A combination of development and operations is intended to be an approach that improves the processes involved in system administration and software development. The following article will examine more closely whether changing a company’s culture to DevOps actually delivers this goal. Since its introduction, DevOps has been celebrated as an important issue of the future which is likely to bring certain benefits, however, it does not seem to be living up to these promises. According to one survey, 87% of respondents are not convinced about DevOps because this approach to process improvement is not living up to expectations. Critics have always suspected that DevOps is a hype and that it has not achieved the levels of success that were expected. However, increasing numbers of companies are still choosing to adopt this approach. The survey revealed that 27% of all IT experts work in DevOps teams in 2017.

By Dr. Hans Stromeyer Everyone is talking about agile working nowadays and many people are starting to question if it really works. If we consider the IT sector, and in particular software development, a noticeable trend has emerged which is leading away from the classic waterfall approach towards process models and frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, Extreme etc.). Annual status reports published by Version One have clearly proven this using verifiable data. The impressions I have had and the experience I have amassed as a project manager trainer have also shown that many companies in which I train Classic project management are now becoming increasingly interested in knowing how they can become more agile. Furthermore, more and more participants from completely different backgrounds to software development are registering for my courses on Scrum, Kanban Extreme Programming.

Project Management not only plays an important role in large-scale companies, but smaller organisations and informal teams also interact with project management tools when they start working on unusual tasks and those that must be completed within a specific time frame. Smaller teams, in particular, usually do not have enough time or money to familiarise themselves with special PM tools. Five simple tools will be outlined in the following article which offer something to suit everyone, whether Classic PM is the methodology of choice or Agile.

Even though the year is drawing to a close, we are still stepping on the gas. In recent months, we have developed a new Agile project management certification programme, the Cert. Junior Agile Project Manager, which can be taken with immediate effect. This certification programme is a logical extension of our existing portfolio of programmes, such as the Cert. Junior Project Manager (IAPM), which is primarily aimed at novice project managers, students, entry-level professionals and young professionals. The certification programme is a perfect way for aspiring project managers, who would prefer to work in an Agile project environment, to lay the foundations as they start a career in Agile project management and acquire knowledge of the Scrum methodology through IAPM certification which is recognised and well-respected around the globe. Once the course has been successfully completed, the certification is permanently valid and there are no re-certification costs and requirements. This applies to all certification programmes offered by IAPM. A basic understanding of Agile and Scrum methodologies are tested in the Junior Agile Project Manager (IAPM) certification examination, whereas additional subjects such as Extreme Programming and Kanban are tested in the higher level examination, the Cert. Agile Project Manager.

Many project managers probably avoid agile project management because of lack of self-assurance. In fact, agile project management and traditional project management are not that different: The elementary parts are the same. Both types need to be well planned and organized before the project starts and during the project it must be monitored.

The IAPM team has informed me that we have now broken through the 100 country mark. The recent addition of Armenia to our list of countries now means that we have project managers from 100 different countries who have passed one of the IAPM examinations (achieving certification in Classic, Agile or International project management). We would like to warmly congratulate our colleagues from Yerevan in Armenia on passing their examinations. I would also like to highly praise and acknowledge all the tremendous efforts undertaken by the IAPM team and everyone who has helped us in recent years to become the most successful project management association. Our growth figures speak for themselves not only in terms of the number of certificates awarded, but also in relation to the many other activities which we have become noted for.

In Project management it is of the utmost importance to be well informed of current project developments, in order to lead a project to success. Information is therefore a fundamentally important basis forProject management. Over the last few years, the distribution and exchange of information has increasingly been taking place in digital formats, however traditional types of information exchange, such as telephone calls, letters and plans have not become obsolete. By means of the new media and methods, many things have been simplified, however, it has also been observed that the abundance of information has increased as, for example, it is very easy to send information via email to a large number of people. Every day, Project managers receive unending amounts of information of various kinds by means of the most diverse channels. Therefore, it is important to have a system that allows you to differentiate between important and unimportant information and thereby maintain an overview.

An event took place at the Pforzheim University on the subject of Agile Transformation which was called "HR Trends of the Future - Business meets Science" and was led and opened by Professor Stephan Fischer. This HR event was held as part of a series of events on Agile Transformation which, thanks to its great success, was already in its eleventh edition. The event, as the entire series of events, has the goal of combining business and research. Within the framework of the event, workshops were held on various topics involving representatives of companies as well as scientists.

Being able to reach decisions promptly is extremely important in project management. In every project plan and construction schedule several milestones occur concurrently which are often dependent on one decision. The building contractor or customer needs to reach a decision in order for the project to actually proceed. The architect needs to decide on which colour the railings should be painted and the site technician needs to decide how the ventilation grille openings need to be spaced out. Each project is full of small and large decisions which dictate processes and order deadlines. It goes without saying that any deferred decisions or decisions that are not ...

A press release that was published in the press box focuses on the role that the concept of Agile project management is playing in logistics and trade. A survey carried out by AEB GmbH and the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Stuttgart has examined the trend towards Agile project management. Managers of logistics departments, supply chain managers and personnel responsible for export and customs were surveyed in order to gain a picture of the situation and to obtain a professional assessment from the users’ perspective.

Tools like SharePoint play an important role in modern project management. Anyone who works in project management that is either unfamiliar with the range of programs and tools available or is unable to use them, is regarded as old-fashioned, behind the times and their competence may well be questioned by their colleagues. It is therefore worth taking a closer look at this topic and keeping up with developments in this area in relevant journals and on Internet forums. ...

When a company undergoes major changes, some people see mainly the opportunities and others mainly the risks. When discussing the topic of digitisation, the younger generation frequently likes to highlight the opportunities and advantages that the digital world offers, while large portions of the older generation tend to see the risks. Digitisation is undoubtedly changing everyday life and the professional world. Thanks to smartphones and countless apps, anyone who embraces this technology can quickly and easily access the Internet. Even people who are less computer-savvy can ...