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Big things coming from small beginnings might sound like a cliche, but it’s rooted in truth. Project managers understand that before embarking on large endeavors, it’s best to test the waters. The phrase for that in project management is a pilot project. What is a pilot project? We’ll get to that and the industries that use a pilot plan before initiating big, expensive and complex projects. We’ll then explain how to execute a pilot project plan, what should be included, the benefits of doing so and much more. What Is a Pilot Project? A pilot project is a small-scale, preliminary study or test run of a new concept, process, product or service before full-scale implementation. It helps organizations assess feasibility, identify potential challenges and refine their approach based on real-world feedback. The key characteristic of a pilot project includes being of limited scope. These projects are conducted on a small scale to minimize risks and costs, and this test phase is used to evaluate the effectiveness of an idea before full deployment. It’s a learning opportunity, which helps identify issues, gather data and make improvements, as well as mitigate risks by detecting failures early. This decision-making tool provides results that help stakeholders decide whether to scale up, modify or abandon the project. But beyond the pilot project meaning, it’s still a project. Whether used to test a new software system, launch new infrastructure or develop a new process before full adoption, it still requires project management software to reap all those benefits. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has multiple project views to plan, manage and track pilot projects in real time. Project managers can schedule tasks, resources and cost but also link task dependencies to avoid delays and cost overruns, filter for the critical path to identify essential tasks and set a baseline to track progress in real time. The project team can use kanban boards or task lists to execute their work, while the calendar view keeps stakeholders updated. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gantt-CTA-2025.jpgProjectManager’s Gantt charts schedule, manage and track pilot projects. Learn more What Industries Execute Pilot Projects? Many industries use pilot projects to test innovations, improve processes and reduce risks before full-scale implementation. Below is a brief overview of how pilot projects apply in different sectors: Construction: Pilot projects in construction test new building materials, techniques or project management strategies on a smaller scale before large-scale deployment. This helps in evaluating safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Pharmaceuticals: Pharmaceutical companies conduct pilot studies in drug development and clinical trials. These small-scale trials assess a drug’s safety, efficacy and potential side effects before proceeding to large-scale testing and regulatory approval. Telecommunications: Telecom providers test new technologies, such as 5G networks, in select locations before nationwide rollouts. These projects help evaluate network performance, customer experience and infrastructure requirements. Manufacturing: Manufacturers use pilot projects to test new production processes, automation technologies and supply chain optimizations. This reduces waste, improves efficiency and ensures quality before large-scale implementation. Software Development and IT: In software and IT, pilot projects involve testing new applications, systems or cybersecurity measures with a small user group before a full rollout. This allows companies to gather user feedback, fix bugs and optimize performance. When to Execute a Pilot Project A pilot project should be conducted when an organization wants to test a new idea, process or technology before full-scale implementation. The ideal situations for executing a pilot project include the following. Introducing a New Product or Service When launching an innovative product or service to gauge market acceptance. To gather customer feedback before mass production or a wider release. Implementing New Technologies Before integrating a new system, software or technology into business operations. To test compatibility, functionality and user adoption. Improving Processes and Operations When optimizing workflows or introducing automation in manufacturing or service industries. To identify potential bottlenecks and make necessary adjustments. Reducing Risks in High-Investment Projects When a full-scale rollout involves high costs or risks, such as in construction or pharmaceuticals. To test the feasibility and avoid costly mistakes. Meeting Regulatory or Compliance Requirements When operating in highly regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals) where compliance is essential. To ensure adherence to legal and industry standards before full deployment. Testing Market Demand and Feasibility When entering a new market or launching a product in a new region. To evaluate customer behavior, preferences and potential challenges. What Is a Pilot Plan? A pilot plan is a strategic guide that outlines how a pilot project will be conducted. It serves as a blueprint for testing a new idea, process or technology on a small scale before a full-scale rollout. The plan ensures that the pilot is well-structured and manageable and provides meaningful insights for decision-making. A well-developed pilot plan helps organizations minimize risks, control costs and identify potential challenges early. It clarifies how the test will be executed, how success will be measured and what steps will be taken based on the results. By running a pilot with a clear plan, businesses and industries can refine their approach, make data-driven decisions and increase the chances of successful implementation when scaling up. Next, let’s look at what makes up a successful pilot plan. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pilot-project-example-featured-image.jpg Get your free Pilot Project Plan Example Use this free Pilot Project Plan Example for Word to manage your projects better. Download Word File What Should Be Included in a Pilot Plan? A pilot plan is essential for guiding a pilot project toward success. It outlines the purpose, scope, resources and evaluation criteria to ensure a structured approach. Below are key elements that should be included in a well-designed pilot plan: Goals and Objectives of the Pilot Project Clearly define what the pilot aims to achieve. Goals should be specific, measurable and aligned with the broader organizational strategy. Objectives help determine whether the pilot is successful and inform decisions on scaling up. Pilot Project Scope Define the boundaries of the pilot, including what will be tested, the timeframe and the target group or location. The scope ensures clarity and prevents the project from expanding beyond manageable limits. Resource Requirements Identify the human, technical and financial resources needed to execute the pilot effectively. This includes personnel, equipment, technology, and support systems required for a smooth operation. Estimated Cost of the Pilot Project Provide a financial estimate covering all necessary expenses, such as staffing, materials, technology and operational costs. A well-planned budget ensures cost control and financial feasibility. Stakeholder Identification and Mapping Recognize key stakeholders involved in or affected by the pilot. Mapping their roles, expectations and influence helps in effective communication and decision-making throughout the pilot. Key Deliverables and Milestones Outline the major outputs and milestones that mark progress during the pilot. These checkpoints help track performance, keep the project on schedule and make necessary adjustments. Pilot Project Success Criteria Define the benchmarks that will determine whether the pilot was successful. Success criteria may include performance metrics, user feedback, cost savings, or efficiency improvements. Lessons Learned Document Capture insights, challenges, and best practices from the pilot. This document serves as a reference for future projects and helps refine processes before full-scale implementation. Key Benefits of Conducting a Pilot Project A pilot project provides a controlled environment to test a new initiative before full-scale implementation. It minimizes risks, optimizes resource allocation and ensures better decision-making. Below are some key benefits of conducting a pilot project. 1. Confirms the Feasibility of a Full-Scale Project By running a small-scale test, organizations can determine whether the project is viable. If the pilot proves successful, it provides confidence to move forward with a larger rollout. 2. Helps Identify Unforeseen Risks A pilot helps uncover potential challenges that may not have been initially considered. Identifying risks early allows for proactive solutions, preventing costly mistakes in the full-scale implementation. 3. Allows to Gather Stakeholder Feedback and Requirements Stakeholders, including employees, customers, and partners, can provide valuable input during the pilot phase. Their feedback helps refine and align the project with user needs and expectations. 4. Validates Project Assumptions and Constraints A pilot tests key assumptions, such as expected performance, resource availability and operational constraints. This validation ensures that the project is based on real-world data rather than just predictions. 5. Helps Accurately Estimate Project Costs A pilot provides a more precise understanding of the financial requirements for full-scale implementation. It helps refine budget estimates, ensuring better financial planning and resource allocation. Pilot Project Plan Example The pilot project plan example below helps to better understand what a pilot project looks like in a real-life scenario. Imagine a battery recycling company that has developed an innovative method of extracting metals from used batteries with a low environmental impact and lower costs than traditional methods. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/pilot-project-example-1.png The battery recycling company is trying to obtain a grant from the United States Department of Energy (DOE). To do so, the DOE has provided funds for the construction of a pilot recycling facility to further test the company’s technology and confirm its feasibility and scalability. How to Manage a Pilot Project With ProjectManager Managing a pilot project effectively requires the same tools needed to control a project of any size. It requires features to track progress, allocate resources and measure success. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management platform that helps teams streamline pilot projects with multiple project views and provides robust planning, tracking and reporting features. Robust Resource Management and Cost Tracking Tools Resource management begins with scheduling resources efficiently and tracking personnel, equipment and materials in real time. Then when onboarding, project managers can set their team’s availability, including PTO, vacation, global holidays and skill sets. This helps simplify the assignment of tasks to the right people at the right time. The platform includes cost-tracking tools that help monitor expenses against the budget to ensure financial control throughout the pilot project. These tools include secure timesheets that streamline payroll and track labor costs. With the color-coded workload chart, project managers get an overview of resource allocation and can balance workload to optimize team performance and prevent resource bottlenecks. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/timesheet-lightmode-good-version-lots-of-tasks.png Real-Time Project Management Dashboards and Reports Managing resources is important to keep pilot projects on schedule and within their budget. When a baseline is set on the Gantt chart, ProjectManager can compare actual progress against the plan. For a high-level view of the pilot project or multiple projects, use the real-time dashboards that provide an overview of project status, key milestones and progress metrics on easy-to-read charts. Project managers can track performance indicators such as task completion rates, budget utilization and risk factors. Additionally, custom reports enable data-driven decision-making so stakeholders can assess the success of the pilot project. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dashboard-light-mode.jpg Related Content For those who want to read more about managing pilot projects, below are some recent posts we’ve published on the topic. What Is a Feasibility Study? How to Conduct One for Your Project Feasibility Study Template Cost-Benefit Analysis: A Quick Guide with Examples and Templates Cost Benefit Analysis Template Project Initiation: How to Start Your Project Off Right ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office or out in the field. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Pilot Project: Meaning, Benefits and Example appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Google appears to be testing channel reporting functionality for Performance Max campaigns, potentially addressing a major advertiser criticism of the automated campaign type. Driving the news: Documentation about Channel reporting coming to Performance Max was reported by Kirk Williams, Founder of Zato, with Google Search Lead Tetsuo Konno tagged in the reference on X. A screenshot from the Google Think event in Amsterdam was shared by Arjan Schoorl showing apparent channel breakdowns on LinkedIn: Christopher Bell, Head of PPC at Kelkoo, claims a large advertiser account has already received access to the feature. Why we care. Since launching in 2021, Performance Max has faced sustained criticism for its “black box” approach that consolidates multiple Google channels without providing advertisers visibility into channel-specific performance. If Google provides insight into how budgets are distributed across its various channels this could enable better optimization and accountability. Between the lines. Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin has been asked about the feature but has not yet responded, suggesting the company may not be ready to announce the functionality broadly. What they’re saying. “I think Google is just testing the water to reassure customers when concerns are raised regarding high none-Shopping Traffic,” Bell said, indicating the feature may be designed to address advertiser transparency concerns. What we’re watching. If implemented widely, channel reporting would mark a significant shift in Google’s approach to Performance Max, potentially giving advertisers greater insight into how their budgets are being allocated across Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, and other Google properties. View the full article

As the spring gets closer and closer, I was excited to see a new trend on TikTok that claims you can easily clean fans—a pretty tedious chore—just by spritzing the machine and covering it with a plastic bag. I tried it out on two different fans today and the results weren't great. Here's what happened and what you can (and should) do instead. My attempt at the TikTok fan-cleaning hackFirst of all, here's how it's supposed to look and work when you use a cleaning solution and garbage or plastic bag to "clean" your fan: There are tons of videos like this on TikTok and they all look pretty effective, so I gave it a real try. Different creators recommend different cleaning solutions, like rubbing alcohol or dish soap, but I decided to fill my spray bottle with diluted Fabuloso, the same thing I'd clean the fan with if I were doing it manually. First, I saturated my tower fan with some heavy-handed spray, then put the bag over it. Nothing happened. No dust or dirt came out into the bag whatsoever. I decided to take this as a personal win, honestly, and chalk it up to my fan simply not being disgusting and dirty enough. The goal here is ostensibly to dampen the dust within the fan to the point that it becomes heavy and dense enough to actually be blown out of the vents. I simply didn't have enough dirt! Useless. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson My small table fan, however, definitely did; it was gross to even look at. I sprayed that one down, put the bag over it for a full 10 minutes, and... nothing. All the dirt was still visible when I removed the bag. None—and I mean none—came off. But worse, my fan got too wet and malfunctioned. It wouldn't turn off. That, I think is the primary problem with this supposed hack: You can't unplug the device like you normally would when cleaning something with electrical components, since you need it to be able to blow air in order to complete the trick. Unfortunately for me, my fan charges while it's plugged in, so even unplugging it did nothing. It had to run for an hour with water inside before it regained the ability to be turned off. I unquestionably damaged and/or broke it by doing this. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson In short, not only does this hack not clean the fan vents or blades, but it has the potential to damage your fan. I don't care how many videos you see of people appearing to pull this off successfully. It's not worth attempting. How to clean a fan insteadIn this case, it's best to do things the old-school way. Unplug your fan. On larger box fans, you should be able to unscrew and detach the front plate, giving you access to the interior parts while you plop the front plate into soapy water (your tub works great for this). From there, wipe down the blades with soapy water. If you can't do that or don't want to, just use a vacuum with a brush attachment to suck dirt and grime out through the vents and slats. Use soapy water to wipe down the exterior, including the cord, but don't get any moisture near where the cord connects or any of the buttons. They can be wiped with a plain microfiber cloth. Here's a more comprehensive breakdown. While I am sad that the nifty trick didn't work, I'm glad for two reasons: I can dissuade you from trying it, first of all, and my apartment smells great now that two of my fans have dispersed Fabuloso water through the air. It's the little things. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I work in an office with two full-time employees, a manager, and 80+ contract employees. Jane, the other full-time employee, and I both support the contract employees in vital, yet different ways. Let’s say that she schedules appointments, and I process payments. Each office in our company has a scheduler and a payment processor, and while both are technically hourly, each cohort has different duties and perhaps a different culture. Payment processors have many more responsibilities than schedulers, and both are occasionally asked to pick up an outside task or six. Here’s where things get tricky. Both Jane and I have had salaried positions, and Jane is from outside the industry in a larger, more corporate environment. We treat our jobs quite differently. There’s no time clock, but the payment processors tends to prioritize customer service to the contract employees/getting things done efficiently over keeping within eight hours. We frequently stay a little late and often put in a couple hours over a weekend (at home) so as not to return to an anxiety-producing avalanche of work. Depending on the time of year, I probably work 42-50-hour weeks, the latter during super busy times/events. My impression of the schedulers is that many (but not all) of them are the same. We don’t get overtime, but we get flex time, which admittedly I can forget to track/use. Jane, by contrast, leaves exactly on time (or early, according to some), sticks only to her assigned duties, and demands flex time as compensation for even 15 minutes spent outside her work hours. To be fair, she legally has the right to do this, but it feels quite different from our corporate culture. Jane gets a lot done within her daily hours but is unavailable outside that time, even for sudden crises. This is difficult for the contract employees, whose jobs are not locked into a neat 9-5, Monday through Friday routine. While they respect my personal time and space, the contract workers know that if difficulty arises, I will be there. Meanwhile, there was incident in which a contract employee came to Jane 40 minutes before the end of an early-release day with a task that would take at least an hour and she firmly said no. She was working from home that day and had no plans but felt it unfair to be asked at such late notice. The contact employee complained all the way up the chain of leadership and another of Jane’s cohort had to step in and do the project. This has led to some dissatisfaction and (unfortunately) comparison between us. Personally, I get where Jane is coming from – especially legally – but I also see that it fits neither company culture nor my personal work ethic. The company was incredibly good to me when I needed to take a long family leave, and the contract employees and management have been generous about sharing some of their bonuses. I know that Jane resents me for working beyond my eight hours and once reported me to HR for it. (They did nothing.) But am I setting a bad precedent? Am I being unfair to Jane? I am not intentionally trying to look better in the eyes of the contact workers or corporate leaders; I am just trying to do a good job and help the company along. Yeah, you’re probably setting a bad precedent, and also being a bit unfair to Jane! If you’re working for free as a non-exempt worker, you’re putting pressure on colleagues to do the same. You’re also exposing your company to legal liability, since they can be subject to fines and penalties for allowing you to do that. For what it’s worth, the whole set-up might be illegal. You said you get comp time instead of overtime, so I want to make sure you know that in the U.S. it’s illegal to pay overtime in comp time instead of in money. The exception is if the comp time is taken in the same work week that it was earned in. For example, if you work nine hours on Monday and take an hour of comp time on Tuesday to balance it out, and as a result your total hours for the week don’t go over 40, your company wouldn’t owe you overtime. But if you work nine hours on Monday and don’t take the comp time until a few weeks later, your company owes you overtime pay for all hours over 40 you worked in that original week. (Also, some states calculate overtime by the day instead of the week, meaning in those states you can’t even do the take-it-that-week plan.) It’s your prerogative if you prefer the comp time set-up and don’t plan to require your employer to follow the law … but in doing that, you’re making it harder for people like Jane who do rightly expect the company to meet its legal obligations to pay them. If it’s a problem that Jane refuses to be available outside of her scheduled hours, that’s something her manager should address with her. If the job requires occasional work outside of normal hours, they need to clearly explain that. (But then they also need to pay for that time. Any chance Jane is so rigid about never working outside of 9-5 because she knows she won’t be paid for it?) If you’re ending up with more than your fair share of the work because Jane refuses to stretch her hours and so people come to you instead, that’s something you should talk to your manager about as well. Maybe that means they talk to Jane about adjusting her availability (and paying her for it). Maybe it means that you get compensated at a higher rate in recognition of your greater contributions. I don’t know — but if it’s causing problems, that’s squarely in “talk to your boss” territory. Right now you’re framing this all as “Jane is out of sync with our corporate culture, and that culture works fine for the rest of us” … but when part of your culture is “we break the law,” that’s not really a good way to look at it. View the full article

The nomination of Jonathan McKernan to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau moves to the full Senate, where he's likely to be confirmed along party lines. View the full article

This webinar explores a structured approach to managing marketing campaigns from start to finish, focusing on practical tools and techniques that drive efficiency and impact. Ideal for marketing campaign managers and project leads, the session covers best practices for planning, executing, and measuring campaigns, with an emphasis on collaboration. Join us on Thursday, March 13th for From Strategy to Execution: Managing Complex Marketing Campaigns, and learn how to integrate key tools and methodologies, while ensuring your campaigns run smoothly and deliver measurable results. Our speakers will cover: Strategic Planning & Goal Setting Building a Collaborative Campaign Framework Data-Driven Decision-Making & Campaign Optimization Save your spot here! View the full article

Macy’s announced in its fourth-quarter and fiscal-year 2024 earnings report on Thursday that it expects another year of declining sales as the department store chain continues reshaping its footprint to focus on better-performing locations. The retailer projected fiscal 2025 sales between $21 billion and $21.4 billion, down from $22.3 billion last year—closely aligning with analyst expectations of $21.34 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. Macy’s net sales in the latest quarter fell 4.3% to $7.8 billion. Across the company’s brands—Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Bluemercury—comparable sales in the fourth quarter declined 1.1%. However, in owned and licensed businesses as well as its online marketplace, comparable sales inched up 0.2%, the highest increase since early 2022. For the full year, comparable sales were expected to decline between 0.5% and 2% year-over-year, with adjusted earnings projected between $2.05 and $2.25 per share. Analysts polled by FactSet had anticipated slight comparable sales growth and earnings of $2.29 per share, the Wall Street Journal reported. Closing stores, selling assets Despite the mixed results, Macy’s said it saw progress with its “Bold New Chapter” strategy. The company previously announced plans to shutter 150 stores by the end of fiscal 2026 (January 31, 2027), leaving it with 350 locations. These remaining stores are Macy’s “go-forward” locations, in which the retailer said it would be prioritizing investment. As part of this plan, Macy’s said it closed 64 stores in fiscal 2024, which it described as “non-go-forward” locations. The closures helped Macy’s bring in more money from real estate. For fiscal 2024, Macy’s made $144 million in “asset sale gains,” more than double the figure from last year, when asset sale gains were $61 million. The company noted in the earnings report that removing non-go-forward Macy’s locations contributed to current year asset sale gains. Additionally, Macy’s delivered an update on its “First 50 locations” strategy. As outlined in a company earnings presentation, the strategy involved selecting the top 50 performing stores across its network to implement new retail initiatives. Its goal was to improve staffing, product displays, and customer experience enhancements. So far, these stores have performed better than the bulk of the chain. Macy’s First 50 locations delivered a fourth consecutive quarter of comparable sales growth, up 0.8% on an owned basis and up 1.2% on an owned-plus-licensed basis, the company said. “As we enter the second year of our strategy, we plan to scale initiatives that are resonating with our customers to drive long-term profitable growth and further unlock shareholder value,” said Tony Spring in Thursday’s earnings report. Macy’s stock (NYSE: M) was flat at about $13.28 in midday trading. View the full article

QuantalRF's CPL antennas deliver 30 dB isolation in the UNII 3 to UNII 5 transition gap, which means 5-10 dB better isolation than the competition, the company says. The post QuantalRF says ‘Compound Planar Loop’ Wi-Fi AP antennas deliver better isolation, reduce costs appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. When my wife and I bought our house two decades ago, one of the most exciting things about the process was finally having in-house laundry after spending our whole lives (almost literally) sitting in laundromats. The laundry center in the house wasn’t fancy—and it was small—but it represented freedom and we were excited. Of course, upon moving in, the laundry machine was instantly non-functional, so we had to scrape out the bottom of our bank account and buy a new one. And that machine has been humming along for 20 years, and might still be running when the sun swells into a red giant and destroys the planet. Considering that most washers and dryers last 10-14 years on average, that’s pretty good. This wasn’t pure luck, however—I’ve been single-handedly keeping our laundry center going with a combination of regular maintenance and some light repairs. What I’ve learned is that you can keep your washer and dryer operational much longer if you do some pretty basic stuff. Make sure the machines are levelYour washer and dryer are pretty active appliances—they generate a lot of motion and momentum while spinning heavy, wet clothes around. It’s essential that they be properly balanced and level, otherwise the drums will be off-kilter, causing increased wear and tear on the whole machine. When the machines are installed, their feet should be adjusted to ensure they’re sitting level and don’t rock from side to side. But you should also be checking your machines on a regular basis with a level—if the appliances aren’t level, it’s time to adjust them until they are. This only takes a few minutes and can really add to the lifespan of the machines. Read the maintenance instructionsYour washer and dryer came with a user’s manual, and your clothes generally come with basic cleaning instructions. You should read through both to know stuff like Detergent amounts. Using too much detergent can damage your washer over time as residue builds up inside the machine, leading to mold and other damage. Your user manual will give you a guide on how much detergent to use. Detergent type. Check if your washer is a high-efficiency model. If so, you’ll want to use a high-efficiency detergent. Otherwise your washer will struggle to clear out all those suds and the extra wear and tear will shorten its lifespan. The location of all the filters, drains, and dispensers—the stuff you’re going to need to clean and inspect going forward. Error codes and other maintenance and troubleshooting information that can go a long way to keeping your appliance functioning longer, because you’ll have some clue as to how to resolve basic problems. Clean the insidesA disturbing number of people I’ve spoken to believe your washer and dryer are self-cleaning because they are appliances used to clean things. While it might seem reasonable that a machine like your washer—which regularly soaks itself in soapy water—doesn’t need to be cleaned, this isn’t true. Cleaning your washer and dryer regularly will greatly increase both their effectiveness and their lifespan: For your washer, you can simply use some vinegar and baking soda in an empty load to clean it. You can also purchase cleaning products if the DIY approach doesn’t seem to be working. You should also clean out the filter and agitator and give the whole machine a good scrub, inside and out. For your dryer, you should clean the lint screen, the exterior vent and duct (you can buy drill-powered duct cleaners for this), and wipe down the interior drum. Clear the drain hosesThe hoses that drain out of your washer can become clogged with what scientists call gunk over the years. Believe me, the first time I took a look inside my washer’s drain hose my life changed, and not for the better. You can usually remove the drain hose without needing to open up the machine—it’s probably just clamped in place. Take it off and use your garden hose to blast clogs out of it with some water pressure, and your washer will have an easier time draining—resulting in dryer clothes and less wear and tear on the machine. Check your pocketsEveryone occasionally washes something they forgot in their pockets, and it might seem harmless (unless it’s your phone or something else allergic to water). But metal objects like coins, keys, or screws left over from your last DIY project can scratch drums, break stuff, and clog up your filters and drains. As a result, one of the easiest ways to keep your old washer and dryer humming is to always, always check your pockets before dumping stuff in the wash. And while we’re discussing metal objects, you should also probably not wash clothing with metal in it, like underwires—or even zippers. If you have to wash something with a zipper, you can minimize the danger by making sure it’s fully zipped-up. Don't over- or under-do itWashers and dryers are designed for specific amounts of laundry, and overloading or under-loading can cause damage to the machine: Washers should be run with full loads, but not overloaded. You can weigh your laundry and compare it to your washer’s capacity, which would be very accurate—but you’re probably OK just eye-balling things. Generally speaking, if you fill the washer up three-fourths of the way, you’re not overloading it. Anything less than half full is under-loading it, and both scenarios can cause damage and wear-and-tear to the machine. Dryers, on the other hand, are usually best run lighter. Keeping your dryer loads to about half the capacity of the dryer is a good practice—it’ll ensure your clothes dry more evenly and more quickly, and won’t stress the dryer as much (overloading a modern dryer can also mess with the sensors it uses to tell when clothes are dry). View the full article

The president’s chaotic policies are squandering a decent inheritanceView the full article

Elon Musk ally Michael Grimes has overseen shake-up of office doling out billions of dollars in semiconductor subsidiesView the full article

Scott Turner, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, extended borrowers more leeway after he toured the region with a local official. View the full article

By effectively managing costs against your project budget, you can avoid cost overruns and deliver your project successfully. Here's how to manage project costs and which software tools can make this process easier. The post Project Cost Management: Definition, Best Practices, & Tools appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

The national average for a gallon of gasoline has declined slightly, dropping one cent from last week to $3.11, according to AAA. The decrease is attributed in part to lower crude oil prices, though market fluctuations and the seasonal transition to summer-grade gasoline may impact prices at the pump in the coming weeks. AAA also noted that the national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at public EV charging stations remained unchanged at 34 cents. Fuel Supply and Demand Trends According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand rose from 8.45 million barrels per day (b/d) last week to 8.87 million b/d. Total domestic gasoline supply declined from 248.3 million barrels to 246.8 million barrels. Meanwhile, gasoline production increased, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day. As of today, the national average for a gallon of gasoline is $3.11, reflecting a decrease of two cents from a month ago and a decline of 27 cents compared to this time last year. Oil Market Update At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil dropped $1.95, settling at $66.31 per barrel. The EIA reported a 3.6 million-barrel increase in crude oil inventories from the previous week, bringing total U.S. crude oil inventories to 433.8 million barrels—approximately 4% below the five-year average for this time of year. Gasoline and Electricity Price Rankings Most Expensive Gas Markets: California: $4.74 Hawaii: $4.54 Washington: $4.11 Nevada: $3.79 Oregon: $3.73 Alaska: $3.43 Arizona: $3.38 Pennsylvania: $3.28 Illinois: $3.21 Washington, DC: $3.21 Least Expensive Gas Markets: Mississippi: $2.64 Kentucky: $2.69 South Carolina: $2.70 Tennessee: $2.71 Louisiana: $2.71 Texas: $2.73 Alabama: $2.74 Oklahoma: $2.76 North Carolina: $2.76 Arkansas: $2.77 Electricity Costs at Public Charging Stations Most Expensive States for Public EV Charging (per kWh): Hawaii: 56 cents West Virginia: 47 cents Montana: 45 cents Idaho: 42 cents Tennessee: 42 cents Arkansas: 42 cents New Hampshire: 42 cents South Carolina: 42 cents Kentucky: 41 cents Alaska: 41 cents Least Expensive States for Public EV Charging (per kWh): Kansas: 22 cents Maryland: 25 cents Missouri: 25 cents Nebraska: 26 cents Delaware: 29 cents Iowa: 29 cents Michigan: 29 cents Utah: 29 cents Texas: 30 cents North Dakota: 31 cents With fluctuations in oil prices and the seasonal transition to summer-grade gasoline, fuel costs may vary in the coming weeks. This article, "Gas Prices Hold Steady as Oil Costs Decline" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The national average for a gallon of gasoline has declined slightly, dropping one cent from last week to $3.11, according to AAA. The decrease is attributed in part to lower crude oil prices, though market fluctuations and the seasonal transition to summer-grade gasoline may impact prices at the pump in the coming weeks. AAA also noted that the national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at public EV charging stations remained unchanged at 34 cents. Fuel Supply and Demand Trends According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand rose from 8.45 million barrels per day (b/d) last week to 8.87 million b/d. Total domestic gasoline supply declined from 248.3 million barrels to 246.8 million barrels. Meanwhile, gasoline production increased, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day. As of today, the national average for a gallon of gasoline is $3.11, reflecting a decrease of two cents from a month ago and a decline of 27 cents compared to this time last year. Oil Market Update At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil dropped $1.95, settling at $66.31 per barrel. The EIA reported a 3.6 million-barrel increase in crude oil inventories from the previous week, bringing total U.S. crude oil inventories to 433.8 million barrels—approximately 4% below the five-year average for this time of year. Gasoline and Electricity Price Rankings Most Expensive Gas Markets: California: $4.74 Hawaii: $4.54 Washington: $4.11 Nevada: $3.79 Oregon: $3.73 Alaska: $3.43 Arizona: $3.38 Pennsylvania: $3.28 Illinois: $3.21 Washington, DC: $3.21 Least Expensive Gas Markets: Mississippi: $2.64 Kentucky: $2.69 South Carolina: $2.70 Tennessee: $2.71 Louisiana: $2.71 Texas: $2.73 Alabama: $2.74 Oklahoma: $2.76 North Carolina: $2.76 Arkansas: $2.77 Electricity Costs at Public Charging Stations Most Expensive States for Public EV Charging (per kWh): Hawaii: 56 cents West Virginia: 47 cents Montana: 45 cents Idaho: 42 cents Tennessee: 42 cents Arkansas: 42 cents New Hampshire: 42 cents South Carolina: 42 cents Kentucky: 41 cents Alaska: 41 cents Least Expensive States for Public EV Charging (per kWh): Kansas: 22 cents Maryland: 25 cents Missouri: 25 cents Nebraska: 26 cents Delaware: 29 cents Iowa: 29 cents Michigan: 29 cents Utah: 29 cents Texas: 30 cents North Dakota: 31 cents With fluctuations in oil prices and the seasonal transition to summer-grade gasoline, fuel costs may vary in the coming weeks. This article, "Gas Prices Hold Steady as Oil Costs Decline" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

What if extreme heat not only leaves you feeling exhausted but actually makes you age faster? Scientists already know that extreme heat increases the risk of heat stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction and even death. I see these effects often in my work as a researcher studying how environmental stressors influence the aging process. But until now, little research has explored how heat affects biological aging: the gradual deterioration of cells and tissues that increases the risk of age-related diseases. New research my team and I published in the journal Science Advances suggests that long-term exposure to extreme heat may speed up biological aging at the molecular level, raising concerns about the long-term health risks posed by a warming climate. Extreme heat’s hidden toll on the body My colleagues and I examined blood samples from over 3,600 older adults across the United States. We measured their biological age using epigenetic clocks, which capture DNA modification patterns – methylation – that change with age. DNA methylation refers to chemical modifications to DNA that act like switches to turn genes on and off. Environmental factors can influence these switches and change how genes function, affecting aging and disease risk over time. Measuring these changes through epigenetic clocks can strongly predict age-related disease risk and lifespan. Research in animal models has shown that extreme heat can trigger what’s known as a maladaptive epigenetic memory, or lasting changes in DNA methylation patterns. Studies indicate that a single episode of extreme heat stress can cause long-term shifts in DNA methylation across different tissue types in mice. To test the effects of heat stress on people, we linked epigenetic clock data to climate records to assess whether people living in hotter environments exhibited faster biological aging. We found that older adults residing in areas with frequent very hot days showed significantly faster epigenetic aging compared with those living in cooler regions. For example, participants living in locations with at least 140 extreme heat days per year – classified as days when the heat index exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.33 degrees Celcius) – experienced up to 14 months of additional biological aging compared with those in areas with fewer than 10 such days annually. This link between biological age and extreme heat remained even after accounting for a wide range of individual and community factors such as physical activity levels and socioeconomic status. This means that even among people with similar lifestyles, those living in hotter environments may still be aging faster at the biological level. Even more surprising was the magnitude of the effect – extreme heat has a comparable impact on speeding up aging as smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. This suggests that heat exposure may be silently accelerating aging, at a level on par with other major known environmental and lifestyle stressors. Long-term public health consequences While our study sheds light on the connection between heat and biological aging, many unanswered questions remain. It’s important to clarify that our findings don’t mean every additional year in extreme heat translates directly to 14 extra months of biological aging. Instead, our research reflects population-level differences between groups based on their local heat exposure. In other words, we took a snapshot of whole populations at a moment in time; it wasn’t designed to look at effects on individual people. Our study also doesn’t fully capture all the ways people might protect themselves from extreme heat. Factors such as access to air conditioning, time spent outdoors and occupational exposure all play a role in shaping personal heat exposure and its effects. Some individuals may be more resilient, while others may face greater risks due to preexisting health conditions or socioeconomic barriers. This is an area where more research is needed. What is clear, however, is that extreme heat is more than just an immediate health hazard – it may be silently accelerating the aging process, with long-term consequences for public health. Large swaths of the U.S. population are experiencing long stretches of extreme heat, as this map of cumulative heat days from 2010 to 2016 shows. [Image: Eunyoung Choi, CC BY-ND] Older adults are especially vulnerable because aging reduces the body’s ability to regulate temperature effectively. Many older individuals also take medications such as beta-blockers and diuretics that can impair their heat tolerance, making it even harder for their bodies to cope with high temperatures. So even moderately hot days, such as those reaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.67 degrees Celcius), can pose health risks for older adults. As the U.S. population rapidly ages and climate change intensifies heat waves worldwide, I believe simply telling people to move to cooler regions isn’t realistic. Developing age-appropriate solutions that allow older adults to safely remain in their communities and protect the most vulnerable populations could help address the hidden yet significant effects of extreme heat. Eunyoung Choi is a postdoctoral associate in gerontology at the University of Southern California. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Other trackers like Zillow and Lender Price on Thursday morning have the 30-year fixed moving higher, following a jump in the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield. View the full article

Leaders’ summit also aimed at endorsing increased defence spending View the full article

As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, it's important to separate fact from fiction when it comes to preparing your returns. "Tax laws are often summarized for [the] sake of quickly explaining a potential benefit—or conflict," says Andy Phillips, Vice President of H&R Block’s Tax Institute. "When details are omitted, it’s easy to misinterpret law or consider the advice of a trusted friend versus taking time to do firsthand research." Blindly following someone else’s bad tax advice could cost you precious time and money. "I can file my tax return with the details from my last paycheck stub." The figures listed on your last paycheck stub may be close to what will be released on your W-2, but it’s not guaranteed that the numbers are always right. Plus, as Phillips explains, this is technically not allowed. "Your last pay stub is not considered an IRS-recognized document for filing. It’s common for calculations to be slightly off throughout the year and not be accounted for until end of year. Payments such as bonuses and commissions can easily be forgotten, and no one enjoys the process of filing an amended return." Phillips' advice: Wait for your employer-prepared W-2. He adds that you should "be wary of return preparers who advertise paystub filing, which is against the rules." The employer should have issued your W-2 by Jan. 31 at the latest. "Being unemployed means I don’t have to pay taxes." If you receive any form of unemployment benefits either from the city, state, or federal level, then that’s considered income. All income should be reported on your tax return. Unemployment benefits paid are typically reported with a Form 1099-G. This form functions similarly as a W-2, outlining how much you were paid and if taxes were withheld. "Any money that I give counts as a charitable contribution." Of course, giving without the expectation of repayment is an admirable gesture. However, Phillips notes that only charitable gifts and donations made to IRS-qualified tax-exempt institutions are tax-deductible. Typically, a receipt is provided when a tax-deductible gift is received. If you recently made a donation and are unsure if your donation was made to a qualifying organization, use the Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool located on the IRS website. Furthermore, you must itemize to deduct charitable contributions, meaning those claiming the standard deduction are not able to deduct those donations even if made to a qualified organization. “If I work from home I can take a deduction for my home office.” With the rise of remote work in the last few years those that work from home may think they can claim the home office deduction. Unfortunately, as Phillips explains, if you are an employee, you cannot claim the deduction—the deduction for employee business expenses was suspended beginning in 2018. On the other hand, if you are self-employed and have a home office it is likely that you can claim the home office deduction. “This social media post told me that I can claim ...” As I wrote last week, certain tax "loopholes" may go viral, but that doesn't mean they're good for your specific tax situation. All across social media, I see creators telling people they can claim tax benefits that are either nonexistent or that they’re not eligible for. Philips concurs: Taxpayers should exercise caution when relying on claims made on social media and should ensure they only use reliable sources when making tax decisions. "A tax filing extension gives me more time to pay my balance due." Unfortunately, an extension of time to file does not give you more time to pay. Phillips says that "you should try your best to pay your estimated balance due when you request an extension." If you can’t pay, filing a tax return is the first crucial step to determine your eligibility to enroll in an IRS-approved installment payment plan. As Phillips explains, neglecting to file on time subjects you to a failure-to-file penalty, which starts at 5% of your unpaid taxes per month, up to five months. If the return is more than 60 days late, a minimum penalty applies. For this year, the minimum penalty is the lesser of 100% of the unpaid tax or $510. On the other hand, the penalty for just failing to pay is only 0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month the tax remains unpaid. "This is why it’s so important to file a return, even if you cannot pay the full amount due," Phillips urges. As long as you file, these penalties combined won’t exceed 25% of your unpaid taxes. Phillips also notes that interest also begins to accrue after the due date on the amount you owe IRS. By steering clear of these common tax myths, you can avoid costly mistakes and headaches this filing season. As always, it's best to consult a qualified tax professional who can look at your specific situation and give you legitimate, tailored advice. View the full article

Many software developers work with both Jira and GitHub Enterprise, and keeping development tasks moving smoothly can be a major headache. Developers who work in GitHub Enterprise don’t want to jump into Jira, potentially missing context crucial to their work. Team leads and product managers who use Jira try to avoid sifting through pull requests to find the updates they need. That’s where an integration between Jira and GitHub Enterprise comes in. That’s also why both Atlassian — the people behind Jira — and Unito offer an integration for GitHub Enterprise and Jira. Here’s a breakdown of both solutions. Atlassian’s GitHub for Jira app Atlassian’s GitHub for Jira app adds the “Development” panel to each Jira issue, allowing for a glimpse into linked GitHub items. The GitHub for Jira app is a native integration, meaning it’s built right into Jira. In only a few minutes — and with the right admin permissions — you can start integrating GitHub repositories with Jira at no extra cost. But what does that actually look like in practice? Notice the Development dropdown in the bottom-right corner of the Jira issue above? You’ll see it after connecting Jira with your GitHub Enterprise instance. With a single click, you can get more context for a Jira issue right from GitHub, like seeing new commits, pull requests, branches, and more. You can also click through to get more detail out of GitHub, just in case the snapshot in the issue isn’t enough. Think of this integration as an easy way to get a window into the work happening in GitHub without leaving Jira. Smart commits are an essential part of Atlassian’s GitHub for Jira app, allowing developers to do more than just get a glimpse of GitHub items. Smart commits are another key feature, allowing you to automate three actions in Jira based on what happens in GitHub: Comment on issues. Record time-tracking data. Move issues between statuses. These basic automations can eliminate hours of manual work over time, quickly becoming valuable for any software team. Why you should use Jira’s integration for GitHub Enterprise Atlassian’s GitHub for Jira app is easy to use, built right into Jira, and supports basic automations. But is it necessarily the best choice? Simplicity For some teams, this integration will strike the perfect balance between capability and simplicity. Want better visibility into GitHub? This integration offers it. You don’t need significant time or resource investment to get this integration to work. If all goes well, you can be up and running in less than a day. Designed for all teams Integrations built for tools like Jira and GitHub Enterprise are often extremely complicated to set up and deploy. It’s not uncommon to need to write code or click through a number of complicated menus. But with this integration, you won’t have to do that. Home-court advantage Who knows Jira’s platform better than the people at Atlassian? Because the integration is built by the same people who built the tool, you know it will work the way you need it to. When you should use Atlassian’s GitHub for Jira app This integration really shines when it empowers teams that want to be a bit more self-directed. Because Jira users can see what’s going on in Jira without leaving GitHub, they’re free to check in on progress their way, without needing to message someone for an update. Ultimately, this integration benefits workflows that need a window between the two tools, allowing for transparent information sharing. Exporting Jira issues isn’t cutting it Jira has built-in features you can use to export Jira issues to other tools using a CSV file, like Excel, Google Sheets, and even GitHub. But this is a completely manual process, and the file you get becomes outdated as soon as you export it. Unito’s integration for Jira and GitHub Enterprise When you connect your Jira projects with your GitHub Enterprise repos using a Unito workflow, you’re creating a two-way connection between issues in both tools. That means any changes made in one tool will be automatically updated in the other. Here’s every field Unito can sync between these tools: Unito offers one of the deepest two-way integrations for Jira and GitHub Enterprise on the market, supporting more fields and more customization options than the competition. With this integration, you don’t need complicated code or commands. Just go through your work as usual and Unito will take care of the rest. Unito supports GitHub Enterprise Server, GitHub Enterprise Cloud, Jira Server, and Jira Cloud. So no matter how your infrastructure is set up, Unito has an integration for you. Why you should use this integration Unito’s integration for GitHub enterprise and Jira can be set up without any significant technical skills, deployed in days, and creates a true 2-way sync between tools. Transparent communication Keeping teams aligned is challenging for any organization. Add a major tool difference and speed bumps can turn into walls. Without an integration, trying to get collaborators in Jira to communicate with GitHub users is impossible without going through another channel, like someone’s email inbox or meeting calendar. That, or someone has to go into someone else’s tool. With Unito’s integration, crucial information can pass from tool to tool, giving you the full picture without leaving your environment. You don’t just get more context, you get all the context the person in the other tool has. Full interaction With Jira’s GitHub Enterprise integration, your Jira issues get some additional context from GitHub and a few automations, but that’s it. That’s not the case with Unito. When you sync Jira projects with GitHub Enterprise repos using Unito’s integration, you’re building relationships between each work item. That means changes made in one tool, to one issue, will directly affect the issue in the other tool. Change a due date in Jira and it’ll change in GitHub. Leave a comment and you’re communicating directly to people on both sides of the tool divide. Everyone can be an active contributor, no matter which tool they use. Two-way collaboration Jira’s integration is just about giving everyone more information. Unito’s integration is about turning the gap between Jira and GitHub into an opportunity for better collaboration. Imagine if you could get information from both GitHub and Jira ahead of your sprint planning meetings with no extra work. Think about how much more powerful your roadmap would be if it wasn’t locked in Jira. You can capture priorities, updates, and more from both tools and give everyone access to them. With Unito’s two-way workflows, every action and bit of information is transferred from Jira to GitHub and back again. Teams can work together without leaving their tool. Would you work remotely without Zoom or Google Meet? That’s the kind of need Unito is solving. When you should use this integration Because Unito’s Jira GitHub integration creates such a deep relationship between your Jira projects and your GitHub repos, it shines when it powers cross-functional collaboration. Think of a project that could benefit from the contributions of multiple teams, even those scattered throughout Jira and GitHub. How much better could that project be if you could bring those teams together and you didn’t need a meeting to do it? But Unito doesn’t only work for internal processes. You can also use it for agency and client work, or ITSM with ServiceNow. This gives you the same kind of transparency you’d be used to internally, while maintaining informational security. Here’s how The Taproom, which builds custom development solutions for businesses on Shopify, uses Unito to do just that. Which integration is right for you? If you want better visibility into GitHub from Jira with a bit more interaction, then Atlassian’s integration is probably your best bet. But if you’re looking for a deeper integration, one that enables project-level visibility and two-way cross-team collaboration across Jira and GitHub, Unito is the best fit. Want an in-depth breakdown? Check out this full guide to integrating Jira with GitHub Get the guide FAQ: Integrating a GitHub enterprise repository with Jira How do I integrate a GitHub repository with Jira? You can integrate GitHub repositories with Jira in one of four ways: Using fully customizable, quickly deployed 2-way integrations from Unito. Setting up GitHub for Jira, Atlassian’s built-in integration tool. Deploying costly, technical integration tools like Workato or Tray.ai. Buying simple one-way automation tools like Zapier. Is Jira compatible with GitHub? Jira isn’t compatible with GitHub by default; you’ll need extra tools to connect the two. While Atlassian offers a built-in solution for doing this, third-party tools like Unito usually provide deeper integrations. How do you link a GitHub branch to Jira? You can use Atlassian’s built-in GitHub for Jira tool or third-party integration solutions like Unito. What are the benefits of using a Jira integration with GitHub? Using a Jira integration with GitHub comes with several benefits: Increased visibility across software development teams. Better reporting for leaders and project managers. The advantages of both tools without the disadvantages (like copying and pasting data). Using the best tool for the job in all situations without losing important context. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I work for a large company that has several locations all over North America, and every year they have presentations that celebrate International Women’s Day. Sounds great – but in my office I am the only woman, and every year I find it incredibly awkward. We watch a presentation and then have a discussion. At some point, someone looks to me and says, “Jane, would like to comment?” I say something like how sometimes it can be difficult, etc. I am a confident, 51-year-old woman but I’m torn. I feel like I should embrace the presentation but I can’t help feeling like I’m under a giant flashing neon “WOMAN” sign. There’s no getting out of it so I’d love to hear how you would handle this. I answer this question — and three others — over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. Other questions I’m answering there today include: Is it ever okay to lose it with an annoying coworker? Is liking a competitor’s post on LinkedIn a cardinal sin? Can I ask managers for their references? View the full article

How it can benefit you and your firm. By Jennifer Wilson Go PRO for members-only access to more Jennifer Wilson. View the full article

How it can benefit you and your firm. By Jennifer Wilson Go PRO for members-only access to more Jennifer Wilson. View the full article

And how they should spend their time. By Marc Rosenberg The Rosenberg Practice Management Library Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. View the full article

And how they should spend their time. By Marc Rosenberg The Rosenberg Practice Management Library Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. View the full article