The hottest Project management Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

How to lead projects from start to finish as a software engineer

High Growth Engineer • 1285 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Project management Leadership Communication Documentation
  1. Successful software engineers need to know how to lead projects, not just code
  2. Key project management steps include kickoff, setup, planning, execution, launch, and close-out
  3. Communication, alignment on goals, and iterative feedback are crucial throughout the project lifecycle

Engineering Managers Should Not Exist

Victor’s Substack • 41 HN points • 26 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Management Software Engineering Project management HR Consulting
  1. Software engineering managers should not exist as they generally take on multiple roles poorly, whereas specialists could excel at each task.
  2. Engineering managers often were mediocre engineers who compensated by picking up non-engineering tasks and ended up in managerial roles.
  3. Best teams often function well without an engineering manager observing their every move, allowing engineers to focus and be more productive.

Beyond Guesswork: The Art and Science of Project Estimation

Mindful Matrix • 179 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
💼 Business Project management Software Engineering Risk Analysis Communication
  1. Project estimation is a critical skill influencing project success; it involves setting realistic expectations, aligning efforts, and managing resources effectively.
  2. Key considerations in estimation include understanding project scope, conducting risk analysis, and utilizing estimation strategies like historical analysis and buffer times.
  3. Transparency and communication are crucial in estimation; transparency helps manage stakeholder expectations while effective communication ensures clarity and trust in the estimation process.

Zenful Estimates: Ditching Task Estimates to Build a Faster Team

Dev Interrupted • 51 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Project management
  1. Engineering task estimates are often costly in time and resources, leading to inaccuracies and increased stress within the team.
  2. Distinguishing between task estimation and project estimation can help teams prioritize better and allocate resources more effectively.
  3. By adopting a 'Zenful' approach that focuses on project estimates rather than granular task estimates, teams can save time, reduce stress, and improve overall efficiency.
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How to beat the critical path

Wednesday Wisdom • 47 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Project management Planning
  1. To beat the critical path, the first step is to acknowledge its existence.
  2. Effective project planning, like utilizing the Critical Path Method (CPM), can prevent delays and ensure timely project completion.
  3. Maintaining a Directed Acyclic Graph of project activities with expected durations is crucial in project management to identify critical paths and manage dependencies effectively.

No sacred masterpieces

Basta’s Notes • 753 HN points • 15 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Data science Engineering Project management Web Development
  1. Sometimes, valuable projects end abruptly without much recognition or lasting impact.
  2. It's important to focus on creating business value with your work, rather than building impressive but ultimately unnecessary solutions.
  3. Every piece of code you write as an engineer is legacy and may not last forever, so focus on learning from each project's outcome.

Scrum - use the good parts too!

Nikola’s Substack • 1 HN point • 20 Apr 24
💼 Business Management Productivity Teamwork Project management Leadership
  1. Consider streamlining meetings in Scrum - fewer, more effective meetings can be beneficial.
  2. Simplify story points and estimations in Scrum by setting straightforward guidelines to avoid confusion and enhance planning.
  3. Maintain the core strengths of Scrum like sprint structure and the Scrum Master role, while adapting them to best suit the team and project needs.

3 steps to value focused data product management

Datent • 58 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Data Management Product Development Project management Innovation
  1. Transitioning from a BI role to a data product team requires defining a Value Gateway to ensure projects deliver tangible benefits.
  2. To manage the progress and accountability of data work, reporting on value at key points is crucial, showcasing the value realized and areas needing support.
  3. Establishing a process around failing fast and doubling down on successful projects, supported by agile project management, is essential for efficient data product management.

Console #172 - Interview with Dima of Novu - open-source notification infrastructure

Console • 354 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Open Source Software Development Project management Collaboration
  1. Novu is an open-source notification infrastructure created by Dima and his co-founder to simplify communication for businesses.
  2. Novu empowers users to switch between email or SMS delivery providers seamlessly with its core principles of Triggers, Workflows, and Providers.
  3. Novu has a diverse team from around the world, emphasizes self-hosting, and offers a managed cloud version and enterprise licenses for revenue.

Becoming a Data Engineering Force Multiplier

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 671 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Data Engineering Skills Project management Communication Resources
  1. Data engineering is crucial in today's data-driven landscape, with a growing demand for skilled professionals.
  2. Developing technical skills like architecture, data modeling, coding, testing, and CI/CD is essential for becoming a successful data engineer.
  3. Non-technical skills such as teaching, long-term project planning, and communication are equally important for data engineers to excel and become force multipliers.

Why is there more than one way to end a while loop?

Mostly Python • 419 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Programming Python Software Development Project management
  1. Programming languages may offer multiple ways to accomplish the same task for different use cases.
  2. Python emphasizes having one clear and obvious way to do things to promote readability and maintainability.
  3. Ending a while loop in Python can be done using the while statement, break statement, or a flag - each with its own unique advantages.

Reading: How Big Things Get Done

Wetware Snippets • 5 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
💼 Business Project management Success Factors Risk management
  1. Modularization is key in project management. Breaking down a large project into repeatable modules simplifies delivery.
  2. Different projects have distinct distribution patterns, impacting their likelihood of success. Thin-tailed distribution projects are more likely to be on time and budget.
  3. Lessons from the book can be applied to personal projects like kitchen renovation or holiday planning. It's a valuable read for project managers and those tackling significant endeavors.

Five Lessons from Walmart's Innovative Approach to Network Design

Mike Talks AI • 157 implied HN points • 09 May 23
💼 Business Supply Chain Innovation Visualization Project management
  1. Walmart's innovative approach to network design involved building a second model for transition planning.
  2. Linking strategic design to load planning and using simulation for execution is crucial in network design.
  3. Visualization is important in gaining approval and support for large-scale network design projects.

The worst project manager ever: a total idiot

Respectful Leadership • 54 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
💼 Business Management Leadership Project management Team Dynamics
  1. Qualities of a great project manager are qualitative and include moral convictions, confidence, and perceptiveness, rather than just formal credentials.
  2. Respect is key in achieving excellent project management: respecting time, understanding priorities, and communicating effectively define a good project manager.
  3. Dealing with changing priorities respectfully involves supporting the team emotionally, being transparent about costs and time estimates, and facilitating collaboration between different levels of staff.

Quitting

Fish Food for Thought • 5 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
💼 Business Decision-making Leadership Strategic Planning Project management Technology
  1. Quitting can sometimes be advantageous, even though it's often seen negatively in society.
  2. Knowing when to quit is as important as knowing when to persist, especially in decision-making and project management.
  3. Strategic quitting requires establishing clear criteria, listening to experienced voices, and making rational decisions for better outcomes.

The Blurred Line Between Methodology and Framework

Building Rome(s) • 13 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Methodology Framework Software Development Agile Project management
  1. The role of a Technical Program Manager (TPM) involves defining and implementing the methodology and framework for software development projects.
  2. Methodologies provide general principles while frameworks offer specific plans of action.
  3. It's important for TPMs to be flexible in choosing the right methodology and framework based on the project's specific needs and requirements.

"Single panes of glass" are horrible

Counting Stuff • 21 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Data Analysis User Interface Project management
  1. Single panes of glass in technology often promise magic but fail to deliver in a meaningful way
  2. The concept of 'single panes of glass' in tech is fundamentally flawed because it doesn't mirror the efficiency and specialization seen in physical interfaces like those in transportation
  3. Project requests for 'single panes of glass' tend to lead to complex, unsustainable solutions that are difficult to manage and maintain over time

18/36 :Product Discovery - Risks & Mitigations

Product Mindset's Newsletter • 17 implied HN points • 21 May 23
💼 Business Risk management Technology Project management Software Development Strategic Planning
  1. Understanding product risks involves assessing the impact of uncertainty on developing a product.
  2. Risk management in IT projects is crucial for maximizing results, effective communication, and allocating funds for high risks.
  3. Managing risks involves identifying, analyzing, and mitigating them through strategies like avoiding, reducing likelihood, and reducing impact.

6/36 - Crafting a Problem Statement

Product Mindset's Newsletter • 17 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
💼 Business Problem Solving Communication Project management Consulting Innovation
  1. A problem statement is a clear explanation of an issue or challenge that needs to be changed.
  2. Defining a problem statement requires addressing the 'five w's and one h': what, why, when, where, who, and how.
  3. Crafting a problem statement is vital for projects as it sets the foundation for research and development, ensuring all team members know the problem and its importance.

Why hire Technical Program Managers when we have Product Managers

Building Rome(s) • 7 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Product Management Project management Tech Roles Collaboration
  1. Hiring Technical Program Managers can add value by keeping track of complex project schedules and dependencies.
  2. Product Managers can sometimes handle the work of TPMs, especially in early stage startups.
  3. As organizations grow, there may be opportunity costs in not hiring TPMs to ensure effective communication, alignment, and risk mitigation.

Season 03 - Newsletter 05 --> Making an impact in the Maze: Finding the Gray Areas

Product Hustle Stack Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 27 Nov 23
💼 Business Project management Communication Skills
  1. Find opportunities in big organizations by looking for gray areas and interesting projects.
  2. Build trust and influence by getting wins under your belt and collaborating with peers as allies.
  3. Communicate effectively by acknowledging past efforts, addressing motivations, and customizing messages to each stakeholder.

Season 03 - Newsletter 01 --> 5 Things I did as Product Manager to tame a monster initiative

Product Hustle Stack Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
💼 Business Management Leadership Product Management Project management Team Collaboration
  1. Anchor conversations on a single currency like customer centricity for better decision-making
  2. Embrace a 'pirate mentality' for fast, bold, and unified team progress in complex projects
  3. Utilize frameworks like Radical Delegation, LNO Effectiveness, and Rituals for efficient project management

Improve your Productivity as a Solopreneur with Multiple Micro-Startups and a Full-Time Job

layoffpreneur • 0 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
💼 Business Productivity Time management Project management Stress management
  1. Managing time effectively is crucial for solopreneurs with a full-time job. Tools like time blocking and task prioritization can help.
  2. Project management tools like Trello and Asana are essential for handling multiple micro-startups and a full-time job.
  3. Taking breaks, practicing self-care, and using automation tools can help solopreneurs stay productive and avoid burnout.