I smiled this week as a colleague said, “Failing to plan is planning to fail” and then grimaced at delivering a cliché that makes us both cringe. Like most clichéd, motivational, positive thinking sayings though, it’s become a cliché because there’s more than a kernel of truth in those words.   In h...

I was at my friend’s house for dinner the other night, on the menu his legendary deep-fried brie, breadcrumbed and served with caramelised red onion marmalade and home-made, lightly peppered potato wedges. To die for!! As we sat at the table, glass of wine in hand, a small plate of ping pong sized b...

As I’m writing this, the Autumn Equinox has just passed, we’re moving into the last quarter of 2021, and my news feed is full of how this particular equinox is traditionally the time to be setting new intentions. What better time to reflect on the IT Project Management trends of the year and reset a...

The title of this blog is possibly the most mind-blowingly obvious sentence ever! It is, isn’t it?! I smiled when I heard Tony Robbins say something similar to an audience he was addressing, an audience who, knowing Tony Robbins, had probably spent many hours and thousands of dollars to hear what he...

Each month the staff at Stoneseed are asked to nominate their colleagues as part of a recognition scheme, where they have seen hard work, over achievement or acts of kindness and helpfulness. The winner receives a £100 to donate to a charity of their choice.   We are delighted to say that Bettina Wi...

“I know the situation's changed (situation changed), and so much is new, but something in my life remains the same, cause … everything changes, but you.”  The song “Everything Changes” just came on the radio as I was helping unpick an IT Project with a client. The project started before the pandemic...

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has given a clear signal that he is keen for staff to return to the workplace. During an interview with LinkedIn News, he highlighted the benefits, especially for young people. of being in the workplace and said that it was ‘really beneficial' at the start of his career....

25 million new project professionals are needed by 2030!! That’s the year 2030, by the way, not half past eight tonight! Although, if you’ve been through a recruitment process lately, the pressures of project resourcing in 2021 can make the timeframes feel that tight! According to the latest Talent ...

Project management resourcing, skills gaps within organisations and obtaining a return on investment (ROI) from your chosen solution are challenges that have dogged, hindered, and impeded IT project delivery since, well, forever. Actually, I remember one of the earliest project management meetings I...

We are delighted to award Business Analyst, Andrew Tanner the Stoneseed Colleague Recognition Scheme for June.  Each month the staff at Stoneseed are asked to nominate their colleagues as part of a recognition scheme, where they have seen hard work, over achievement or acts of kindness and helpfulne...

“My project is a challenge,” said my IT Project Leader friend Malc, “it’s not that the goal posts keep moving, it’s more like they keep getting burned down”. “Every day, I’m like, ‘You want what? When?’” It’s true! I’ve never known a less stable IT Project delivery landscape. Disruptive, volatile, u...

Another IR35 implementation date has passed and (just like in the public sector) there were winners and losers; an inevitable erosion of the flexible, agile talent pool that has, hitherto, been immensely valuable to the IT Project Management industry; and a lot of disgruntlement about the way the CE...

Our Latest Blog got a shout out from our favourite DJ Gareth Evans on Smooth Radio East Midlands this morning! With the euros starting today we wrote a blog called: Move over Paul the Octopus. Europe’s IT Project Managers predict The Euros. Its worth a read! My boss has put a bet on and at 250-1 Slo...

Do you remember Paul the Octopus? Germany's octopus football oracle who, in 2010, became a worldwide celebrity for his apparent ability to accurately predict the outcomes of World Cup football matches. Paul correctly forecast the result of six of Germany's World Cup games, and also predicted Spain w...

June 2021 Project Management Institute UK Chapter in association with PwC has announced the finalists for the UK National Project Awards. The standards were exceptionally high and the Chapter is very grateful for all of the submissions reflecting excellence right across the project management profes...

“At this week’s Team Meeting I got an MVP badge for my work! A badge! What am I? Ten years old?” An IT Project Manager, industry veteran, and friend Dave sent this in an exasperated email this week. He’s been at the game for more years than he and I care to remember and is currently the “most experi...

We are delighted to award Principal Project Manager, Andrew Gallagher the Stoneseed Colleague Recognition Scheme for April. Each month the staff at Stoneseed are asked to nominate their colleagues as part of a recognition scheme, where they have seen hard work, over achievement or acts of kindness a...

Image of 'Mind the Gap' painted floor sign *  IT Project Managers and Business Analysts are in demand. More so than ever, it feels. *  This has been on the cards for some time, but the last 12 months has really accelerated the problem.*  IT Project teams that are not responding and adapting to these...

I’m writing this after watching my beloved Manchester United’s demolition of Roma in the Europa League semi-final and Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final win over Real Madrid, and as always, I am drawn to the parallels that exist between our world of IT Project Management and that of elite footbal...

I’m always being asked why organisations need a Project Management Office. For years, I was never totally satisfied with my answer. “A PMO is there to ensure project success,” I’d say, “it makes sure company procedures, practices, cultures and operations are followed and work at their best, it makes...