I was just eleven when I got my hands on my first computer, a Commodore 16. Like many of the home computers of the day it booted straight into the BASIC programming language, and this opened a world of possibilities to the naturally curious pre-teen that was me. With just 12k of RAM it was… Continue reading The Advantages of Learning to Code for Non-Programmers
Navigating Change: Understanding and Mitigating Operational Risk in Projects
Change is not merely inevitable; it is essential for growth and adaptation. Whether it's implementing new technologies, restructuring processes, or launching innovative products, organizations constantly engage in projects to drive progress. However, amidst the excitement of change, there lurks a threat – operational risk. What is Operational Risk? Operational risk refers to the potential for… Continue reading Navigating Change: Understanding and Mitigating Operational Risk in Projects
The Challenges of Scaled Agile for the Enterprise
For the past year and a half my organization has been operating in a Scaled Agile environment. This has invigorated the firm noticeably and been adopted enthusiastically. But as with anything, there is a learning curve. It is worth while being aware of some of the weaknesses of the framework so we can better understand… Continue reading The Challenges of Scaled Agile for the Enterprise
Getting to the Bottom of it with Root Cause Analysis
Root Cause Analysis is the process of discovering the underlying of problems in order to identify effective solutions. RCA assumes that it is much more effective to systematically prevent and solve for underlying issues rather than just treating ad hoc symptoms and putting out fires. Problem solving, incident investigation and root cause analysis are all… Continue reading Getting to the Bottom of it with Root Cause Analysis
In at the Deep End: How I learned the Art of Negotiation
I got an unexpected crash course in negotiating a few years ago, when I was given a seemingly straightforward project to steer. At the time, the business was concerned with the service they were getting from the IT department. Feeds were frequently delivered late, or were missing important information when they arrived. The business proposed… Continue reading In at the Deep End: How I learned the Art of Negotiation
Using Balanced Scorecards to Measure the Effectiveness of a Strategy
When talking about strategy, most of the focus tends to be on crafting the strategy itself, by articulating the goals and objectives in as meaningful a way as possible. The strategy document may be considered a call to action, describing where the company wants to be, and the initiatives that can help it get there.… Continue reading Using Balanced Scorecards to Measure the Effectiveness of a Strategy
The Career Gantt Chart
For years, I feel I have failed to really convey the depth and breadth of my experience through my resume. It's gone through so may rewrites, critiqued by colleagues and been tweaked endlessly. I don't think I'm alone. How do you do justice to something as complex as a career the same way we'd record… Continue reading The Career Gantt Chart
Join the Club: A Marketing Strategy
Several years ago, I had the privilege of working on a strategy document for Irish Premier Division club Bray Wanderers. The objective of the document was to assess the challenges that clubs like Bray face when competing for exposure in Ireland with more glamorous teams from England, or from other sports such as rugby or Gaelic… Continue reading Join the Club: A Marketing Strategy
¡Viva La Resolution! (Or how to set goals and stick to them)
Did you make a resolution this New Year? Do you think you'll keep it the whole year? Have you failed to keep a resolution in the past? (If you are anything like me – of course you have!) According to research, nationally about 40% of people make New Year's resolutions. Of that only 8% are… Continue reading ¡Viva La Resolution! (Or how to set goals and stick to them)
Tom Cremins 