Learn how to do it
Learn how to evaluate a job offer in PM, how to plan a very urgent project and how to prepare executive status reports. And more.
This playlist has 17 episodes.
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How to Read the PMBOK Guide
(13 Jun 2007)
In this podcast Ricardo explain the most effective way to read the PMBOK Guide, endorsed by him since 2001 when he presented a technical paper at the PMI Annual Conference and Symposium in Nashiville. This podcast was recorded only in Brazilian Portuguese. The link below is for the Brazilian Portuguese version.
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How to Plan a Very Urgent Project?
(29 Jun 2010)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the key information that must be produced by the project manager when receives a very urgent project and need understand the purpose, scope, budget, schedule and constraints of the project in a very short period. He explains that making a quick planning and not very detailed is not ideal and can not be a normal situation in the company.
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How to Prepare your Project Manager Resumé - Part 1/2
(29 Sep 2010)
In this series of two podcasts Ricardo gives some tips about how to prepare correctly a resumé for the project management area. He explains how to insert your professional background, courses and experience. He describes in detail how to put your credentials (PMP, PgMP, CAPM, etc) in order to maximize your curriculum in a selection process. Part 1 of 2 podcasts.
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How to Prepare your Project Manager Resumé – Part 2/2
(04 Oct 2010)
In this second podcast of the Resumé series, Ricardo talks about how to present the experience in the resumé. He explains that often the job does not explain much. You need a separate space informing activities and projects that participated, focusing on project management. He also shows the importance of spending accurate information and good and bad experiments.
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How to Prepare Executive Status Reports - Part 1 of 2
(14 Feb 2011)
In this first podcast of a series of two, Ricardo talks about how an executive status report must be submitted, showing condensed information relevant to the sponsor and key project stakeholders. He explains that visual information is of great importance and that the report needs to have a pattern, without necessarily being presented in only a page.
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How to Prepare Executive Status Reports - Part 2 of 2
(21 Feb 2011)
In this second podcast of the series, Ricardo gives some tips on how to prepare an excellent status report. He explains that the great secret of the report is the ability to condense informations into a small and precise report, which usually can be 6 to 10 pages, trying to present visual data, colors, larger letters and graphics with performance information.
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Identifying the Project Vital Signs
(20 Jun 2011)
In this podcast, Ricardo makes a comparison between monitoring of the project and monitoring of a patient in an Intensive Care at the hospital. He explains that the Project Manager should monitor since the beginning, the project vital signs and based on these signals, identify deviations and take preventive actions for the project remains viable.
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How to Write a Good Project Objective: The SMART Technique
(12 Sep 2011)
In this podcast Ricardo talks about the project objective, he explains that many people think that only the name is enough to understand the project, but the objective is important to write and explain "what is" the project, within time and estimated costs. Ricardo also says that the objective should be a sentence that explains exactly what you want to do.
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"Done is Better than Perfect": What you an learn with this quote
(30 Apr 2012)
In this podcast, Ricardo explains that the project manager should seek to simplify the way he/she leads the projects. In the quest for perfection, many people often create methodologies which are too complex to be used and end up not being used at all. He mentions a methodology he once created, pinpointing ways that enable the simplification of the procedures necessary to manage projects.
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Understanding the GTD: Introduction, Collection and Processing - Part 1 of 3
(25 Feb 2013)
In this podcast, Ricardo starts the series of 3 podcasts about the time management method called Getting Things Done, created by David Allen. In this first episode, Ricardo explains what is GTD and comments on how he uses it to organize and get all his work done.
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Understanding the GTD: Processing, Projects / Contexts and Execution - Part 2 of 3
(04 Mar 2013)
In this podcast, Ricardo presents the second episode of the series of three podcasts on Getting Things Done (GTD). He explains what we do with the ideas, appointments etc. that we collect daily. He gives tips on how to organize tasks into projects and contexts and explains each. Listen to the first episode: http://www.ricardo-vargas.com/podcasts/understanding-the-gtd-part-1-of-3/
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Understanding the GTD: Weekly Review, Software and Tips - Part 3 of 3
(11 Mar 2013)
In this last episode of the series of three podcasts about GTD - Getting Things Done, Ricardo talks about his process of reviewing and planning the week. Including on his tips, some software that may help you.
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Identifying, Training and Living Together with the Pet Projects
(04 Aug 2014)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about a type of project that is often special to certain people but does not show real benefits and offer significant value. He gives tips on how to handle this kind of pet project in a portfolio selection.
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Do you know what is a Communication Filter or Noise?
(27 Jan 2015)
On this episode, Ricardo talks about the attention we must have with how we communicate because the characteristics of personality, culture and values of the receiver can dramatically change the meaning of the original message.
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How to Manage Coupled Dependencies in Projects
(19 Oct 2020)
This week, Ricardo talks about a type of relationship that is becoming increasingly popular: coupled dependencies. This kind of relationship increases the delivery speed. However, if not appropriately managed, this coupled dependency can increase the risks and the chances of rework. This is due to the set of assumptions teams needed to create these coupled dependencies.
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How to Get to the Root of a Problem Using the 5 Whys Technique
(12 Apr 2021)
In this week's episode, Ricardo explains the 5 Whys technique to help you identify the root cause of an event, a specific risk, or even support your decision-making process. The technique, although simple, has nuances that allow you to be more effective and expand its range of uses beyond what was proposed by its creator, the founder of Toyota in the 1930s.
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The Magic of Affinity Diagrams
(11 Oct 2021)
Ricardo talks about affinity diagrams in this week's episode and how this technique can help you and your team organize ideas. He explains that when structuring a process, the scope of a project, risks, and other ideas, we usually create groups and distribute information within these groups. We will think differently using the affinity diagrams; first, we will have the pictures and then group; it is like an EAP in reverse.
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