Toptal Projects Blog

The Toptal Projects Blog is a focal point for learning about the current best practices, tricks of the trade, and state of knowledge in Project Management and Agile leadership. These publications are brought to you by the professional project managers and agile professionals in the Toptal network.

authors are vetted experts in their fields and write on topics in which they have demonstrated experience. All of our content is peer reviewed and validated by Toptal experts in the same field.

World-class articles, delivered weekly.

authors are vetted experts in their fields and write on topics in which they have demonstrated experience. All of our content is peer reviewed and validated by Toptal experts in the same field.

Critical Chain Project Management: Agile’s Missing Link

When an Agile project has too little time and too few resources, an extra planning boost from the critical chain method can keep a project on the path to success.

11 minute readContinue Reading

Costas Voliotis

Costas is a project and product management expert who specializes in sophisticated technology projects for highly competitive markets around the world. Costas holds a doctorate degree from the National Technical University of Athens and has held multiple C-suite positions during his 25-year career.

CapEx 101: Resolving the Agile vs. Waterfall Conflict With Hybrid Methodology

What do Agile, Waterfall, and the former energy corporation Enron have in common? A strange shared history that may shed light on one of the most well-known conflicts in software development.

8 minute readContinue Reading

Adam Zachary Wasserman

Adam is a project manager and IT professional with 30 years of experience in all aspects of software, from development to operations, and from enterprise to startup. He has worked for companies like Lincoln Financial Group, OpenText, and Bell Canada, and is the author of The Chaos Factory, a book on methods for improving and scaling enterprise app development.

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Implementing a Project Management Office: 4 Steps to Success

A PMO can deliver huge value, but setting one up can be a challenge—especially if it is an organization’s first time. Ensure a smooth launch with this expert PMO strategy guide.

7 minute readContinue Reading

Ayman Dayekh

Ayman is a project management expert who has consulted for numerous project management offices during his two decades of experience. He is PMP and PMO certified and has been invited to join the prestigious PMO Global Awards Judging Committee on several occasions. He also holds certifications in strategy, leadership, and process improvement and change management from PMI, HEC, and Harvard, respectively.

3 Essential Project Manager Skills and How to Hone Them

Managing projects is largely about managing people. These three soft skills can help project managers build a strong team, gain trust, and create a positive culture.

7 minute readContinue Reading

Kata Török-Pál

Kata is a project management expert who has consulted for Fortune 500 companies, including Disney and Mercedes-Benz, and Global 500 telecommunications company Telefónica. She has been a servant-leader for international and cross-functional teams, and is an advocate for mentorship and continuous improvement.

Program Manager vs. Product Manager: A Conflict Resolution Strategy

Program managers and product managers often clash. Improving communication at three specific touch points can alleviate tension, develop more positive relationships, and ensure smooth project delivery.

7 minute readContinue Reading

Kamil Imański

Kamil is a program manager, project manager, and Scrum master. He has extensive experience overseeing the delivery of large-scale projects at both national and international companies, including BAE Systems, an FTSE 100 company and the largest defense contractor in Europe. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP, and PMI-ACP.

What Is a Product Owner? A Project Manager’s Guide

It’s not uncommon for project managers to be assigned duties that should belong to a product owner. Find out how you can use this role confusion to your advantage, and increase your skills in both arenas.

6 minute readContinue Reading

Elizabeth A. Anderson

Elizabeth is a Certified Scrum Master and Certified Product Owner with more than a decade of experience in Agile project management. She has built and supported a variety of software products, including a complex IoT yacht security monitoring system with hardware, mobile, and web apps, and a mobile e-commerce platform for industrial metals company O’Neal Steel.

You’ve Landed Your Next Scrum Master Job. Now What?

The first days in a new position can be confusing and lead to avoidable mistakes. These Scrum master best practices will help you become the servant-leader your team needs.

10 minute readContinue Reading

Anna Zakoyan

Anna is an Agile coach, senior Scrum master, trainer, and consultant with 16 years of experience in project and team management. She has helped more than 50 companies, including SGS Digicomply, Krisp, Ucraft, HSBC, Ameriabank, and Joomag, transform how teams collaborate and how work gets done.

Toptal Project Management Expert

Marco De Stefano

Marco started out as a software developer but moved on to more suitable roles—scrum master and Agile project manager—which he’s been successfully occupying for over the past decade. His technical background and business-oriented mindset facilitate effective communication with development teams and with different business stakeholders. Recently in his latest projects, he also works as an Agile coach to foster scrum adoption.

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