Working Up

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

Working Up header image 4

Entries Tagged as 'Ideas'

This Project vs. the BIG IDEA

August 13th, 2020 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips What interests me today? The project that I am working today? Perhaps not. I know I am working on this project today, but it is just another project. Sure, I want it to succeed, but really, it’s just another one. What really interests me is finding the BIG IDEA. That thing that […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Ideas · Management · Work

Cause Change

June 8th, 2020 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Angst rules America this week. We have to do something. What can I change and how? Here is a set of questions to guide me. I write this in early June 2020. We have demonstrations and protests calling for justice and change. Perhaps I am too rational or practical, but I feel […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Alternatives · America · Change · Government · Ideas · Patience · Questions

Let’s Take a Walk Around the White Boards

April 23rd, 2020 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips This is a basic thing to do when working as a group to create and refine ideas. This procedure works with just about any task where a group of persons is working together to create and refine ideas. One example is gathering requirements and creating preliminary designs. Another is outlining or formulating […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Alternatives · Communication · Group · Ideas · Uncategorized

Looking for Something to Write? A Starter?

April 13th, 2020 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Inspiration for something to writer or a “starter” is everywhere. Here is a simple method of finding it. Looking for something to write? Looking for a starter for the next piece to write? Go to any book shelf. Grab any book. Open to any page. Point to any line. Copy that line. […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Ideas · Writing

What’dya Say?

February 6th, 2020 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips A fundamental question of each of us is, “Do I want someone else to understand?” If yes, great effort may be required. If no, keep moving. I work with other persons. Nothing unique there, but I am fortunate in that most of these others are really smart and are working on the […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Communication · Expectations · Ideas

The Leadership Retreat and the Ensuing Disaster

April 22nd, 2019 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips We do this time and time again—hold a retreat, find great ideas, and then have a disaster. When will we learn? A bunch of us spent the weekend away discussing this and that. We came up with some great ideas that the rest of you will love! Disaster ensues. This happens time […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Change · Ideas · Management · Patience · Time

Of Course There is a Lot of Grumbling (in America)

March 21st, 2019 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips A reminder of some basics about life in America. We have freedom of speech in America. Anyone can publish a newspaper or a blog or a … well, how long is the list? This is a free country. Want peace and quiet and tranquility? Want unanimous public opinion without fake news and […]

[Read more →]

Tags: America · Censorship · Ideas

Weinberg Golf and Bundy Fishing

March 7th, 2019 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Perhaps we can find enjoyment anywhere at any time. It is worth the attempt. Several years ago I had several conversations with the late Jerry Weinberg, one of the best computing consultants we ever had. Jerry told me about how he played golf. Jerry started playing the game most familiar to everyone. […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Authentic · Clarity · Conversation · Fun · Ideas

Look at a Person and Say It Aloud

January 28th, 2019 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Great ideas have a different and necessary perspective when I look at another person and say the words aloud. The man with 30 years experience and accolades as an expert in his field sat across the table from me. He looked me in the eye and, before he opened his mouth, had […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Communication · Ideas

Brevity, Clarity, and Explanations

August 6th, 2018 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips If I cannot explain something with brevity and clarity, I am not ready to explain it. Gosh, that summary is a killer. I am ready to explain something. I have this earth-changing wonderful great super-duper (note the lack of brevity and clarity) idea that the world needs to hear and implement just […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Brevity · Clarity · Communication · Ideas · Learning · Patience · Thinking