Rick Morris regularly shares his project management expertise and speaking engagements. Keep up with his latest insights here.
Senior Manager for our Enterprise Portfolio and Program Management team, Rick Morris, is an accomplished project management professional, certified Scrum Agile Master, human behavior consultant, and certified high-performance coach. His experience spans various industries, and he has worked for organizations such as GE and Xerox and consulted on numerous implementations of project and portfolio management and agile systems.
As a best-selling author, Morris has published several books, including the Amazon #1 best seller “No Day But Today.” He has also created multiple podcasts, including “AI Driven PM” and “The Work Life Balance.” Morris’s leadership skills and experience have made him a sought-after speaker, and his blend of real-world experience and engaging delivery style make his passion for the profession contagious.
Follow this column for updates about Morris’s insights and presence at industry events as he shares his expertise and inspires the project management community.
Podcast
AI Driven PM
Morris recently launched a podcast, “AI Driven PM” aimed at helping project managers understand and use artificial intelligence in their work. The podcast offers practical insights and hands-on demonstrations of AI tools for project, portfolio, program, product, and people management. Each 20- to 30-minute episode of “AI Driven PM” will cover theoretical concepts in AI and project management, practical demonstrations of AI tools like ChatGPT, and discussions on how AI can enhance project management practices.
Visit the AI Driven PM playlist.
New Blogs
Emotional Sprint Retrospectives
In Agile methodologies, we often focus on processes and technical issues. However, integrating ChatGPT for “emotional sprint retrospectives” can revolutionize team dynamics by addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of team performance. This concept, aligned with my principles of making emotional conversations unemotional, offers a novel approach to Agile retrospectives.
Learn how to integrate ChatGPT into Agile methodologies for emotional sprint retrospectives.
AI Assistance with WBS (goblin.tools)
In project management, the ability to break down complex tasks is critical. Enter goblin.tools, an AI-driven platform designed to help project managers break down intricate projects into logical, actionable tasks. This tool ensures that each component is not only manageable but also time-bound, aligning perfectly with the principles outlined in the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge).
Learn about the power of task breakdown.
10 Prompts to Try with ChatGPT-4o
As project management evolves, using cutting-edge technology becomes increasingly essential. The latest iteration, ChatGPT-4o, introduces groundbreaking features that promise to revolutionize project, program and portfolio management.
Learn how to incorporate ChatGPT-4o into your project management toolkit.
ChatGPT is Your New Tutor for Excel and Google Sheets
In the fast-paced world of project management, efficiency is key. Managing multiple tasks, deadlines and resources requires not only organizational skills but also a strong command of tools like Excel and Google Sheets. Whether you’re tracking metrics, forecasting budgets, or analyzing data, these spreadsheet tools remain go-to solutions. However, mastering their complex formulas and functions can be daunting. Enter ChatGPT, a game-changer for project managers seeking to streamline their tasks.
Learn how ChatGPT can be your personal tutor and assistant in navigating Excel and Google Sheets.
At last: A Monte Carlo Analysis Made Possible with AI
A Monte Carlo analysis stands as one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of project management, renowned for its ability to provide detailed risk assessments and predictions. However, this incredible potential often remains untapped, reserved for high-risk, long-term projects. The reason? The sheer volume of detailed information required to execute Monte Carlo simulations effectively. Yet, in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), we stand on the cusp of a revolution that could democratize this tool, making it accessible and practical for a wider array of projects. Learn how AI can power a Monte Carlo analysis.
Boosting Value Performance Per Day (VPD) with AI
In project management, timely and effective decisions are critical to success. However, the traditional approach is filled with time-consuming tasks that prevent project managers from focusing on what truly matters — creating value. This is where the concept of value performance per day (VPD) comes into play. VPD measures the value a project manager can deliver in a day, directly impacting the project’s success.
In this blog, Morris discusses how AI can enhance VPD with examples and real-world scenarios.
Resource Management with AI: A Strategic Imperative for Project Success
Effective resource allocation is fundamental to the success of any project management endeavor. Strategically integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into resource management not only refines these processes but also maximizes the use of every project component. By harnessing the power of AI, project managers can navigate complex project dynamics with unparalleled precision, substantially enhancing team performance and overall project outcomes.
Learn how AI augments various facets of resource management and how it can enable managers to plan more effectively, adapt swiftly to changes, and continually optimize resources.
AI-Driven PM: Fulfilling the Promise of Lessons Learned
Integrating AI and machine learning (ML) into project risk management is not only an upgrade, it’s a fulfillment of the long-held vision of truly learning from past projects. By turning the abstract into the actionable, AI and ML actualize the potential of lessons learned, offering a roadmap that is both informed by history and tailored to the unique contours of each new project.
In this blog, Morris shares a way to turn lessons learned into a risk assessment that can provide actionable insights.
The Future of PM: Metrics 2.0
In 2012, Morris penned an article titled “Metrics 2.0,” in which he pontificated what the project management world would look like with a strategic, data-driven approach that streamlined operations and bolstered project outcomes and stakeholder satisfaction.
Little did he know that in just a decade, the advent of AI and the widespread adoption of collaborative platforms would revolutionize the way we work.
In this blog, Morris discusses how Microsoft Teams, augmented with AI, transforms into more than just a communication and collaboration platform. “It evolves into a central nervous system for projects.”
AI Driven PM: Fulfilling the Promise of Lessons Learned
In the realm of project management, the perennial challenge has been not just to navigate the present, but to learn from the past in a way that illuminates the path forward. In his book, “Project Management That Works,” Morris presents a narrative on risk assessment, a process traditionally encumbered by subjective judgments and cumbersome methodologies.
He shares a way to turn lessons learned into a risk assessment that could provide actionable insights. “It is here, at the intersection of aspiration and reality, that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) emerge not just as tools but as transformative forces, making the ideal of learning from past lessons a tangible, impactful reality.”
Learn how to transform lessons learned into risk management strategies and how to embrace AI and ML in project risk management.
Past Events
Morris is speaking at the Spring Professional Development Day event for the Buffalo chapter of the Project Management Institute on May 14.
The event will provide comprehensive training in influence, negotiation, conflict resolution, and leadership development. Participants will learn core principles of persuasion, acquire practical negotiation skills, and develop strategies for building high-performing teams and navigating project challenges.
The program aims to equip individuals with the tools to enhance stakeholder engagement, align objectives, and foster a collaborative, productive work environment.