The Delivery Manager Daily: Recent Episodes
mariodecristofano
A podcast about the delivery of digital projects by someone who does it for a living. Real world strategy, guides, tactics & help for people working in digital project management.
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In this podcast I talk about what responsibilities Delivery Managers often have, (or should have) in complex projects which go awry. Maybe you've been parachuted into a project that's a disaster & have been asked to help fix it, maybe your a management consultant that's been tasked as an independent advisor to help re-align a project. I talk about some of the strategies & practical things I do to help fix bad projects.
Some resources I mention are linked to below including;
- Retrospectin' the Retrospective
- Let's get ready to Scrumble
Dont forget to subscribe to the Delivery Manager daily newsletter (here) & follow me on X (here) for the latest news.
Thanks for listening.
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Welcome to Season 4To celebrate getting to 55 episodes & a fourth season I sit down with Paul Bratcher. Paul runs an Ai company called unfold Ai & brings with him 30+ years experience. A former boss, mentor & friend we talk about how folk can get started with Ai from using tools such as Leonardo, Claude, Midjourney, ChatGPT to using Ai to solve the simple things first rather than trying to change the world through innovation. Get to know Paul better by going to his newsletter, here with over 35 issues of Ai goodness & enjoy the podcast.
Thanks for listening to the Delivery Manager Daily podcast, check out the website (here) but also get involved in the conversation by following me on X, & subscribe to my very own newsletter here.
Thanks for listening.
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A quick one this, just wanted to talk about my new Newsletter thats jam packed with Agile resources to help delivery managers which I'd really like you to subscribe to. Please visit here to subscribe. Also a quick aside, I'm doing the Y3P in August, Id be grateful if you can donate here Want first access to episodes & content? Please consider subscribing to Delivery Manager Daily + https://plus.acast.com/s/deliverymanagerdaily.
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In this episode I reflect on how tech workers behave (or should IMO) from interview & applications to their first 1st day, 1st week & 1st month on the job. Not everyone has to be locked in like David Clarke but at least think about the effort you put into things & putting your best foot forward. Bit of a ranty one. Strap in. LETS GO PEOPLE. :) Want first access to episodes & content? Please consider subscribing to Delivery Manager Daily + https://plus.acast.com/s/deliverymanagerdaily.
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GOING LIVE - PLEASE LISTEN, Schedule to follow on mariosblog.co.uk Want first access to episodes & content? Please consider subscribing to Delivery Manager Daily + https://plus.acast.com/s/deliverymanagerdaily.
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In this episode I reflect on rolling out Jira recently, what went well, not so well & what you can do if you're responsible for rolling out tooling in your organisation. In this episode I refer to a number of references, including the awesome & delicious tastycupcakes.org the history of Lean & Agile,
Please listen, enjoy & share.
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IN THIS EPISODE I talk about the top 4 things I do & recommend you consider when starting with a new Scrum team. How do you bring folk together? How do you get them to perform? What about legacy politics & ghosts of the past, how can you smash through those & deliver value & solid outcomes for both the team & the client? Well, take a listen & visit the blog for more https://www.mariosblog.co.uk/top-4-tips-to-help-make-scrum-teams-succeed/ Want first access to episodes & content? Please consider subscribing to Delivery Manager Daily + https://plus.acast.com/s/deliverymanagerdaily.
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In this episode I talk about being a software engineer wanting to do Scrum. After a recent talk at Keele University I fielded questions about how a software engineer could cross-over into Scrum territory. Well give this a listen, read the blog mariosblog.co.uk & enjoy! Want first access to episodes & content? Please consider subscribing to Delivery Manager Daily + https://plus.acast.com/s/deliverymanagerdaily.
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in this episode I talk to the awesome Alex Rae about System thinking. Check out the blog post here Want first access to episodes & content? Please consider subscribing to Delivery Manager Daily + https://plus.acast.com/s/deliverymanagerdaily.
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In this episode I wanted to quickly tackle how to answer some of the common interview questions I ask, get asked & hear people answer in my opinion incorrectly. Let me know what you think on X (@mariodc) & as always, thanks for listening. Want first access to episodes & content? Please consider subscribing to Delivery Manager Daily + https://plus.acast.com/s/deliverymanagerdaily.
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In this episode I sit by the virtual fire & chit chat with Matthias, a certified Scrum professional & aspiring Delivery Manager working in the tech healthcare startup scene in London. He talks to me about what he believes a DM should do, who they are & we cover some of the responsibilities a DM may have. In the podcast, I refer to a UK GOV resource which you can find here & talk about why I think its one of the best resources when it comes to describing what a Delivery Manager does. As always follow me on X (@mariodc) & get involved in the conversation. Thanks for listening. Want first access to episodes & content? Please consider subscribing to Delivery Manager Daily + https://plus.acast.com/s/deliverymanagerdaily.
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In this episode I talk about a recent real world client scenario - the things I think about when implementing an IT strategy. Thinking carefully about this is really important & hopefully there's something of use in here for you. As always thanks for listening, don't get to reach out to me on X (Mariodc) & search for the deliverymanagerdaily for more. Want first access to episodes & content? Please consider subscribing to Delivery Manager Daily + https://plus.acast.com/s/deliverymanagerdaily.
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in this episode, I wanted to be practical & continue the two-topics-per-podcast thing, so I talk about how as a DM the things I do to manage teams across MANY time zones, & then in the second part, some fantastic Agile resources just for you. Read the blog post
Thank you so much for listening. Follow me on Twitter/X @mariodc
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In this episode I talk about two things.
a) How to become a DM - in 2023 you need a special set of skills to be a good DM. Someone recently asked me how they should get into the industry & I'd write a podcast about it. I talked about it more in this post here
b) Using Code Gen tools in your engineering teams. Something I see more & more in 23 is needing to wrangle engineering projects where the solution has often been written in part by Ai. What tools are out there, what problems will you face, & what will you need to do as a hands on Scrum Master.
Thanks for listening, get involved at x.com/mariodc
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In this short 30 minute episode I'll explain what Agile is. No question, no messing, in a way your mum would understand. Off the back of talking to folk who still ask 'so what is Agile then' & listening to many people get it wrong, here's my authoritative explanation on what Agile is.Think I'm wrong? Let me know via X @mariodc, dont forget to subscribe, subscribe to my new Agile newsletter, and I'll talk to you very soon. Want first access to episodes & content? Please consider subscribing to Delivery Manager Daily + https://plus.acast.com/s/deliverymanagerdaily.
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In this episode I crack the nut open on using Ai as a Delivery Manager. Whether its for help with creating slide decks, writing Epics & User Stories or more complex stuff like Monte Carlo simulations. I've observed Ai being used more & more by engineers, and now I'm starting to see it with us DM's too! Good idea? Bad idea? Let's find out. Follow me on Twitter/X @mariodc for more AND PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to my newsletter where I offer lots of DM resources
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in this post I wanted to talk about some of the broader technical capability & understanding & concepts Delivery Managers in 2023 will need to consider, when they take on their respective projects. From cloud management & orchestration to sustainability, the days of pushing a Gantt chart around have gone. Read below my thoughts on what DM’s need to know about in 2023.
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An often-mystical beast of never-ending unorganised work that never shrinks. Everything in Agile is driven by a backlog of some description. We talk about ensuring PBIs are INVESTable, and DEEP, but I find myself in projects these days where the backlog is just a noose around the teams neck. Teams shy away from it. Its acknowledged but never spoken of. It’s used as an excuse – you know the one. It never shrinks, it’s never updated, and as time goes on its value decreases.
Spicy huh! Agile delivery guy critizing the backlog!
In this episode learn about my thoughts around building a half decent backlog & the things not to do. As always thanks for listening & get in touch via Twitter @mariodc for more
An ad to my new short run series & blog special on Carbon sustainability in relation to project management - COMING SOON.
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In this episode I wanted to talk about how to manage dependencies, whether you should manage dependencies or should you break them, & also some the practical things I do. Visit https://www.mariosblog.co.uk/dependency-mapping-is-a-complex-thing/ for more.
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In this episode I talk about LEAN thinking in relation to Agile delivery. If you're a DM, working in a LEAN way, a true LEAN way can be problematic for teams as they get their heads around the focus on not gold-plating a solution. From back when the term was coined by John Krafcik to Toyota levering Just in Time manufacturing principles to increase efficiency on the factory floor, LEAN is a properley viable way to take Agile, put it on steroids & actually get your projects under budget & on time. I did it, so can you - listen to my experience on the podcast & dont get to Tweet me @mariodc if you like what you hear.
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In this episode I wanted to talk about the things I do to galvanise myself & be emotionally resilient. There's too much pressure on employers I think to meet the need of every single worker & that brings issues. Instead, individuals should take full accountability for their own happiness? What do you think? It's part of being a good consultant right? I've talked before about being mindful of the shadows you cast & this is what I'm currently doing to stay resilient in my professional life. Don't forget to subscribe please & get in touch via @dm_daily or @mariodc on Twitter to join in the conversation.
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Although I've given up on keeping count of episodes, this one's a good one. I talk about ChatGPT, I think its amazing but has ramifications for ongoing commoditization of software engineering in particular. We were worried robots & AI would take over manual labour jobs first, but it's looking like it's coming for knowledge workers. Are we just on another AI hype-cycle? Are you a graduate software engineer using ChatGPT to write your code? Are you running a side-hustle using Chat GPT? Follow me @dm_dailiy or @mariodc to join the conversation, go to the blog & watch the YouTube channel also.
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In this episode I talk about what I'd do to build out a community of practice. If you work in tech, maybe your organisation wants to put teams of like minded people together, maybe to solve a problem or issue. I talk about the work involved I've found, building communities of practice. This episode has a YouTube version which you can find here PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE THE VIDEO as I start to build out my new channel. You can also read the notes from this episode here on my blog,
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Each day I look at how I conduct, consume & traverse the world around me. Analysing the things I say, do, & how I choose to interact with people. I’m aware of the power of my words & actions & the impact that has on people. I do it with purpose, as I live my life. When I do make a mistake, it hurts, but I learn.
I’m happy about it all. I’ve worked hard to be who I am, & whilst its sometimes tough when I don’t get the love or adulation I would expect, in fact I’m occasionally met with aggression & people trying to take me down, I have learnt not to care as much about that. I choose to expose myself (not like that, I’m not that guy) & with that comes the criticism.
Even writing about this I have little fear, it’s not for you, it’s for me. Its cathartic. If you can take something away from it, great. If not or you think I’m a self-serving self-promoting *, no problem. Move along. I thrive on knowing I’m awesome at what I do, awesome at being a human being & that’s what I wanted to talk about today, being an awesome human being but also, being an awesome management consultant.
Go to the blog, mariosblog.co.uk for more
Have you ever asked yourself the question why you go to work? Like, sat down & just asked yourself what the you are doing? I have. I wanted to briefly talk about the journey I’ve been on over the last six months where I’ve very much nearly become part of the great resignation & what I learnt whilst going on that journey. Maybe some of this will resonate with you. If you’ve found yourself in a slump or thinking it, or even thinking you’re going to try & leverage the post COVID human-labour-market going *** crazy, then this podcast is for you.
For more, go to mariosblog.co.uk
Retrospectives -That one Agile event that’s meant to fix everything. Often however they are run by a tired scrum master or team lead at the end of an arduous sprint & more often than not, it’s a box ticking exercise. It’s meant to be an inspect & adapt event, but its more often a bun fight.
Teams & individuals jockey for position at the moaning table, often the loudest person in the room pontificates over what’s wrong in a statesmen like monologue whilst everyone rolls’ their eyes. Others state the obvious. Many point fingers & those responsible often have shoulders covered in Teflon. We’ve all been there.
In this episode I talk about making a retrospective fun, engaging, well facilitated & why you should think about more than just the sprint velocity! For more, go to https://www.mariosblog.co.uk/retrospecting-the-retrospective
If you're in a neighbouring discipline such as Business Analysis, you'll probably thought about becoming a DM to take your role to the next level. Maybe you're interviewing to be a DM or maybe you dont even know what a DM is. In this episode I talk about a few of these things, how to get into the space, what I see in interviews & what you can to do increase your chances of successful applications, but also the types of skills you'll need.
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In this podcast, I talk about my recent experience on the discovery I did, which was predominantly remote. The disco phase is an important aspect of any project, allowing you to often validate your thinking to ensure the thing you're doing is the right thing. Read more on the blog, and get involved @dm_daily on Twitter, @mariodc
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You will often as you progress your career in delivery, be asked for a 3 month plan. Usually for a client, sometimes for a job interview, sometimes for the C-level exec. But that 100 day plan is your commitment to the next 90 days or so. Whenever I get stuck into anything, be it a project, a proposal or 'here's how shit is going to go down' there's a few things to think about. Read more at mariosblog
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in this episode I'll be talking about what I do again & again when I deliver projects. These are things I've weaponised which get me results and I want to start drilling down into them a bit more.
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I've reflected over the last three years to determine that no matter the framework, methodology or approach, it's always to try & tackle the real issues which are often left to just be...well...issues. There are often far too many people involved in a project, causing any mechanism you use for scale or communication to groan at the seams. Hybrid working just compounds this further. Let's tackle the problems, rather than adding something over the top to superficially 'improve' things. You can read my thoughts here https://www.mariosblog.co.uk/agile-sucks-balls-hybrid-aint-working-youve-way-too-many-people-on-your-project/
In this episode, I talk about change. Most projects are complex, and often in need of occasional re-alignment. I find myself using Kotters 8 step model of change as a foundational pillar for all my project structures, and I talk about how I've implemented some of this, whether software or transformation, take a listen and tell me what you think. Join me on Twitter @dm_daily
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In this episode I talk about the Scrumble. If you use Nexus, buried deep within the Scrum user guide & in Ken Schwabers blog post form 2015 which is an interesting read in it's own right, the Scrumble is a way of pausing delivery in your project, when things are going wrong. Is it just a retro? Does it truly handle problems in projects or is it just a holiday for the Scrum teams? Let's find out. As always, thanks for listening, join in the conversation on Twitter @dm_daily - thanks for listening
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I think its important to reflect on when things don't go to plan. No ones perfect, especially not me. So when recently one of my projects went wrong (thankfully a rare occasion nowadays) I wanted to reflect. As always get me on Twitter @mariodc or @dm_daily or check out the blog mariosblog.co.uk
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In this episode, you'll learn about my life as a DM, as many people ask what I do & do you know what? I don't always know how to answer. Having recently spoken at Keele University about practical things to thing about around Agile, & realising how much Agile is at the heart of everything I do, I wanted to talk about it here. Get involved, @dm_daily on Twitter or visit mariosblog.co.uk
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In this episode I wanted to talk about using video to make you a better communicator. How many times have you bashed out an email wishing you could recall it, or the sentiment was not right? How many times have you had to follow up with twenty emails to cover a nuance or detail in your project update? Do you find yourself saying the same thing, time & time again? Why not use video? In this episode I talk about how to do it and the practicalities of doing it.
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In this episode I talk about what components you need to consider for a good quality Sprint review, from a communication perspective. The things to do, not to do, how to tell a good story & get to the point without ruining your demo with too much technical info.
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Listen to some of my thoughts about Hybrid working & what both employee's & employers need to consider. For more on this, visit my blog, mariosblog.co.uk or https://www.mariosblog.co.uk/hybrid-working-and-the-future-of-work-post-pandemic/
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In this episode learn about the tactics & things I do so to squeeze the absolute maximum out of each & every day.
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In this episode, I'm joined by Andy Tabberer from CoOp Digital, off the back of a recent talk he did about being human. What characteristics & traits compliment an Agile mindset? Now Hybrid working is here to stay, how can you keep teams on-track, lead by example, & set the standard for solid delivery? Andy talks us through his thoughts about what it means to be human, what 'soft' skills you may need & why they may not be as soft anymore.
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Listen about my work creating a training aid for Agile, why I created it & why I think it can help delivery teams new to Agile or who have forgotten the fundamentals. You can read & see about more at http://www.creativepixel.me.uk
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In this episode I wanted to go deep on my last post & the things which really will elevate you from being an average DM to more. It always has been about people. How good really are your people skills? Have a listen, take a look
https://www.mariosblog.co.uk/how-to-be-a-good-agile-delivery-manager/
Contact me on Twitter @mariodc or @daily_dm to join in the conversation.
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Having just come back mentally to Nexus after a couple of weeks off, listen to (or watch on YouTube) me bomb a practice Nexus SPS exam. Here you'll get to see & experience some of the questions and more-than-dodgy wording from some of these practice exams.
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In this episode, I've started going through some practice exams & the result of that is reflected on this conversation, & I've updated the whiteboard. I touch on some actual exam questions & insights along with a practical example of how to implement Nexus Board here
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A little 2-4 part segment on my foray into Nexus SPS certification. It'll help my team who I'm also keen to get them through it, & expand our capability BUT also as a little cheat sheet as I work my way through the material. I've been doing a bit of Nexus organically anyway as I scale some of my projects, I've found myself very much the NIT all by myself & doing the role without realising. Deck here
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In this episode I talk to a former colleague & good buddy of mine, Iain Fisher. Iain works for a global consultancy firm & we talk about Hybrid working, COVID & some of the challenges both orgs & workforces will face in the new normal. Check his YouTube out https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUEUoHVkj3RjVIEAX-QM5UQ
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If you need to talk about Devops but your not a total nerd, here's a simple explanation your mum would understand. You can download the whiteboard > https://www.mariosblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/whiteboard_episide8ish_devops.png
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in this episode learn about the types of character skills you'll need to be an effective DM & also how I self review & check myself, amping up the good characteristics & dialling back the bad ones.
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Being mindful of the shadows you cast on others is a skill I've only just learnt over the last few years. You can have a massive impact on people both positively or negatively & in this episode we talk about that. The tl;dr, dont be a c**k
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In this episode I just wanted to touch on a common theme throughout my podcast series in Agile not being the thing you think it is. For me, Agile is common sense, a buffet of tactics & tools I can pick from to introduce slowly into a clients organisation. I don't 'ram it in'. No one likes that.
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As a Delivery Manager, I think you should be an exemplar of time management & organisation. In this short episode, discuss two practical things I do to help manage not only my time, but to run an effective meeting also.
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In this episode I talk about a real world example and how I position myself at the start of the project & what I do in the first month to ensure my project runs smoothly.
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You have to set your stall out early, & with commitment. I talk about the things I often got wrong early in my career, procrastinating on the important stuff, & how to be better with people. Don't forget to watch YouTube for more
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In this episode, I wanted to run through who I am, what I do, a little background and if you're watching on YouTube, you'll see a bit more content too. here
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Explaining what this podcast is all about. What will ultimately be each day, but most likely weekly to start with, a podcast to talk about delivery management strategy, tactics, Agile practice & delivery of technical projects in the real world. Each week we'll aim to have on speakers & guests, and if you'd like to be involved message me on Twitter @mariodc
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