To much talk of software, and to little willingness to understand a there is a basic need for education in the theory of management. Examples of this is 43 Folders, the Signal/Noise people + the number of blogs praising/hyping these applications. As software toys they might do the job. But as tools helping a better understanding of the project, and hereby actually helping in efficiency and even more important, giving a higher project quality in the clients hand, I’m not that sure.
It’s fun playing with new toys, trying to understand them, making them do what you want them to do. But the applications, are created as efficiency helpers, not tools that will give the client a better project. So by not being fully aware of the tools that make a good product, you might just be wasting your own time and give the client a product he can’t use. Yes, everybody can see the path to completion. But what if the path and the goal is wrong and you thereby won’t be able to create a good and successful project.
An example of this is, that it starts further out than the brainstorm, it starts at approaching the brainstorm the right way. Understanding how it can bring clarity over the task and transferring this task into a problem solution, that will be effective and satisfy as many key stakeholders as possible. Can this clarity over the projects key indicators of success be shown and understood by all involved, then you can achieve the goal, other vise your failure rate will rise. Take a deep breath, close your software and start by learning the right way to achieve your goals. By choosing the right tool, not the newest software, the right strategic path to delivering the right product will be much more efficient and likely to be a success.