Archive for July, 2007

Make me a cup of coffee.

July 26, 2007 at 3:03 pm · Filed under Management

One of the most used examples in project management is “the coffee” one.

3 people working in project management were asked to write down (on a high level) how they would proceed to make a cup of coffee.

Person ‘A’ proposed the following:

  • Buy the kettle, the cups, the milk, the sugar, and the coffee.
  • Ask what kind of coffee is needed (with or without milk, sugar, etc.) 
  • Make the coffee.

Person ‘B’ proposed the following:

  • Check the kitchen and see what we already have (Kettle, milk, coffee, etc.).
  • Ask what kind of coffee is needed and advise if it is possible based on what we find in the kitchen.
  • Make the coffee.

Person ‘C’ proposed the following:

  • Ask what kind of coffee I want.
  • Check the local coffee shop for availability and price.
  • Buy the coffee.

 The end result of all 3 proposals is me having the coffee, but it all comes with complications.

The first one is going for the whole start-up in order to make a cup of coffee. This can be very costly if we do it only for the purpose of one cup. Only chose this solution if you have the money and you are sure more cups will be served later, otherwise you end up losing money.

The second one is going to use what he already has (already paid for) and try to satisfy my needs. If I wanted Skim milk and all he had was normal milk, Person ‘B’ might try to convince me to change my mind and try the other milk. This is a very cost effective way, low risk and usually gets the job done. Worst case might be nuying the skim milk only.

The third person doesn’t have the equipment or the ingredients, so he opted to buy me the coffee form outside. He ‘outsourced’ it so he doesn’t worry much about the equipment and the ingredients. He’s pretty sure as well that the coffee will be good since he’s buying it from a specialised supplier. It’s a great solution for people who need to achieve something outside their field of expertise and a low risk (unless the coffee is really bad).as a stand-alone cup of coffee, this might cost more on the long run.

Bottom line: making a cup of coffee is like working on a project. How would you do it?

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Interview tips

July 17, 2007 at 11:35 am · Filed under Work

It’s that time in your career where you are looking for a new adventure, a better job or a better salary.You decided you need a change so you hit the market place (usually online) and you start looking. After spotting few offers that you like (don’t send your resume to every single ad you see, be selective), you make initial contact, resume sent and soon you have your first interview.Here are some tips that you might find useful for that interview:

Pre-interview tips:

  • Find out as much as you can about the company: the nature of the business, the number of people, revenues, general dedication to career development, etc…
  • Plan to arrive early to your interview (minimum 15 minutes earlier).
  • Dress smart. Business attire can never go wrong even if the company allows casual dress.
  • Know who’s interviewing you, their titles, how their decision will affect your chances? Are any tests included? A check with your recruiting agency (if applicable) is always a good idea.

Interview tips:

  • Upon meeting your interviewer, make sure you shake his/her hand firmly, make eye contact and smile.
  • Pay attention to your physical communication. A good eye contact with all the interviewers, don’t cross your arms cause you’ll look defensive, don’t slump in your seat and smile.
  • Be clear about your major selling points; if they haven’t been covered during the interview make a point by talking explicitly about them.
  • Be to the point. Make sure you answer the interviewer’s question. As obvious as it may sound, sometimes nervousness would lead you away from your point.
  • Never say anything that can’t be backed by examples. if you say you are a good team leader and someone who takes initiative, they will ask you for proof.
  • Don’t overly criticise your current or previous employer. When discussing problems or issues mention what you did to try to fix it.
  • Sell yourself. Try avoiding the cliché answers. Give an opinion.
  • If you don’t know the answer, don’t try to invent and to answer it. Instead say how you would approach the problem/answering the question.

At the end of the interview and after:

  • Ask how you did.
  • Re-affirm your interest in the role.
  • Ask what the next stage is and you can expect to hear back.
  • This is very important question to ask: Have i answered all your questions to your satisfaction?
  • Another important question to finish the interview with: Do you have any reservations about my ability to do the Job?
  • Make sure you thank your interviewer and you follow up with a letter few days later.

Later on i will post some common questions that usually come up in an interview.

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Plan your dive, Dive your plan

July 10, 2007 at 10:14 am · Filed under Management, Work

Few years ago, some friends of mine introduced me to Scuba diving.

In order to dive in a safe environment we had to take theoretical lessons and practical ones in the pool before jumping in the sea. Everything was really exciting. One thing though i remember always (besides to breath from the mouth) is what our instructor taught us about a successful dive: “Plan your dive, Dive your plan”.

As simple as it may sound, this is a huge thing to do. Your dive begins way before you touch the water.

It starts in the briefing, where you talk about the location of the dive, its nature, the weather conditions, potential risks, dive in point and exit point. We talk about who’s your buddy (or partner to stay with during the whole dive) and who’s the dive leader / master.  We discuss in details what exactly we are going to do (maybe go inside a ship wreck or just a fun dive). We get a quick reminder of safety issues then we gear up. Bottom line is we Plan it.

During the dive, the dive master would stick to the plan, divers are well aware of what’s coming next so usually no surprises. Keeping an eye and checking constantly with your buddy and dive master makes the whole dive a safe and pleasant one. In some occasions, we face a situation where we need to adjust plans. Sometimes visibility might be poor or the water currents are too strong, divers will quickly adjust and modify where appropriate but always keeping in mind the dive plan.

Once out of the water, a debrief session to discuss and evaluate the whole experience. A very crucial step in our dive cause it will allow us to fix any mistakes, eliminate bad diving habits and help us plan our next dive.

So why am i talking about my diving experience? Simply because it’s like running a project.

Plan your project carefully and execute your plan. You might face issues, modify and adjust then move on. Once done, evaluate, learn and you’ll be better equipped for your next one.

Happy Diving.

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