The Opsimath

A Book for your Christmas list

One of the books that I have really enjoyed this year is SWITCH by Chip and Dan Heath. It has a sub-title of 'How to change things when change is hard'

In this excellent book they explain how each of us has an emotional elephant side and a rational rider side (I know that sounds a little strange, but it makes sense when you read it).

In change situations they say that you have got to reach both sides. And, you've also got to clear the way, or shape the path, to succeed.

The book has lots of powerful stories that illustrate and explain their ideas, and even though it is nearly 300 pages long, it finishes far too soon.

One of my favourite training solutions that our company, pearcemayfield, offers is the Change Management Practitioner course. It is a fascinating subject, and I always carry a copy of the Heaths' book with me to recommend to delegates, as I think it really contributes something very worthwhile to this subject.

So, it's not too late for that Christmas list...

A compliment - from a competitor

It's nice when someone says something good about something that you have been involved with. Nicer still perhaps if it comes from someone who is in competition with you.

At pearcemayfield we recently produced a series of audio products - a series of discussions between Patrick Mayfield and myself on the latest version of PRINCE2.

Here are some of the things that have been said by one of our competitors:

...so it has come as no surprise that some have once again shown innovation with their announcement of the launch of an audio series of PRINCE2...

...this most definitely shows that there has been some good insight into the authoring of the latest PRINCE 2 version...

...the audio series can be used as an invaluable introduction to PRINCE2 for people that are completely new to it...

...the audio series comprises of sixteen episodes with each episode giving numerous examples and insights. These cover the importance of projects in the 21st century workplace that is ever changing...

Many thanks!

Top Five

Publishers TSO report that the top five best selling books in the field of Project, Programme, Portfolio and Risk Management are:

• Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2
• P3O (Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices)
• Managing Successful Programmes (MSP)
• Management of Risk (MOR)
• Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2

Did you know that our company, pearcemayfield, can offer you training and support in every one of these?

We are internationally accredited to bring you the very best help in each of these key areas, and it is comforting to discover that the things that we think are important are the things that you think are important too.

So there you are, a gentle little advertisement for our services, with a little fact in the centre!