18 April 2013 9:44 am

Effective project collaboration means taking all measures to protect the information shared

As we increasingly become more dependent on the internet to access information and conduct our daily activities, security needs to become an central element to our collaboration strategy.  Recently, cyber attacks have become more far reaching especially with recent  DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks that flood sites with insane levels of traffic grinding their service to a halt.  With this new level of attack, I’ve recently read an article that discusses the potential of these cyber attacks to actually cripple the internet as a whole.  The conclusion was that it would be practically impossible due to the security measures  

Written by Neil Stolovitsky
on 18 April 2013 9:44 am

Posted in PM Best Practices  |  No Comments
4 March 2013 9:28 am

Groupon’s Troubles: Proof that the people behind a product can make the difference

In the latest in tech news, Groupon CEO and co-founder Andrew Mason was recently laid off adding to the already Management issues that has been plaguing the internet giant since its IPO in 2011.  As a product idea, Groupon’s volume discount business model launched in 2008 caught on like wild fire.  Groupon delivers huge coupon discounts to restaurants and retailers to its audience with the strategy of pooling like-minded consumers by leveraging the Web and social media.  Consumers get a great deal and in return businesses benefit from the volume in sales.  By 2010 the internet business exploded into a  

Written by Neil Stolovitsky
on 4 March 2013 9:28 am

Posted in About PM box  |  No Comments
18 December 2012 3:04 pm

Letterman Top 10 Signs your are not ready to be a Project Manager

To continue on the  tradition of last year’s top ten list focused on projects, I came up with a topic more focused on you – the project manager.  So the category is the top ten signs you are not ready to be a project manager.  Here we go…

Written by Neil Stolovitsky
on 18 December 2012 3:04 pm

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30 July 2012 4:17 pm

The Eiffel Tower Project: With Great Risk Comes Great Reward

Many would agree that the Eiffel Tower can be labelled one of the greatest architectural achievements of all time.  However, the journey to great projects are typically riddled with many bumps, obstacles and controversy.  The fact is the Eiffel Tower project was no less immune to this reality.  From the time of its conception to act as the symbol (and as the archway entrance) to France’s World Fair in 1889 to its transformation as a critical communication tower during the First World War and its iconic design attracting millions of tourists a year, the Eiffel Tower has proven that the  

Written by Neil Stolovitsky
on 30 July 2012 4:17 pm

Posted in Famous Projects  |  1 Comment
29 June 2012 3:09 pm

Project Manager Olympian Wins Gold Medal Due to People Skills

As we approach closer to the 2012 Summer Olympics hosted in London, I think about all the attributes these amazing athletes have developed to be the best in their category of sport.  The level of determination, work ethic and raw talent, with a bit of luck and timing will mean the difference between a Gold Medallist Olympian and those that are knocked out of the top spots.  Although not all Olympians are medal winners, all of them have a common attribute that has led them there in the first place.  They all have that extra “something” that cannot be taught  

Written by Neil Stolovitsky
on 29 June 2012 3:09 pm

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30 April 2012 12:50 pm

Inventing the Steamboat: Why people matter in NPD projects

More often than one would expect, when we look at the original inventors of many of history’s great inventions they are marginalized in their association to their inventions.  Have you ever heard of Ferdinand Verbiest or Otto Lilienthal? Does Karl Benz and the Wright Brothers sound more familiar?  Although the first two people mentioned are the original inventors of the automobile and airplane respectively, the latter tend to be attributed to these inventions due to their ability to move beyond the inventions themselves and connect to the people who would popularize their use.

Written by Neil Stolovitsky
on 30 April 2012 12:50 pm

Posted in Famous Projects, PM Best Practices  |  No Comments
27 February 2012 4:07 am

Today’s project management leadership needs to adapt to the changing workforce

In light of the Facebook’s recent IPO filing that confirms the maturation and societal changing reality of social networks, it is evident to me that we have crossed the chasm in which the way the current generation interacts with each other on both a personal and professional level.
Whether it is via Smart phones or a Tablet PCs, “virtual” interactions have become an integral part of sharing and delivering messages among different groups of people with similar interests.  Facebook and its 875,000,000 members is a testament of how the world’s diverse communities has evolved into a global network all connected through  

Written by Neil Stolovitsky
on 27 February 2012 4:07 am

Posted in PM Best Practices  |  No Comments
19 October 2011 12:41 pm

The Power of the Plan: Why 1% of the Population Controls 40% of the Wealth

The recent news of the “Occupy Wall Street” grassroots movement in which demonstrators are congregating around the world expressing their defiance against the financial establishment and its impact on the “Average Joe” has brought to light the age old reality that money and power lies in the hands of a few who understand the power of the plan that keeps this inequality afloat.  Throughout history kings and monarchs have exploited the majority by creating meticulously planned structures of power, wealth and governments to ensure their positions.  Although the Occupy Wall Street movement is a modern phenomenon, similar strategies employed centuries  

Written by Neil Stolovitsky
on 19 October 2011 12:41 pm

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25 August 2011 2:06 pm

Project Vision: The “Apple” Never Falls Far from the Tree

With yesterday’s announcement of Steve Jobs stepping down as Apple’s CEO, the first thought that crossed my mind is the critical role leadership plays in any organization.  As the story goes… after building Apple into an industry giant, Jobs was ousted as its leader in 1985.  Following his departure, the company slowly deteriorated and by 1997 the company Jobs’ built was running at a loss of $1 billion on its $7 billion in revenue.  Almost 15 years later, under Jobs’ leadership Apple has not only transformed its own DNA, but has revolutionized the music industry, the smart phone and the  

Written by Neil Stolovitsky
on 25 August 2011 2:06 pm

Posted in Information Technology, PM Best Practices  |  No Comments
12 August 2011 12:49 pm

Poor Stakeholder Management: Dangerous Politics will Yield Undesirable Results

In recent weeks, the media has been inundated with stories about political turmoil in the US and Western Europe.  We have not only seen the recent news of the US’s downgrade in its credit rating and its mounting budget deficit but we have also seen unprecedented social unrest in the UK, the French economy at a standstill and the Euro taking a hard hit due to Greece’s recent instability.  Although a lot of these events are partially due to poor planning by governments, the reality is (and this should not be ignored) partisan politics, self-interest, and poor communication among stakeholders  

Written by Neil Stolovitsky
on 12 August 2011 12:49 pm

Posted in PM Best Practices  |  No Comments
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