Pages
-
Tags
- Big Science
- Boards
- Books
- Budgets
- Business
- Change Management
- Classes
- Communications
- Community
- Competition
- Conflict
- Crucibles
- Emotions
- Employee Development
- fire-fighting
- Fun
- Gemini
- GTD
- Hiring
- Impostors
- International
- Introduction
- Leadership
- Management
- Management Corollary
- Matrix
- Mauna Kea Federation
- Mistakes
- Politics
- Productivity
- Project Management
- Scientist Dilemma
- SDSS
- Social Media
- Videos
- Whole Earth Telescope
-
Latest Posts
Archives
Blogroll
Meta
Contact
-
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Category Archives: General
Give yourself time to think
Why is it we schedule time for meetings, but not time for thinking? Take a look at your calendar. If it’s like mine used to be, it’s a series of scheduled meetings with some blank space in between for more … Continue reading
Some thoughts about commitments
No, this Blog is not dead. I think about it often; I just don’t have as much time as before to update it. I started taking some remote classes (what was I thinking?) and they are pretty much devouring every … Continue reading
Is being “busy” a good thing?
Ask people from Gemini how they’re doing and the response you’ll most often hear is “Busy”. This response begs the question: Are we really busier than other observatories, or do we just like to think we are? I suspect it’s … Continue reading
Resource Management: Focus on the workers, not the managers.
Inspired by the Norm Smith talk I recently heard (see previous post), I purchased his book Got Progress? and highly recommend it. I now have words to describe some of the unease I’ve been feeling about my workplace’s current project … Continue reading
Additional Random Bits from the NASA PM Challenge, 2012
The annual NASA PM Challenge is a really good meeting. The speakers are generally excellent and the material covers a wide range from project management fundamentals to the latest great and innovative management ideas. The ratio of outstanding talks to … Continue reading
Managing Cost, Schedule, and Scope is not enough.
Project Management 101 teaches the need to actively, and simultaneously, monitor and manage a project’s cost, schedule, and scope. Project Management 102 might add risk management to the list as well. These ideas have become fundamental tenets of project management … Continue reading
On systems, processes, and paperwork
Lately, I’ve come across several proposed new systems, processes, and forms — all developed to address an assumed real, but unstated need. In most cases, I could see a useful purpose for the new system/process/form, but it usually wasn’t provided … Continue reading
Musings on the future of Astronomy
The future of astronomy seems clear to me right now. It goes through ESO. That’s not particularly bad, especially if you’re an ESO member, but if you’re not, things may be a little less good. With the addition of Brazil, … Continue reading