Making Progress in the Real World
Preamble This essay is written for the agents of change —the people who see what is broken, imagine what could be better, and feel compelled to act. It is for builders, reformers, innovators, organizers, leaders, teachers, founders, investors, policymakers, and quiet custodians—anyone trying to turn “we should” into “we did” in a world that is, at once, astonishingly opportunity-rich and stubbornly resistant to lasting improvement. We live in a time of immense capability. Too
Richard Diamond
Jan 711 min read
Redefining Project Quality: From Compliance to Excellence in Change Leadership
True excellence in change leadership uses quality metrics to demonstrate excellence at every stage of the change process.
Maypop Learning
Nov 10, 20245 min read
Understanding the Cost of Quality: Balancing Conformance and Non-Conformance
Quality has its costs, in preventing issues or dealing with them afterward. Strategic leadership balances conformance and non-conformance.
Maypop Learning
Nov 3, 20243 min read
Leveraging the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle for Continuous Improvement
The PDCA cycle offers a reliable, iterative approach to achieving proactive quality management and iterative learning in project workflows.
Maypop Learning
Oct 6, 20242 min read
Kaizen for Continuous Improvement: Making Small Changes for Big Wins
A kaizen approach can enhance efficiency, boost morale, and drive team success with small, consistent changes that add up over time.
Maypop Learning
Sep 22, 20243 min read
Collaborative Planning with the RACI Matrix: Building Ownership and Accountability
The RACI Matrix helps teams define roles together, enhances ownership, boosts accountability, and improves team cohesion.
Maypop Learning
Aug 4, 20244 min read
Strategic Goal-Setting with Tuckman’s Model for Team Performance
Use Tuckman’s stages of team development, Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing, to set and achieve team goals effectively.
Maypop Learning
Jul 28, 20243 min read
Embracing Change with the ADKAR Model: A Roadmap for Successful Transitions
Change can be challenging, but the ADKAR model provides a clear path to guide teams through it.
Maypop Learning
May 19, 20243 min read
Mapping the 5 Ws for Stakeholder Engagement in Change Projects
Engaging stakeholders effectively is crucial for successful change projects. Use the 5 Ws—Who, What, When, Where, Why—to ensure buy-in.
Maypop Learning
May 5, 20243 min read
Embracing a Hybrid Approach in Project Management: The Best of Agile, Waterfall, and Stage-Gate
A hybrid approach combines the flexibility of Agile with the structure of Waterfall and the control of Stage-Gate.
Maypop Learning
Apr 28, 20244 min read
Fostering an Inclusive Project Team Culture with the 7-S Framework
For project teams driving change, inclusivity is key to success. Learn how to use the McKinsey 7-S Framework to build an inclusive culture.
Maypop Learning
Apr 14, 20245 min read
How to Use the SIPOC Model to Clarify Project Processes
The SIPOC model helps teams define and improve processes with clarity.
Maypop Learning
Mar 24, 20242 min read
The Power of Stakeholder-Obsessed Communication in Project Success
A stakeholder-obsessed communication approach can transform your project by building trust, aligning goals, and ensuring project success.
Maypop Learning
Feb 11, 20242 min read
The Pareto Principle: How the 80/20 Rule Can Help You Focus on What Matters Most
The Pareto Principle is a powerful tool you can apply to your projects to get the biggest results from the smallest efforts.
Maypop Learning
Jan 14, 20243 min read
Empowering Project Sponsors with the 4 P's of Decision-Making
Guide your sponsors in using the 4 P's—Permits, Prevents, Provides, and Promotes—to make informed decisions and foster effective teams.
Maypop Learning
Jan 7, 20243 min read
Getting ready to stay ready? Scary!
“ Are you ready? ” Terrifying question sometimes! Leap to say yes, cringe to say no, a fact vs feeling web trapping us in to commitment...what are we really saying? Change happens one person at a time, and each person has their own experience getting (and staying) ready for it. Here are eight statements to give yourself (and others) the space and grace to be specific on personal readiness, so you honor what’s needed to commit and take the next step. Vision I have a clea
Jennifer Diamond
Oct 31, 20233 min read
The Regenerative PM: Leave Everything Better Than You Found It
Regenerative project management isn't a methodology — it's a stance. It's the choice to treat every project as an opportunity to strengthen people, systems, and organizations, not just deliver an outcome.
Jennifer Diamond
Jun 1, 20233 min read
The PMBoK 7th Edition difference - principled portal, not prescribed process
I strongly suggest that any change maker out there who wants to get something done to make change in the world invest in access to the 7th edition of the PMBoK, or Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge from Project Management Institute (PMI) that came out last year. Yup. that’s what it’s really called, “Guide to a Body of Knowledge”. The 7th Edition is just that, representing 50 years of collaboration in the project management getting-it-done-worldwide community.
Jennifer Diamond
Aug 29, 20227 min read