Wednesday, August 15, 2018

PMI's Projectified Podcast Focuses on Pertinent Management Topics


Friday, August 10, 2018

Relief Pitcher Jesse Chavez Traded from Rangers to Cubs


A member of the Project Management Institute and resident of the Dallas, TX, area, Chad Greenslade has managed information technology functions for numerous application development and infrastructure projects throughout the course of his 19-year career. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chad Greenslade is an avid baseball fan who counts the Texas Rangers as his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team. 

Sitting in last place in the American League West division following the MLB All-Star break, the Rangers dealt veteran relief pitcher Jesse Chavez to the Chicago Cubs on July 19 in exchange for left-handed pitcher Tyler Thomas. A 34-year-old native of San Gabriel, California, Chavez was originally drafted by the Rangers in the 42nd round of the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft and has spent 11 seasons with nine different teams. Through 30 games this season with Texas, Chavez registered a 3.51 earned run average (ERA), while allowing 58 hits and striking out 50 batters in 56 and one-third innings.

Thomas, meanwhile, is the third minor-league pitcher acquired by Texas via trade since the beginning of the season. The 22-year-old lefthander was selected by the Cubs in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft. He compiled a win-loss record of 3-5 and a 2.88 ERA at Class-A South Bend in the Midwest League.

Monday, August 6, 2018

The Four Ps of ITIL Service Design


Chad Greenslade, a resident of Dallas, TX, has been working in the IT industry for more than a decade. He most recently handled all strategic projects and programs at Cardtronics, Inc., as vice president of the IT project management office (PMO). In addition to his professional responsibilities, Chad Greenslade maintains an interest in Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL).

One of the stages of the ITIL service lifecycle is service design, which focuses on helping a company differentiate its business offerings and determine its target market. This stage involves four Ps - people, products, processes, and partners. Each of these is briefly described below:

1. People: The successful development and operation of all IT services depends on the people who provide the services. These people will all have the necessary competencies and skills as well as a good understanding of customer service outcomes.

2. Products: In this category, people can find the management systems and technologies needed to provide the various IT services. Choosing the right technology is extremely important for ensuring services are delivered properly.

3. Processes: All processes are measurable and are designed to manage and support the IT services offered to customers. Without good processes in place, IT services may not fully meet agreed service levels and the expectations of customers.

4. Partners: Any manufacturers, suppliers, or vendors that support and help with IT services must be considered during service design. These partners are responsible for keeping the service operational after it goes live.

Friday, August 3, 2018

When to Visit Playa Del Carmen


An experienced IT project and service management professional in Dallas, TX, Chad Greenslade most recently served as the vice president of the IT project management office (PMO) at Cardtronics, Inc., in Frisco, TX. In his free time, Chad Greenslade enjoys traveling, and he has visited such tropical destinations as Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

In terms of weather, Playa del Carmen has a sub-tropical climate, staying under 80 degrees Fahrenheit throughout most of the year. Summer, which usually lasts from May to September, brings higher levels of humidity that can make the city feel warmer. Meanwhile, many areas have cold winds during winter months.

Beyond temperatures, visitors do have to consider hurricane weather and precipitation in the city. Hurricanes may come through the area between June and March. While they aren’t extremely common, the risk plus the humidity from June to September is usually enough to keep tourists away. Meanwhile, the chances of precipitation is lowest in March, April, and December, and highest in September and October.

Finally, visitors must consider accommodation prices and crowds when deciding on a time to visit Playa del Carmen. Between October and March, cruise ships are extremely common in the area, thus driving up both crowds and accommodation prices. Crowd sizes shrink between April and May, expect for around Easter Week and the Spring Equinox, and usually remain small through summer. This lack of crowds doesn’t affect accommodation prices much, but some hotels offer hurricane specials during summer.