A fourteenth I know: if I needs must number
the Powers to the people of men,
I know all the nature of gods and of elves
which none can know untaught.

Håvamål 158
The Song of Spells

"Wise he is deemed who can question well,
and also answer back:
the sons of men can no secret make
of the tidings told in their midst."

Håvamål 28
Wisdom for Wanderers and Counsel to Guests

Musings: A collection of eclectic writing

While the virtual long ship is readied for voyaging, there is time to indulge in some serious (and not so serious) reading.

Visit here to share my reflections and commentaries on this, that and the other.

The List So Far

A Few Quick Comments on the Different Pieces

30 Project Management Tips that Work

Here is an annotated list of 30 time tested project management tips that really work. This is a piece I would like to revisit; sort of a ten years after review to see what how I feel about this now and what I would possibly want to change. Do I still agree with myself? Hm, we'll see.

The 30 Project Management Tips that Work seem to have struck a cord, though. I have been quoted in a book with the following kind attribution:

"We would also like to thank the Digital Norseman, Preben Ormen for his useful Project Management advise sprinkled throughout these two chapters [on large project planning and management. PO note]."
The book is Maintenance Planning, Scheduling and Coordination, Industrial Press, by Joel Levitt, President Springfield Resources. www.maintrainer.com

The Landlocked Navigator's Roundabout Adventure

There's room for an amusing musing now and again, too. Here's one I called The Landlocked Navigator's Roundabout Adventure. Take a look and you'll understand why this was simply irresistible to comment on.

Making Sense of Business Research,

I read a lot of business research and wonder sometimes about what exactly it is I am supposed to get out of the material in front of me. Perhaps others have the same thoughts. So here is a little piece of my mind on Making Sense of Business Research or how to think about what goes on before the report hits your desk.

Focus—The power to find your way in troubled water

I want to share with you something I came across recently. It's a review of Al Ries' book "Focus" and the musing is titled Focus—The power to find your way in troubled water.

The Quality Masters Speak,

Everybody worries about quality at some point, but what is it, really? Here's some input on that in a piece called The Quality Masters Speak. I did a lot of reading about the quality movement back in the eighties and would have benefited from a run down of what different proponents stood for.

Personal Foundations

I started a series of musings on the theme Personal Foundations. It was supposed to be about how we accomplish personal improvements. The first musing is on a personal Exercise Program. Follow the weekly progress updates as I put myself through the wringer. I should do this program again; I think I need it more now that I did then. The series itself kind of faltered as this was the only piece I finished.

10 Common Reasons why Improvement Projects Fail

Have you ever wondered why it seems so difficult to get anything changed in our organizations? Here are some good reasons to explain why: 10 Common Reasons why Improvement Projects Fail. I do projects for a living and rub shoulders with this topic on a daily basis. Perhaps another candidate for a ten year after kind of review although the research seems to kick out the same reasons gain and again.

The Digital Norseman's Own Domain

On a historical note, at one stage the Digital Norseman got a new home on the Web—His Own Domain—and I moved the site over. This musing recollects what that was like—quite a nostalgic piece now that getting a domain is no big deal. Everyone seems to have one now. But there's a beginning for everything.