Making Things Happen

Appendix A. A guide for discussion groups

No matter how great your imagination, you can’t have a lively discussion with an inanimate object (if you can, seek psychiatric help). Books have magic powers, but interactivity isn’t one of them. If you want to learn something, it’s best to find others interested in the same topic and learn together. To help you make that happen, I’ve provided this handy guide.

Introducing the project management clinic

The fastest way to have a discussion is to join one already in progress. If you’re looking for a free ride, let me tell you about the PM Clinic. Years ago I set up an email list of project managers called pmclinic. We avoided most of the annoyances of email discussion (flame wars, bad advice, too much or too little traffic) by providing a simple structure. Every Monday I email a situation—a real problem described by a subscriber—and we discuss that situation for the week. People offer advice, make recommendations, tell good war stories, and do their best to learn from each other. The list has been running strong for almost 5 years, has over 1,000 subscribers, and still has a crazy good signal-to-noise ratio.

To join the PM Clinic, simply head over here:

http://www.scottberkun.com/forums/pmclinic

Anyone can suggest a situation for discussion, and anyone can contribute. If you lurk on the list for two weeks, you’ll get the vibe. If you post thoughtfully, treat the list with respect, and have a sense of humor, you’ll fit in well. (And if you don’t, ...