Luck, Probability, and Risk: What Is Really Under Your Control in Projects

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the role of luck and probability in project management. He explains that while luck can influence outcomes, it favors those who are prepared. Probability, he says, is not a prediction but a decision-making tool that helps manage uncertainty. Effective project managers turn randomness into results through preparation: identifying risks, creating contingency plans, defining triggers, and building buffers.

Executives Who Don’t Understand Projects Can’t Deliver Results

In this episode, Ricardo explains why executives need to understand the logic of project management to make informed strategic decisions. Projects drive organizational changes, such as digital transformation, new products, entry into new markets, and mergers. Without understanding how projects add value and manage risk, leaders may fail to connect strategy to execution.

The Invisible Loop: Why Your Schedule Never Balances Out

In this episode, Ricardo discusses activity loops, which occur when tasks become predecessors and successors to each other, creating cycles that make schedule calculations difficult. Although schedules are designed for linear flows, engineering and innovation projects are often iterative, with constant revisions and feedback. Looping isn't a mistake, but it needs to be represented correctly.

The Project Didn’t Fail — It Just Revealed the Truth

In this episode, Ricardo explains that projects don’t really fail — they reveal the truth about an organization. Projects act as mirrors, exposing hidden cultural flaws like poor alignment, weak leadership, and political decisions. When pressure from deadlines and budgets increases, the organization’s true nature surfaces: silos, egos, and fear replacing collaboration.

The Truth Behind Fake AI Projects: Understanding AI Washing

In this episode, Ricardo discusses AI washing, a growing trend where organizations falsely claim to use artificial intelligence. Similar to greenwashing, AI washing occurs when companies exaggerate their AI capabilities to attract investors or appear innovative. In reality, many so-called AI systems are just basic automation or rule-based tools.

The Future Has Arrived: The Second Global Research on AI in Project Management

In this episode, Ricardo announces the release of the second global research on AI in project management, co-authored with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez. Compared to their first study two years ago, AI has moved from experimentation to mainstream adoption. The 2025 report, based on insights from 870 professionals in 97 countries, shows that AI familiarity has doubled, and over two-thirds now use AI tools daily.

The Mega Power of Nano Projects

In this episode, Ricardo introduces the concept of nano projects: ultra-short, highly focused initiatives lasting just a few days, designed to generate value quickly. Unlike megaprojects, which require months or years, nano projects respond to the need for speed and adaptation in a fast-paced world. Examples include testing a marketing channel in five days, redesigning hospital processes in a week, or running rapid pilots in the public sector.

Is Agile Still Enough in the Face of AI’s Speed?

In this episode, Ricardo questions whether Agile is still sufficient in the face of the speed of artificial intelligence. Created in 2001, the Agile Manifesto introduced short iterations and continuous learning to address the unpredictability of software development. However, today, tools become obsolete in days, raising questions about the relevance of 2- to 4-week cycles or a quarterly backlog.

AI: Reducing Risks or Creating New Challenges?

In this week's episode, Ricardo questions whether artificial intelligence (AI) actually reduces project risks or creates new ones. While it helps predict delays, identify flaws, and minimize errors, AI can create invisible risks, such as data bias, which distorts results, and "blind trust," when professionals accept predictions without critical analysis. Another risk is technological dependence:

How Many Broken Windows Are You Tolerating in Your Project?

In this week's episode, Ricardo explains the "broken windows" theory, which originated in criminology, and how it applies to project management. The central idea is that minor signs of disorder, when ignored, lead to bigger problems. In projects, accepting delays or failures without correction sends the message that quality and discipline are unimportant, opening the door to widespread carelessness.

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749
Total Episodes
45
Published in 2025
14,536,893
views (All Episodes)
Last updated at: Nov 10, 2025
About the podcast statistics Starting in December 2020, the podcast total view count includes the views on the website plus the download statistics from Amazon's S3, where the files are hosted, and also statistics generated from applications including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, etc. that consume the podcast RSS feeds.
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