Best of PPM: September 2023

Author: Gabriel Camacho

Welcome to the September edition of Streamline ! As summer vacations come to an end and we gear up for the final quarter of the year, we’ve curated our top 10 latest insights that will get you ready to kickstart your PPM momentum again.

What caught our attention in September:

Are collaboration tools overwhelming your team? Today's digital age promises enhanced productivity, but are collaboration tools becoming a hindrance? We take a look at the current challenges faced by workers in the workplace. (12 min read)

Aligning your company culture for digital transformation: Digital transformation is more than just technology; it's about culture. Braden Kelley shares the heart of successful digital initiatives that you can start considering during your digital implementation. (10 min read)

OKRs vs KPIs: What’s the difference? While OKRs focus on objectives and the key results to achieve them, KPIs measure performance against specific targets. Both are vital performance metrics, but understanding their distinct differences is key. (8 min read)

It isn’t the first nor the last time a war has had global repercussions, from energy shifts to humanitarian crises, McKinsey analyzes the consequences throughout the world due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. (15 min read)

The Procrastinator’s paradox: What if delaying your work is part of the process? For some people, there is the concept of productive procrastination. While it seems counterintuitive, this delay can sometimes spark creativity and lead to better outcomes. (10 min read)

Not everyone wants kinder and gentler. The push for empathy in the workplace is strong, but is it always welcomed? Some institutions prefer the complete opposite. (5 min read)

5 "Fab" Online Resources for Project Management Certification Prep. With so many courses out there to get project management certification, Elizabeth Harrin, experienced Project Manager, shares the go-to guide in obtaining your next certification with criteria that matters. ( Elizabeth Harrin FAPM 6 min read)

OKRs are powerful, but is cascading them the right approach? Greg Bayer , Director of Silver Ridge, discusses how the effort created by OKRs can drive focus, but their implementation can sometimes lead to unforeseen challenges. (9 min read)

Why are we so bad at estimating time? The planning fallacy often leads us to underestimate task durations due to optimism bias and overlooking external factors. This cognitive misjudgment can explain scenarios like why a task we anticipate to finish in 10 days ends up taking 62 days. Here’s how to plan accordingly. ( Nick Skillicorn 8 min read)

Being a great manager isn’t enough to lead others to success. You also need to deeply understand your organization’s core business. That's why it's no secret the best leaders are also experts in their fields. (22 min audio)

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." – Mark Twain

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That's it for this month. See you all in October!