We delight in sharing hard-won knowledge; there’s always a better way.
Insights
Predict for Jira - Now Released!
Predict for Jira - Now released! Those of you who follow me will know that I’m passionate about the benefits of data science in project, product and programme delivery.
I’m therefore delighted to announce the release of Predict for Jira, Project Science’s new plugin for Atlassian Jira Cloud!
Predict for Jira helps you to estimate the range of durations and story points of your open Jira tickets. Using predictive analytics, it can help you to answer the perennial question: “How long will it take?
Insights
Combining AI with Creativity in Delivery
Combining AI with Creativity in Delivery I really enjoyed meeting everyone at Association for Project Management and Gate One’s joint event on “Transforming Project Delivery with AI and a Creative Mindset” on Wednesday evening in London.
As a panellist alongside Vijay K. Luthra and Spiro Comitis we addressed a range of questions on how to ensure that AI serves our teams without detracting from creative performance. We talked about how Large Language Models can help with lessons learned, the importance of integrating AI with our teams sensitively and effectively, and how workloads will change in risk management, planning and controls through predictive analytics and automation.
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Are you a Jira expert?
Are you an expert in Jira? We (Project Science) are developing a powerful new app for Jira, and we’re now looking for alpha testers to trial our product before release.
Tightly integrated into your Jira Cloud workflow, our app uses natural language processing, machine learning and predictive analytics to “learn from the past to help you predict the future”.
Agile teams will benefit from more robust and self-consistent plans that are underpinned with data, helping your project to:
Insights
EVA29
I thoroughly enjoyed presenting yesterday at EVA29, organised by Steve Wake (https://www.stevewake.com/eva)
This took place on Thursday 2 November 2023 at Armourers’ Hall, Moorgate, London.
A big shout out to Steve Wake for organising a brilliant event, and to the wonderful delegates. There was much networking, and we all learnt about “People and Data - What are the wise choices we must make?”.
The venue is stunning too.
Insights
Real World Project Management - Designing and Delivering with Data
On 16 March 2023 James Lea presented an APM real world webinar - Designing and Delivering with Data – transforming project delivery with data science.
James asked the question: how can we deliver our complex projects and programmes with certainty and confidence?
Project data science signposts the way. We live in a universe of data; like the James Web Space Telescope we are making new discoveries every day. But how can we best observe the project cosmos, and how can we make use of our discoveries to predict the future?
Insights
Project Hack 18
Project Science Ltd presented a challenge at Project:Hack 18. The challenge, tackled by a team of data scientists and analysts, is how can we auto-generate work breakdown structures?
For more information visit, Project:Hack18 APM.
Insights
Strategic Misrepresentation - Shaping Project Outcomes
In this event, organised by the APM governance SIG, James will join a panel of subject matter experts to assess the problems with projects ‘in the large’. We will explore how we can transform project success through data-enabled investment decisions.
The event forms part of the series “Effective governance, unlocking data and project success”.
We will assesses the problem at large with project success, the concept of reference class forecasting to inform investment decisions and the principle that ‘all projects are data designed and data enabled’.
Insights
APM Midlands - How do you know your project is on track?
On 7 December 2022 I presented my talk “How do you know your project is on track? The role of data” to the APM Midlands branch in Worcester. Building data-designed and enabled projects: Thanks to Temi and the APM Midlands branch for organising a very interesting and enjoyable event.
Insights
Estimating Agile Projects
A question we get asked quite often is: how do we estimate agile projects?
And our reaction is nearly always: what’s different about agile? We are of course, being tongue-in-cheek! Agile is different, but not so different that all the techniques in waterfall, iterative, hybrid project management should be thrown out the window.
You can use comparative and parametric estimating, benchmarking, and so on. In fact, you should use these, because without an idea of how much work you’re taking on, how can you be confident you have about the right size team for the job?
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Project Hack 17
We presented three challenges at the Project:Hack 17.
Optimising Delivery through Collaboration Insights narrative
WBS Automation - Planning Crossrail 2 narrative
WBS Automation - Understanding WBS diversity narrative
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Achieving a ten-fold improvement in delivery outcomes
Project Science is leading the Visions workstream within the Project Data Analytics Task Force. We’ve set ourselves the challenge of a ten-fold improvement in project delivery outcomes by 2025. Just one in two hundred projects achieves its original time, cost and quality goals. Imagine the savings if we can lift that to one in twenty.
Workstreams To work toward this goal, we’ve developed a set of workstreams, including:
WBS Automation NextGen PMO Human Performance Benefits Management These workstreams have devised some challenges for the upcoming Project:Hack 17 - see you there!
Insights
EVA26: Performance that Works
EVA26, organised by Steve Wake, took place on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th March 2022 at Armourers’ Hall, Moorgate, London.
Our founder, James Lea, presented “The psychology of estimating and planning - working with your team.”
For a video interview with James and a summary of the key points, visit https://youtu.be/qmE-huseZR4?t=7318
Emotions, Plans and Predictions Last time you gave an estimate, were you:
Under pressure? Distracted? Worried your numbers will be used against you?
Insights
Quantum Computing in Project Delivery
What does quantum computing mean to project delivery? How might this nascent technology change the way we do business?
Observations Let’s start with an observation: we have no lack of computing power today. There are few project problems that are constrained by the available processing power. Powerful CPUs and GPUs (such as those used for bitcoin mining) power our machine-learning and natural language systems. They drive the recommendation engines used in online commerce and social media sites.
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Bath Digital Festival 2021
We are awash in a sea of data - how can we make sense of it all, and turn it to our advantage? In particular, how can we exploit data to deliver complex change? Machine learning / AI / algorithmic bias - these are all 21st century terms.
But what do they mean, and how should we adapt and evolve? How can modern business exploit the exponential growth in data science to deliver projects and business change more effectively?
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Delivering software on time (case study)
Challenge All projects - what to focus on, when will it be done? What we did Define milestones For each milestone, build consensus on scope and date Iteratively improve predictions using data-driven models Outcome Benefits Clarity Delivery on time