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Since 2007, Ricardo Vargas publishes the 5 Minutes Podcast where he addresses in a quick and practical way the main topics on project, portfolio and risk management.
Finance Theory I
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In this week's episode, Ricardo makes a personal reflection on why he chose to work with project management. He explains how the desire to create new things and the happiness and fulfillment when you get things done were a fuel to select his profession. The happiness for the achievement. Listen to the episode to hear his perspectives about the prof…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Understanding the Differences between Product Owner, Scrum Master and Project Manager
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5:55
In this week's episode, Ricardo explains the fundamental differences between 3 roles in the project environment: the product owner and Scrum Master, widely used when applying Scrum and the Project Manager. All of them have critical roles in supporting their projects to deliver the results. However, each of them comes with a different set of account…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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3 Tips to Find Our Way Out of the Labyrinth of Imperfect Information
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8:30
In this week's episode, Ricardo reflects on how our experiences, the media, and the different voices of society affect our perception of risks. We often increase, decrease or disregard the relevance of different threats and opportunities due to imperfect and biased information we receive every day. Ricardo also shares three simple tips you should a…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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How to Get to the Root of a Problem Using the 5 Whys Technique
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7:05
In this week's episode, Ricardo explains the 5 Whys technique to help you identify the root cause of an event, a specific risk, or even support your decision-making process. The technique, although simple, has nuances that allow you to be more effective and expand its range of uses beyond what was proposed by its creator, the founder of Toyota in t…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Accountability: We Have to Live With the Decisions We Make
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5:27
In this week's episode, Ricardo talks about accountability and the discomfort we face most of the time when making decisions. Having the chance to make decisions are one of the most significant freedom examples we have. However, it comes with a lot of pain because we do not know precisely a decision is correct or not. If we take only the profession…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Reflections on the Impact of the Suez Canal Blockage: Reassessing Enterprise Risks
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Ricardo tries to see the incident from different perspectives. From the standpoint of Evergreen Marine (ship operator) to the other shipping companies. From the perspective of the Egyptian government to the perspective of countries that rely heavily on global trade. Finally, he discusses your view as someone managing a project that relies on equipm…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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The Ebb and Flow of Ideation and Its Role on Brainstorming
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4:40
In this week's episode, Ricardo shares a concept he saw in a Design Thinking course he did recently: The Ebb and Flow of Ideation. Dev Patnaik introduces this straightforward and effective concept in the Product Development Best Practices Report. It is centered on the concept that better ideas are interspersed with absurd ones during ideation, and …
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Leveraging your Product Development Results with the Kano Model
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In this week's episode, Ricardo introduces the Kano Model, one of the easiest and more effective ways to prioritize product and service's features based on their potential to satisfy clients. Listen to the episode to learn more about the five patterns or categories created by Noriaki Kano to classify the features and identify those you should focus…
In this week's episode, Ricardo discusses one of the critical principles of the PRINCE2 method: the management by exception. Managing by exception is a key pillar to save time and the overload of communications by setting boundaries of action and escalating issues. This principle is useful in every type of project and every method. Listen to the ep…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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5 Tips to Minimize the Challenges of Virtual Meetings
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7:43
In this week's episode, Ricardo gives tips for optimizing virtual meetings. As everyone knows, this type of arrangement has become a "nightmare" for many. Endless hours in front of a small screen have become a torment for productivity and performance. There are 5 simple tips that are much more related to discipline and behavior than to any type of …
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Who Should Make the First Move in a Negotiation: The Anchoring Bias
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7:19
This week's topic goes back to negotiation and who should make the first offer. Many researchers claim that the Anchoring bias provides an edge to those who make the first offer since the human tendency supports that counter-offers tend to be proposed around the initial starting point. But there is a way around this if you don't make the first offe…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Why Shouldn't You Outsource What You Do not Know How to Do?
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6:37
This week, Ricardo reflects on companies' benefits and challenges with the visible increase in interest in outsourcing activities, especially concerning outsourced activities due to incapacity and lack of knowledge about work. He ponders the damage that the lack of knowledge, mastery of technology and know-how, can generate in the project's sustain…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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More Abstract Work Suffers More from the Dunning-Kruger Effect
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6:29
This week Ricardo returns to discuss the Dunning-Kruger effect and how it is usually more visible in projects and initiatives with more abstract deliveries and products. It is important to remember that the Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when the professional demonstrates confidence and a sense of competence incompatible with his job's real ability. …
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Understanding the Major Global Risks with the WEF Global Risk Report 2021
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6:30
The WEF just published the Global Risk Report 2021. In its 16th edition, the report addresses the significant global risks like war, natural disasters, infectious diseases, and several other events and hazards that could jeopardize companies and governments' operations. In this episode, Ricardo highlights the report's main finds and goes back to 20…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Outputs and Outcomes: When Movement Does Not Necessarily Mean Progress
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5:25
Nowadays, all those leading projects and initiatives only talk about outcomes. In this week episode, Ricardo reflects on the concept that outcomes are everything while outputs are irrelevant. For him, outputs and outcomes are equally important because outputs are the only way to produce outcomes. The problem is the disconnection between the outputs…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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The New PMP Exam and Its Relationship with the PMBOK Guide
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With the new PMP® Exam just released by PMI, Ricardo has received several messages asking about the new exam and the relationship with the PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition and the new PMBOK® Guide 7th Edition that is close to being released. He approaches the main differences in the exam and that until the new PMBOK® Guide is released, the part of the exam…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Attitude towards Failure - Reputation and Gratitude - What Matters Ep 4
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10:11
In the fourth and last episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of reputation and the use of social media. He also discusses our attitude towards failure, empathy, humility and gratitude and how these aspects become fundamental as you progress professionally in life.By Ricardo Viana Vargas
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Celebrating 500 Podcast Episodes - 2020 Review and 2021 Perspectives
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5:48
This week's episode celebrates the 13th anniversary of the 5 Minutes Podcast and the arrival of a significant milestone: 500 episodes. In this special podcast, Ricardo reviews 2020 and shares his perspectives for 2021. He also shares an interview about podcasts' history and some curious facts, as he has never heard even an episode of his own podcas…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Create your Roadmap to the Future - What Matters Series Episode 3
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19:29
In the third episode of the series, Ricardo shares the method he uses to clearly identify which projects and initiatives he must undertake to achieve his goals. It shows how a Post-It and a flip chart can make a big difference in how you view, compare and select ideas.By Ricardo Viana Vargas
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Options are Your Best Career Insurance - What Matters Series Episode 2
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11:19
This week Ricardo publishes the audio of the second episode of the What Matters Series (https://youtube.com/rvvargas) In this episode, he discusses the importance of having professional options and how you can increase these options by improving knowledge, networking and mobility. He also talks about how some discomfort and challenges can bring you…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Career Success Starts with Passion - What Matters Series Episode 1
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10:36
This week Ricardo publishes a special podcast with the audio of the first episode of the What Matters Series (https://youtube.com/rvvargas) In this episode, he shares how passion defines success for you; no matter what career you choose.By Ricardo Viana Vargas
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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3 Tips to Get PMP Certified Before the End of the Year
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8:40
This week, Ricardo will address a question he has been receiving in the past weeks: Should I sit my PMP Exam now, or should I wait until 2021? In this episode, Ricardo tries to answer this question and provide some last-minute tips for those who do not want to “procrastinate” and get the job done this year.…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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How to Manage Coupled Dependencies in Projects
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8:01
This week, Ricardo talks about a type of relationship that is becoming increasingly popular: coupled dependencies. This kind of relationship increases the delivery speed. However, if not appropriately managed, this coupled dependency can increase the risks and the chances of rework. This is due to the set of assumptions teams needed to create these…
This week, Ricardo talks about the evaluation of risks using the Bowtie method. The method has its roots in the oil and gas industry, but it is used today in several areas to visualize the event, the threats that could trigger the risk and its consequences. After evaluating the threats and consequences, the team should work together to identify bar…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Review Your Metrics Because They Lose Value Over Time
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6:15
This week, Ricardo talks about metrics and discusses why we should review metrics often to make sure they are still valuable. One of the main threats of old metrics is that people get used to the engine behind it, and they know exactly how to work so that they stay on permanent “green” without truly seeing the whole picture.…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Spotify Model for Engineering Culture - Part 3/3
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6:36
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6:36
This week, Ricardo presents the last episode about the engineering culture created by Spotify to manage and deliver projects. The Spotify model aims to shape a culture of self-organized, autonomous teams, where independence and alignment combined with a strong focus on people and motivation aim to bring agility at scale with fast decoupled releases…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Spotify Model for Engineering Culture - Part 2/3
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7:15
This week, Ricardo presents part 2 of 3 about the engineering culture created by Spotify to manage and deliver projects. The Spotify model aims to shape a culture of self-organized, autonomous teams, where independence and alignment combined with a strong focus on people and motivation aim to bring agility at scale with fast decoupled releases and …
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Spotify Model for Engineering Culture - Part 1/3
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6:06
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6:06
This week, Ricardo kicks off a series of 3 episodes about the engineering culture created by Spotify to manage and deliver projects. The Spotify model aims to shape a culture of self-organized, autonomous teams, where independence and alignment combined with a strong focus on people and motivation aim to bring agility at scale with fast decoupled r…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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The Project is Complex Enough: Simplify Management
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In this episode, Ricardo addresses the problem of creating complex management systems to manage complex projects. This kind of mistake is very common. As things become more complex, you add more layers of controls, reporting, etc. That is where bureaucracy is born. This is when your project or initiative goes to the Intensive Care Unit… It becomes …
In this episode, Ricardo shows how to use the 7R process to plan and drive change. The 7R’s process was primarily focused on IT initiatives, mainly using ITIL Change Management Process. However, every single change initiative can benefit from it, regardless of area or sector. The 7R’s are (Raiser, Reason, Return, Risk, Responsible, Resources, and R…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Why is it so Hard to Make Smart People Work Together?
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6:56
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6:56
In this episode, Ricardo reflects on five aspects that could explain why some intellectually gifted professionals have such a hard time working in teams. He discusses aspects related to confidence, education, ego, EQ, and IQ, among others, and their impact on a “smart” person’s desire and effectiveness to work together.…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Why We Should Care about Psychological Safety
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the connection between our desire for adaptability, creativity, experimentation and innovation with common human feelings like fear and safety. Providing a psychologically safe environment is becoming a critical success factor in surviving and thriving in the current scenario.…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Let’s be Mindful: What really is a Distinct Mindset?
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6:07
In this episode, Ricardo comments on a recent LinkedIn post comparing “Project Management Thinking” with “Scrum Master Thinking”. The post clearly presents one side as a controller, authoritarian, centralizer, etc. and the other as a team player and an enabler. On a rare reply to posts, Ricardo mentioned that this is not the right comparison. This …
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Understanding Scope Statement, Statement of Work and Requirements
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In this episode, Ricardo explains the fundamental difference between the scope you define for the project, the procurement documents you may use to source products and services, and the requirements you identify to set the boundaries of the work you need to do. It is essential to highlight that Ricardo does not restrict these documents to waterfall…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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It is Possible to Innovate and Create Value Without Destroying What is Currently in Place
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In this episode, Ricardo reflects on our innovation and creative process. Recently he reviewed some concepts related to the “Blue Ocean Strategy” created by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne from INSEAD, and one aspect raised his interest: nondestructive creation/innovation. This podcast is his reflection on whether it is possible to innovate and cre…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Agility and Agile are Not Necessarily the Same Thing
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the organizational and individual behaviour that shapes the concept of agility: rapid decision making, flat structure, decision close to the execution, adaptation to change. He also discusses the Agile methods or approaches that intends to help organizations embed the concept of agility inside their organizations.…
In this episode, Ricardo demonstrates his concerns about the blind use of templates everywhere. Despite being a reliable source of inspiration and ideas, the templates can make you think that your management work is just filling forms while, in reality, you should be thinking, deciding and acting.By Ricardo Viana Vargas
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Stop Worrying About Things You Cannot Control
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In this episode, Ricardo reflects on our desire for control and how the lack of control can create all sorts of psychological threats which could culminate in poor results for the project, for the organization and for you. Ricardo also talks about mechanisms of acceptance, reaction, adaptation and learning that you should put in place to be effecti…
In this episode, Ricardo introduces the Post Mortem Analysis, one of the less used and most relevant collective learning activities that project and program teams can do at the end of their project, program or initiative.By Ricardo Viana Vargas
In this episode, Ricardo tries to define what making progress really is. Many times even brilliant people get trapped thinking that movement = action = progress. Movement for the sake of proving you are doing something is pointless, consumes energy and resources and will not take you and your organization anywhere.…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Regaining Control: Leading Projects and Delivering Results in Turbulent Times
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the free ebook he just released. The book was written alongside Vince Molinaro, one of the top names in leadership research. It discusses how leadership became paramount to delivering actual results in these turbulent times. The free ebook can be downloaded at https://rvarg.as/regainingcontrol…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Work in Progress (WIP): Your Worst Enemy When Trying to Get Things Done
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the nightmare of trying to get things done and while managing a lot of works in progress that consume money and effort and do not deliver any value to the organization or project.By Ricardo Viana Vargas
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Unimaginable Examples on How the Current Crisis Accelerated Business and Digital Transformation
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This week Ricardo talks about some unimaginable examples of how the current crisis accelerated the business and digital transformation dramatically.By Ricardo Viana Vargas
In this episode, Ricardo reflects on how the current disrupture may affect employment, as we recognize it today.By Ricardo Viana Vargas
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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3 Critical Skills to Be Successful in Current Times
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6:00
In this episode, Ricardo talks about three skills he believes are critical to be successful in these current times.By Ricardo Viana Vargas
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Planning the Return to the Office during COVID-19 Times
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11:30
In this week's episode, Ricardo discusses how you can benefit from planning a potential return to the office during the COVID-19 pandemic. With conditions improving in several countries, and people going back to work, it becomes imperative that we address 3 different fronts in our approach: Leadership, Operational/Tactical, and Business/Liquidity/S…
In this week’s episode, Ricardo introduces the concept of ROAM Risk (Resolved, Owned, Accepted, Mitigated / Minimized). The process of traversing (ROAMing) risks is a quick way to categorize and act on the relevant risks. This process is widely adopted in agile models such as SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), mainly during the planning of increments o…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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How to Become Optimist if you are Surrounded by Pessimism
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8:42
In this week's episode, Ricardo talks about being optimistic in a pessimistic work environment. He addresses that one of the leading causes of pessimism is our inability to understand that what we are not able to control much, and this uncertainty is often counterintuitive. This inability to control everything usually generates an ever more distort…
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5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Organizational and Personal Resilience: The Ability to Cope with Change
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the concept of organizational and personal resilience. The issue becomes even more critical when we are faced with the uncertainty of an unprecedented crisis that we are having with the coronavirus. In this sense, the rapid recovery capacity becomes a critical factor for companies, governments and professionals. T…
In this episode, Ricardo explains the assessment he developed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak in your project. He shares a 20 statements assessment that helps the evaluation of the potential exposure of your project to the implications of the COVID-19. He also shares actions we should put in place to protect the team and the reduce …
