team members can contribute to the feedback is warranted and will produce valuable information from all stakeholders.

Project managers should take the time to learn from formal methodologies and utilize the help from mentors and other experienced project managers. In my humble estimation, though, there is no substitute for the “hands-on” approach to project management and planning. Regardless of the methodology or set of ideals you start out with, nothing will replace the amount of sweat, teamwork, hard work and personal involvement required to successful project management. You can reduce the number of problems and issues you deal with, however, by following these four simple guidelines.

Publishing Rights: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author’s information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. The author would appreciate an email indicating you wish to post this article to a website, and the link to where it is posted. Copyright 2005, Michele Webb. All Rights Reserved.

About the Author

The author owns her own website and is a member of a number of organizations for women Netpreneurs and business owners and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada USA with her two dogs. You can contact Michele at mailto:news@ebooksnstuff.com or visit her website at: http://www.ebooksnstuff.com

“Positive Law”

Based upon Nietzsche’s foundation of atheism, the utilitarianism of Bentham and Mill, and a Darwinian view of the development of human life, legal scholars started to formulate new theories of law. Eventually, positive law became known as legal realism. Legal realism is ‘theory in philosophy of law or jurisprudence broadly characterized by the claim that the nature of law is better understood by observing what courts and citizens actually do than by analyzing stated legal rule and legal concepts. Legal realism in the United States, in its contemporary form, is known as critical legal studies.’

This movement has recently given rise to postmodern legal theory. Advocates of this theory believe that law is created and interpreted in such a way as to benefit the people in power and exclude the poor and minorities. This legal theory has the potential to elevate the will of the human legislators over the will of the masses. Let’s not leave out judges and their self-imposed sovereignty. Aren’t we seeing this kind of arrogance today? Item: Recently the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California, struck down the ban on partial birth abortionsaying it invaded a woman’s right to privacy. Item: A municipal judge in New York threw out the government’s case against the mayor who disregarded state law and issued marriage licenses to gay couples. The judge said that he didn’t like the law. (Keep in mind, though, the judge was appointed by the same mayor he let off the hook.)

This brings me back to where I started. The argument today is whether or not national law (and interpreters of the lawjudges) is higher or superior to God’s Law. Most of today’s intellectuals would tell you that Western law is not based on God’s moral law. And they do this with a straight face. It’s against the law of the state to murder. God’s Law says that murder is proscribed, and the one who premeditates the murder of another person shall pay with one’s own life. It’s against the state law to shoplift. God’s law also says it’s wrong to steal. The state says it’s criminal to slander someone. God’s Law says that no man may bear false witness against his neighbor. If that isn’t a reflection of state law emulating God’s Law, then I’m missing something.

The challenge before us is great. It is to reverse a mindset that has been honed on the secular teaching of atheism and relativism by godless philosophers and scientists for the past 300 years. When man began to elevate human reasoning over faith in the 17th century, events soon followed that threw traditional beliefs into a tailspin. These were proven and established doctrines of the church that had held true, most of them since the time of the Holy Roman Empire. Our task is to call America back to her heritage. It is to call her back to God. This, my friend, is our challengeto save America from godless deception.

Terry Dashner

About the Author

Writes articles on America’s early history. 918-451-0270

New Architecture extends NextWest PCXi PBX remote extension capability to cell phones as well as standard home phones.

NextWest, Inc., the leading provider of IP-based business telecommunications and contact center systems for small to midsize enterprises, today introduced an innovative mobility solution to its PCXi IP-based PBX capabilities. Combining the capabilities of the PCXi PBX and the NextIPS server NextWest is able to deploy full PBX extension functionality to cell phone and home phone users anywhere in the world. Because a NextWest cell phone user is the same as a regular extension user you can now be reached through one number anytime, anywhere in the world.

To achieve this innovative mobility functionality, the PCXi system is interfaced to a NextIPS server via 23 or 30 channel cable interfaces. The NextIPS server is then connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Remote cell and home phone users when out of the office or working at home can dial access numbers on the NextIPS server and login in as remote extension users. After logging in with secure methods the remote cell phone and home phones then have all the same capability of local extension users. Remote extension users can also be contact center agents and be monitored and operate exactly as if they were agents on the primary site. This capability allows even standard analog phone users, without needing to install expensive IP phones, to operate as if they were part of the local PBX community.

With NextMobility as well as the previous abilities of “Follow Me” NextWest users can now be reached instantly. Customers can receive the attention and support they want and need today, not tomorrow. If for some reason you are not available on your cell calls will follow the normal PBX coverage options that you have set via the NextWest PCXi software-based user console. “Follow Me” can be used in conjunction with the extension cell to ensure you will be reached.

“We make it possible for enterprises to affordably integrate remote users as if they were on the same site as the PBX or contact center. This is a very affordable and more flexible mobility solution than any other vendor can currently provide for cell phone and work-at-home users,” said Richard De Soto, NextWest Chief Marketing and Sales Officer. “NextMobility can even be combined with NextContact, providing full contact center agent functionality if agents need to work from home. The business possibilities are endless in today’s mobile world. We can of course also support remote IP phone users when a remote worker is located in a branch office or home office situation. Highly mobile workers can now remain in contact with their customers- without having to leave a trail of phone numbers where they “may” be reached. Regardless of geography, number of employees, or number of locations, NextWest adapts to the way your business operates.”

Components of the NextMobility solution include connecting a 30, 60 or 90 port NextIPS server chassis to the PCXi PBX, NextMobility software and either T1, PRI or E1 board (s). The NextMobility solution is ideal for field salespeople or field service personnel that want to ensure they never miss a customer call via their cell phone and can still utilize the features of the PCXi PBX such as conferencing, voice mail access, or using extension dialing to reach other workers in the headquarters PBX or anywhere in the VoIP connected network.

NextWest’s PCXi IP PBX delivers a fully-integrated solution whose standard features is considered options on other systems and may be unavailable altogether on many VoIP systems. Standard features include auto attendant, automatic call distribution, caller ID, interactive voice response, fax on demand, voice and fax over IP, unified messaging, least cost routing, voicemail, conferencing, built-in music on hold and call and message screening.

About NextWest, Inc.

NextWest, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of IP-based business telecommunications and contact center systems. The company’s fully-integrated, IP and converged communications systems help small to mid-sized businesses, government agencies and other organizations to meet their changing telecommunications needs. With cost-effective solutions that are flexible, scalable, reliable and easy to manage, NextWest delivers uncompromising quality and features resulting in fast and quantifiable ROI. NextWest, Inc. is headquartered in Tucson, AZ., with offices in Dallas, TX and Atlanta, GA. For more information please call 1-877-446-6398 or visit our web site at www.nextwest.com

About the Author

IP-based business telecommunications and call center systems. Our solid, fully-integrated, IP and communications systems help small to mid-sized businesses meet their growing telecommunications needs.