Project Management Debate Podcast

Matching job seeker expectations with hiring manager requirements is a juggling act that necessitates exchange of sensitive information. The ability to filter down candidates to a pool of qualified candidates is more art than science and requires an understanding of qualifications as well as a demonstration of capability. Evaluating candidates based on their current salary levels may offer an indication whether they match the job requirements or not, but is this a good criteria for evaluation? Is it even wise to do so in light of the bias that exists in the marketplace? This debate topic explores the motion "current salary is an effective indicator of candidate fitness and success potential for project manager positions." Listen to the debate and let us know what you think.

Cultural and societal bias has been toward extroversion being the preferred personality type when it comes to positions of leadership and management. Practically every MBA program trains its students to engage stakeholders in a similar way to that defined by Dale Carnegie in his ever popular boom Winning Friends and Influencing people. Do misconceptions exist when evaluating how introverts interact with others and lead teams or is there really no opportunity for them to take on positions of leadership? This episode of the PM Debate Podcast argues the motion "There is no room for introverts in project management." Listen to the debate and join the online discussion.

The world of volunteerism is a very different world than the corporate world. However, are projects run in a different manner than those of the traditional corporate setting? Do project teams behave the same? Can a project manager who is highly successful in managing teams with company staff be as effective managing volunteers? This is the topic of debate in this episode of the PM Debate Podcast. Listen to the debate and let us know what you think.

Speaking truth to power has become a business catch phrase that seems to lose value as it develops in popularity. In today's project environment there is a tendency to shoot the messenger without ever having heard the message. But if management makes a bad decision based on incomplete or inaccurate information, isn't it the project manager's job to make them aware to address the issue? Can any project manager speak truth to power or do you need lots of experience and skills to be the bearer or unwelcome news? Listen to this episode of the PM debate podcast as we discuss "speaking truth to power is a skill that every project manager should master." Let us know what you think by visiting our page at facebook.com/pmdebate.

Approaching a job market so constantly in flux means that hiring managers face difficult choices between candidates. Finding the right fit for your vacancy is harder today because of the readily available technologies and the globalization of the job marketplace. Hiring an overqualified candidate allows the organization immediate success on projects while bringing on board a candidate with less qualification but significant potential positions organizational future sustainability. Join this episode of the PM debate podcast as we explore the motion: "As a hiring manager with no viable option to hire a solid match for your vacancy, you are far better positioned to hire an under qualified candidate than an overqualified one." Listen to the debate and let us know what you think.

It is often refreshing to approach a job, and even a task, knowing you have all the qualifications and skills that that match the position description. Being able to hi the ground running in positions, especially in a project environment is a critical success factor. However is there such as thing as being overqualified for a job? If so, does it mean that you are probably not in the best position to lead by example. This podcast focuses on the issue of over-cosmetics. Listen to our podcast and let us know what you think.

In an environment where job postings have gone global and applicants can bring a lot of news, finding the right candidate for the job can be more challenging than not. Whether you are in human resources or a hiring manager you may be confronted with deciding to bring in a candidate who is under qualified. As a candidate you may be asked to step into an uncomfortable situation in accepting a position you have little experience in. This episode of the PM Debate podcast explores whether hiring an under qualified candidate is a recipe for disaster or whether it is part of today's job demands. Listen to the debate and let us know what you think.

Managing a project is a difficult undertaking, one that often impacts the entire organization. It’s often difficult to know how to proceed when facts and details are omitted. But in the hyper-competitive business world we live in, organizational management must make difficult decisions on what information can and should be shared – and when. Is full disclosure an operational imperative or the path of the foolish. You decide as we debate: Project team members and key stakeholders require and deserve full disclosure at all times throughout the project lifecycle. Following the podcast join the debate online at facebok.com/pmdebate

This week we are exploring the topic of confirmation bias. Twitter was recently called out for using algorithms in its feed to enhance user experience that gives users what they “want to see”. This approach means that people will see in their feed more items similar to ones they have liked, commented on, or shared. A rapidly growing number of people get their news online and social media sites which have a tendency to deliver news from one specific viewpoint. This means that we simply confirm what we already believe to be true. Does the same type of confirmation bias exist in business and on projects? Listen to this episode of the PM Debate Podcast as we debate “Social media is making confirmation bias in organizations much worse resulting in greater risk to project success.”

Lessons learned are a critical component of project management literature and standards. PMI's PMBOK Guide places a significant emphasis on lessons learned in the profession by mentioning the concept in nearly every chapter and in over 62 pages. However, does the reality practice in the field align to theory? Can lessons learned be documented properly and used effectively, or is attempting to merely trying that a waste of time? This episode of the PM Debate podcast explores this topic. Listen to the debate and share your thoughts online.