Working Up

Working Up in Project Management, Systems Engineering, Technology, and Writing

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Entries from January 2011

Words on Disk

January 31st, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips This one has been buzzing around in my head for a few years. What do you call it when you are trying to write and you need to write words? Words on the page – doesn’t work until you run your printer. Words on the screen – that sort of works, but […]

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Tags: Communication · Work · Writing

In-Person Tutor for On-Line Courses

January 31st, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Have some spare time? How about tutoring people using online course materials posted by universities? Here is a new opportunity for people with knowledge to connect with people seeking knowledge. MIT and others have put many of their courses online. MIT has recently added a set of courses that are tailored for […]

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Tags: Learning · Time · Volunteer

Half the Job

January 27th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips An old lesson holds true today: getting the tools and people to the job site is half the job. Twenty-five years ago, I was involved in a fence-building project. Members of the community gathered to start from scratch and erect a 50-meter-long fence. I was one of the first people there and […]

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Tags: Communication · Learning · Management · Work

Compliant vs Compelling

January 24th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Compliant meets the minimum requirements while compelling puts some excitement into a product. Still, I would be satisfied with compliance when it comes to dishwasher delivery and installation. I ran into the phrase that inspired the title of this post one day last week. We were writing a proposal for a contract. […]

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Tags: Communication · Expectations · Work · Writing

How Would that Feel… ?

January 20th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Here is a little secret about me: When I walk through any store that sells writing instruments and writing surfaces, I stop and wonder how it would feel to write words with those instruments on those surfaces. It doesn’t matter what type of store it is. Grocery stores sell “school supplies.” I […]

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Tags: Notebook · Writing

The MOI Model – part 4 of 3 – The Jiggle

January 17th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips The MOI Model has one more part – the jiggle. Use it to restart the group when you hit the flat or descending part of the MOI curves. The MOI Model has three parts – motivation, organization, and information. Recent posts have discussed how more of these helps until we reach a […]

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Tags: Communication · Management

Get It Done (or not): Government vs Industry

January 13th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips In my industry job, I see people making phone calls to obtain answers to questions right now. I never say that in 28 years of government. Here are some thoughts on the practice. I worked in government for 28 years. I have since worked in private industry for two years. A current […]

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Tags: Communication · Culture · Government · Management · Meetings

Thinking vs Talking Postures

January 10th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips People use one set of postures for thinking. There are another set of postures that make it easy for other people to hear what you are saying when you are talking. Please try to switch postures when thinking and then talking. This request is especially strong when in meeting with other people. […]

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Tags: Communication · Meetings · People · Work

The MOI Model – part 3 of 3 – Information

January 6th, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips The vast majority of people need some type of information. There is, however, a limit to  information that leads to effectiveness. Adding more information after this limit only leads to lesser effectiveness. Here are a few posts on the MOI model from author and consultant Jerry Weinberg. The MOI model comprises three […]

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Tags: Culture · Management · Observation

The MOI Model – part 2 of 3 – Organization

January 3rd, 2011 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips The vast majority of people need some type of organization. There is, however, a limit to  organization that leads to effectiveness. Adding more organization after this limit only leads to lesser effectiveness. Here are a few posts on the MOI model from author and consultant Jerry Weinberg. The MOI model comprises three […]

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Tags: Culture · Management · Observation