Working Up

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

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There are Always Trade-Offs

November 11th, 2021 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Have a direction? What did we lose in choosing it? Sorry, we traded something for something else. We lost something. I am never supposed to write “never” and “always.” And there is always an exception to all rules. Hence, the title of this post. I have yet to find a perfect solution […]

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Tags: Alternatives · Choose · Decide · Management · Questions

We Knew What We Were Doing, Right?

November 4th, 2021 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips We are almost always uncertain. That is why we should plan key decision points. “We knew what were were doing, right?” asked one of the decision makers after everything collapsed. “Well, it sounded good when we started,” replied another one of the decision makers after everything collapsed. No, sorry, we didn’t know […]

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Tags: Decide · Knowledge · Management · Planning · Resources · Time

Do that Tomorrow, Too

October 7th, 2021 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips A phrase to add to every assignment or action item or anything that goes on a “to do” list. Years ago, author and consultant Jerry Weinberg gave an assignment to attendees of his writing seminar. It was something like: Think of what you should write today. Write that. Do that tomorrow, too. […]

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Tags: Change · Decide · Experiment · Growth · Planning · Self · Simple

Wrapped in Plastic

September 13th, 2021 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips We decide that, “We will stop this and never do it again.” That holds until we discover “this” and “it” are necessary. I flew to California recently. On the flight, instead of giving us a bag of pretzels, they gave us a clear plastic bad that had a small clear plastic bottle […]

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Tags: Change · Decide · Emergency · Time · Virus · Wealth

The Age of Algorithms (a convenient excuse)

July 5th, 2021 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Sorry folks, “the algorithm found the answer that I used” is just another excuse. We choose what to do one way or another. “The computer made me do it!” Well, actually it was the algorithm underlying the software that runs on the computer. Hmmm. Who built the computer? Who created the algorithm? […]

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Tags: Alternatives · Choose · Decide · Design · Excuses · Tools

The Tidal Decision-Making Technique

April 12th, 2021 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Sometimes decisions just sort of drift in and out with the tides. The tide comes in; the tide goes out. Sometimes we find something that drifted in with the tide and remains on the beach. The next day, the next cycle or two of tides, and that something is gone. It was […]

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Tags: Choose · Decide · Judgment · Lifecycle · Management

Taking a Step Back

October 12th, 2020 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips You have met with a group of smart persons. You all worked hard. You decided what to do. Now, do you do it or… You gathered with a group of smart persons and worked hard. Discussion, question, discussion, alternative, question, answer, do it all over again. Decision. How do you take a […]

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Tags: Decide · Review

The Easier Way

August 20th, 2020 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips When in doubt, take the easier way. That seems to be the norm. We bumped into some odd situations this week at work. Four months ago, something was supposed to happen. Something major was supposed to happen. Nothing happened. Actually, nothing appeared to happen. Major things did happen. Several persons acted decisively. […]

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Tags: Decide · Work

The Logical Conclusion … Need Not Reach Its Conclusion

March 12th, 2020 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips We can think to the logical conclusion of a concept. We, however, can choose not to go to that conclusions. We rarely do. The logical conclusion of free enterprise is slavery. The logical conclusion of free speech is hate. The logical conclusion of survival of the fittest is murder. Many more examples […]

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Tags: Adults · Alternatives · Analysis · Choose · Decide · Differences · Ethics

Common Sense and Others

February 17th, 2020 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips It seems that “common sense” is what others need, which says much about me. Me: Someone who has that malady should stay home and get well. Me (later): I am fine. I am not that sick. I can do my job even when I am not completely well. Common sense. It is […]

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Tags: Decide · Judgment · Knowledge