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By University Alliance Successful  project management  requires a precise set of skills, knowledge, flexibility, and creative problem-solving. Seasoned project managers know that along with years of experience comes a greater understanding of the complex interrelationships between all parts of a project from set-up to completion. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) provides a best-practice approach to tackling project management challenges across the industry at all professional levels. The integrative approach of five essential process groups, also referred to as the traditional approach to project management, yields positive results for project leaders who take the time to understand how the five different process groups overlap and support success throughout all phases of the project. Leading effective projects requires not only strong general leadership skills, but also a methodological and responsive set o...

A  recent study published in an American Psychological Association journal,   Emotion , suggests that early birds are generally happier than night owls. More than 700 respondents, ranging from ages 17 to 79, were surveyed and asked about their emotional state, health, and preferred time of day. Self-professed "morning people" reported feeling happier and healthier than night owls. Researchers hypothesize that one of the reasons could be because society caters to a morning person's schedule. It's certainly true that the working world does. Working "9-to-5" is more than an expression, but a standard shift for many Americans. It also stands to reason that those who like rising with the sun are also the most productive employees in the office. Do you want to be more like them? Then take note of the tasks these high-functioning, productive, and more awake employees have completed before lunch: 1.   They make a work to-do list the day before.  Many swea...

Whether it’s a high-profile tech company like Yahoo!, or a more established conglomerate like GE or Home Depot, large companies have a hard time keeping their best and brightest in house. Recently, GigaOM discussed the troubles at Yahoo! with a flat stock price, vested options for some of their best people, and the apparent free flow of VC dollars luring away some of their best people to do the start-up thing again. Yet, Yahoo!, GE, Home Depot, and other large established companies have a tremendous advantage in retaining their top talent and don’t. I’ve seen the good and the bad things that large companies do in relation to talent management. Here’s my Top Ten list of what large companies do to lose their top talent : 1. Big Company Bureaucracy. This is probably the #1 reason we hear after the fact from disenchanted employees. However, it’s usually a reason that masks the real reason. No one likes rules that make no sense. But, when top talent is complaining along these lines, i...