Blog

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...

There is a difference between managing a project and being a Project Manager. Being qualified and understanding the theory doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be successful. Have a read below of five ways to thrive as a Project Manager in the world of Project Management.  Accepting change All Project Ma...

It’s Easter Monday as I write. After some warm sunny days last week, today I woke to snow! Now, as an icy wind batters against the window, the sun is so bright, I have just had to close the curtains so that I can see my screen! Mad weather but this gives me cause for optimism. The weather today feel...

Laura Brandenburg created a Business Analyst Manifesto, in it she wrote: Out of chaos, we create order. Out of disagreement, we create alignment. Out of ambiguity, we create clarity. But most of all, we create positive change for the organizations we serve. BAeautiful, isn’t it? (Alright, enough wit...

Often, when you’re working in the thick of an IT Project or a busy multi-layered portfolio, it’s hard to identify even glaringly obvious risks. The Chartered Management Institute found recently that over a third (36%) of managers have experienced project failure in their career but before we rush to...

We all need a bit of inspiration or motivation sometimes... Here are five pearls of wisdom. One from a Project Management expert, the others from more unusual sources. • “The “P” in PM is as much about PEOPLE Management as it is about PROJECT management” - Cornelius Fichtner • “I am always doing tha...

Stoneseed’s Professional Services has seen a recent rise in the success of BAaaS (Business Analysis as a Service) which has led to the creation of the role of a Principal Business Analysis Team Leader within the company. Frazer Knight joined Stoneseed in 2019 as a Senior BA, and we are delighted to ...

The acceleration of digital projects and the apparent “projectification” of just about every business function means the services of project managers and associated professionals are suddenly very much in demand!   To be honest, it feels weird to be trumpeting some good news against a backdrop of so...

We are delighted to award Head of Client Engagement, Dale Beeton the Stoneseed Colleague Recognition Scheme for March. 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 he...

Guest blog by Nicol Cutts - Stoneseed Head of Project Management       March 8th is International Women's day.  Aptly, adverts for the PMI UK Chapter, International Women's Day webinar: "The modern woman in leadership "dropped into my inbox at the same time as a reply to a question that I'd asked a ...

Picture a Project Manager, a full team and a Business Analyst ... on every project. IT Project Nirvana. Budgets are tight so often it's the latter that either gets sacrificed, usually merged into someone else's role. Many Project Managers have in the past, had parts of their job description that loo...

I heard a PMO (Project Management Office) joke today. “How many PMOs does it take to change a lightbulb? Two, one to explain it’s not the role of the PMO and the other to realise explaining this (again) is futile and just change the lightbulb anyway.” Alright, it’s not the funniest gag you’ll ever h...

On a Zoom call with a client today, he and I were discussing how things had changed over the space of the past year. In and among the small talk, he said something about Agile vs Waterfall that got me thinking – I’ll come back to it. First, a short recap of the last year. As I write, it’s the start ...

Happy New Year! I am never sure when to stop saying that. Traditionally, I stop around a week into being back to work, but then nothing about this New Year is normal, is it? There’s never been a New Year and back to work period like this! Ever! For a start, many of us aren’t back in the actual offic...

Fast Five Blog SeriesWhat skills should you be looking for when you need a Business Analyst.  There are a few types of Business Analyst out there, but we are going to focus on IT – We are specialists. That being said; here are five core skills we look for in an IT Business Analyst when we recruit fo...

Fast Five Blog SeriesThis week’s blog is inspired by a quiz in a Cosmo magazine, in a Dentist’s waiting room. While trying to figure out what percentage of funny someone could be, it got me thinking about how certain traits could define what kind of Project Managers are out there. Keep reading to se...

It’s that time of year where we make resolutions make for the New Year. Below, we have listed a few that you might consider, as a Project Manager, to not only improve your Project delivery but to help you improve your own skills. Set some realistic goals Did you struggle to meet the goals you set fo...

Its winter solstice next week, and with it the shortest of days. At the winter solstice the Sun travels the shortest path through the sky and we are all getting used to waking up in the dark and leaving work in the dark. Getting up before the sun can be really demotivating and the temptation to fall...

What a strange year it has been.  Global pandemics aside, I think we will all be glad to see the back of 2020 and put our feet up for a bit. One thing I know is that every year despite being planning professionals, some of you will be taking your present shopping down to the wire.  Last posting day ...