Project management is both a science and an art form. There are many project management methodologies and tools out there to help a project manager, but without the human touch, you are less likely to be successful in pushing your projects through on time, on schedule, and within budget.  A good project manager is how efficient and effective they are at getting things done. However, there are many project managers who go through the motions without the “people” aspect that really makes a project manager successful.

Sales is an interesting profession.  While I believe and know it can be a most honorable one, when I ask others what comes to mind when they hear that someone is ‘in sales,’ the answers are rarely positive. I usually get something to the effect of, “Ugh!  Someone who couldn’t get a real job" or "someone that is a good manipulator.” 

You’re thrown into the world of business management software and data management systems and you are hit with acronyms upon acronyms. So what do they all mean? Here is a small cheat sheet to help you get through some of the highly referenced acronyms.

Every time I implement a new system for a client, whether NetSuite or something else, the first thing we talk about is data.

What exactly is a “Deep Dive Discovery Call” and why can't I simply skip it? Good question!

Using NetSuite’s saved searches feature is one of the easiest and most effective ways to segment data and create custom reporting without requiring a technical background.  Not only can you harness both standard and custom field values as search criteria and in search results, but you can also use formulas and SQL statements to include calculated values within your searches.  In this post, I’ll share five of my favorite ways to use formulas to make your searches even more powerful – including tricks for generating dynamic links within searches, adding custom highlighting on individual text values, consolidating values into a single column, and more.

The other day I was scrolling through my news feed and an article by ZD Net caught my eye - Under Armour cites change management woes with SAP implementation as digital transformation stumbles. It covered the financial shortfall and some of the reasons Under Armour is in the position they are in today. One of the larger issues that lead to Under Armour’s current business challenges was the lack of change management planning and execution as they moved to a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

There are a number of reasons for attending conventions, expos, trade shows and so forth, but one thing is for certain - you are there with a purpose. Whether you are there to learn, looking for partnerships, searching for a solution, etc., you should have some questions ready for vendors that you encounter. This way, you can get the most of our your time and money. Keep in mind that their answers are not always what you seek.

Any program (system, application, service, etc.) that has ever existed, big or small, was created with a purpose - to solve a problem. But, as your company grows, evolves, and adapts to industry changes, your needs change. And as your needs change, so do your problems.

What value is your project manager (PM) bringing to your projects?