Comments on: Tests for Success http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/ "Stand on the Shoulders of Giants." ... Insight and Action for Work and Life Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:59:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: J.D. Meier http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/comment-page-1/#comment-10229 J.D. Meier Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:44:15 +0000 http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/#comment-10229 @ Gennaro Testing your results is the way to go. Really, it's about reducing ambiguity a step at a time. It's hard to predict what you really want, but the more you test drive, the more you get a better picture of what works and what doesn't. @ Juliet It's definitely helped me prioritize one path over another multiple times. There's lots of things I can do, but the trick is to figure out where I get the best leverage and make the most impact. @ Gennaro

Testing your results is the way to go. Really, it’s about reducing ambiguity a step at a time. It’s hard to predict what you really want, but the more you test drive, the more you get a better picture of what works and what doesn’t.

@ Juliet

It’s definitely helped me prioritize one path over another multiple times. There’s lots of things I can do, but the trick is to figure out where I get the best leverage and make the most impact.

]]> By: LifeMadeGreat | Juliet http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/comment-page-1/#comment-10180 LifeMadeGreat | Juliet Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:35:04 +0000 http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/#comment-10180 Hi JD Your third question really inspires me. That could even make one reassess whether the task is actually worth undertaking in the first place. Juliet Hi JD

Your third question really inspires me. That could even make one reassess whether the task is actually worth undertaking in the first place.

Juliet

]]> By: Gennaro http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/comment-page-1/#comment-10121 Gennaro Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:35:03 +0000 http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/#comment-10121 That sounds like a great approach especially before entering into a larger, important project. Give a test run of sorts to iron things out. That sounds like a great approach especially before entering into a larger, important project. Give a test run of sorts to iron things out.

]]> By: JD http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/comment-page-1/#comment-9741 JD Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:14:16 +0000 http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/#comment-9741 @ Louisa You said it. I've seen projects where the team wanted one thing but the stakeholders wanted another and yet the customers wanted something entirely different. It's way better to test this up front and create a shared map and vision. Criteria helps. @ Giovanna Thank you - that is a great compliment. I'm a fan of holistic learning and I think life's better when we get the best of the left paired up with the best of the right. @ Alik I like it! It's a nice set of cutting tests that get to the core. @ Stacey True that. Success means different things to different people so it's all about the shared map. @ Daphne That was my biggest lesson. I found it's not just figuring out what good looks like for you, but remembering that value is in the eye of the beholder. A shared set of tests is one of the best ways to tease that out. @ Karl Too true. Life's an obstacle course and when we get lost it's great to know how to get back on track. @ Positively Present Thank you. It's a practice that has served me well. @ Louisa

You said it. I’ve seen projects where the team wanted one thing but the stakeholders wanted another and yet the customers wanted something entirely different. It’s way better to test this up front and create a shared map and vision. Criteria helps.

@ Giovanna

Thank you – that is a great compliment. I’m a fan of holistic learning and I think life’s better when we get the best of the left paired up with the best of the right.

@ Alik

I like it! It’s a nice set of cutting tests that get to the core.

@ Stacey

True that. Success means different things to different people so it’s all about the shared map.

@ Daphne

That was my biggest lesson. I found it’s not just figuring out what good looks like for you, but remembering that value is in the eye of the beholder. A shared set of tests is one of the best ways to tease that out.

@ Karl

Too true. Life’s an obstacle course and when we get lost it’s great to know how to get back on track.

@ Positively Present

Thank you. It’s a practice that has served me well.

]]> By: Positively Present http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/comment-page-1/#comment-9732 Positively Present Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:39:00 +0000 http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/#comment-9732 Those are great "test for success" questions. They can be applied to so many different types of success, whic is the great thing about them! Those are great “test for success” questions. They can be applied to so many different types of success, whic is the great thing about them!

]]> By: Karl Staib - Work Happy Now http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/comment-page-1/#comment-9720 Karl Staib - Work Happy Now Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:46:16 +0000 http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/#comment-9720 If we don't keep track of what we want out of a project we won't see success. I like these guidelines as well as Alik's. We all work from different set points. When we understand our talents and what are reasonable expectations then we can enjoy the process as well. If we don’t keep track of what we want out of a project we won’t see success. I like these guidelines as well as Alik’s. We all work from different set points. When we understand our talents and what are reasonable expectations then we can enjoy the process as well.

]]> By: Daphne http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/comment-page-1/#comment-9683 Daphne Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:37:36 +0000 http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/#comment-9683 Hi JD, I like your question "What does good look like?" Too often we assume that good to us will mean good to other people, yet good is a concept and each person or groups of people may have a different specific definition of what good is. You give great advice here. Hi JD,

I like your question “What does good look like?” Too often we assume that good to us will mean good to other people, yet good is a concept and each person or groups of people may have a different specific definition of what good is. You give great advice here.

]]> By: Stacey / Create a Balance http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/comment-page-1/#comment-9666 Stacey / Create a Balance Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:15:22 +0000 http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/#comment-9666 I agree 100%. Agreeing on success measures and success criteria is such an important element of project management. I agree 100%. Agreeing on success measures and success criteria is such an important element of project management.

]]> By: Alik Levin | PracticeThis.com http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/comment-page-1/#comment-9655 Alik Levin | PracticeThis.com Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:51:54 +0000 http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/#comment-9655 Good stuff - like you say, cutting questions, eh? ;) When testing for project success here is the list I use. So far it's been very precise at predicting the "situations": * Doesn’t meet expectations. * Lacks change management processes. * Lacks project sponsorship. * Insufficient resources or budget are available. * Team doesn’t report or escalate critical problems quickly. * No risk planning. * Schedule delays and missed commitments are rampant. * Project is over-budget with no end in sight. * Low morale is a problem. * Uncontrolled scope creep abounds. * Project direction and end-game aren’t clear. * Showstoppers haven’t been identified. I adopted it from article on ZDNET Good stuff – like you say, cutting questions, eh? ;)
When testing for project success here is the list I use. So far it’s been very precise at predicting the “situations”:

* Doesn’t meet expectations.
* Lacks change management processes.
* Lacks project sponsorship.
* Insufficient resources or budget are available.
* Team doesn’t report or escalate critical problems quickly.
* No risk planning.
* Schedule delays and missed commitments are rampant.
* Project is over-budget with no end in sight.
* Low morale is a problem.
* Uncontrolled scope creep abounds.
* Project direction and end-game aren’t clear.
* Showstoppers haven’t been identified.

I adopted it from article on ZDNET

]]> By: Giovanna Garcia http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/comment-page-1/#comment-9652 Giovanna Garcia Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:38:19 +0000 http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/04/15/tests-for-success/#comment-9652 Hi J.D. You are one of the few people who can write something that is so left brain in a way that a right brain person will still be interested in reading it. :-) Thank you for this, I really like the idea of testing for success. Giovanna Garcia Imperfect Action is better than No Action Hi J.D.

You are one of the few people who can write something that is so left brain in a way that a right brain person will still be interested in reading it. :-)
Thank you for this, I really like the idea of testing for success.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action

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