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Burger King is getting into the Halloween spirit. The fast food chain just introduced its first-ever Monster Menu to kick off spooky season. According to a news release, the vamped up menu will drop on Sept. 30. “BK fans have come to expect something spirited from us during the Halloween season, and each year we try to bring even more fun to families,” said Joel Yashinsky, chief marketing officer, Burger King US&C in the release. Yashinsky continued, “This year, we’ve dialed up the fun and flavor, not only with our ‘Monster Menu’ line-up complete with themed menu innovation, packaging and a special crown, but also with collectible buckets and Scooby-Doo toys—creating even more experiences for everyone.” The menu will feature Halloween-themed twists on fan-favorites, such as the Jack-o-Lantern Whopper, which comes on a bright orange bun topped with black sesame seeds, Vampire Nuggets which come in the shape of fangs, Mummy Mozzarella Fries, and a Franken-Candy Sundae. Of course, there’s a special-edition meal just for kids coming too. The King Jr. Meal, featuring Vampire Nuggets is coming, too, along with a line-up of spooky collectible toys. To make the Monster Menu drop even more exciting, guests can also leave BK with a limited-edition Monster Menu-inspired Halloween Bucket, but not until starting October 13. BK is not the first fast food brand to get in on spooky season. McDonald’s announced it will bring back its Boo Buckets and its Halloween-themed menu this year, too. Wendy’s also introduced Wednesday-inspired Meal of Misfortune, as well as a Frosty Frights Kids’ meal. Last year proved to be a big one for brands sinking their teeth into Halloween. Even businesses like Chipotle and Bush’s Baked Beans had a case of the seasonal scaries, as they sold costumes of their own beloved food items—many of which even turned out to be popular selections for the scariest day of the year. View the full article

TikTok is introducing a new ad solution, Travel Ads powered by Smart+, designed to help brands connect with travelers during the discovery and booking phases. Why now. Travel is one of TikTok’s fastest-growing verticals. According to internal TikTok data: 66% of users say the app is their most helpful source of travel inspiration. Users are 2.6x more likely to book after searching on TikTok. How it works. Travel Ads leverage TikTok’s travel intent model and catalog integration to automatically serve personalized creatives at scale. Smart+ AI powers campaign setup, creative generation, and delivery optimization, aiming to convert discovery into bookings seamlessly. Why we care. TikTok Travel Ads put hotels, flights, and destinations in front of a massive audience already using the app for trip planning, with two-thirds calling it their top source of travel inspiration. Smart+ AI tools then streamline setup and optimization, helping brands scale personalized ads that influence bookings at the earliest, most impactful stage. The details: Ads can showcase hotels, flights, and destinations using dynamic, visually rich formats. Advertisers can choose among: Single video ads: A hero video paired with personalized travel cards (hotel name, flight route, price). Catalog video ads: Auto-built from product catalogs with tailored calls to action. Catalog carousel ads: Scrollable, interactive ads pulling directly from catalog images. What they’re saying. David Hoctor, TikTok’s head of US verticals for travel and gaming, said: “Travel on TikTok goes beyond the For You feed, unlocking real-life travel experiences. Every swipe can be a step toward conversion.” Between the lines. By integrating catalog feeds with intent signals, TikTok is pitching Travel Ads as a direct competitor to Google and Meta in the lucrative travel advertising market, where inspiration and conversion increasingly overlap. View the full article

In episode 325 of PPC Live The Podcast, I sat down with Inderpaul “Indi” Rai, Group Account Director at WeDiscover, to explore the lessons learned from mistakes, team dynamics, and the evolving role of automation and AI in paid search. Indi, a veteran with over a decade of experience in AdTech, MarTech, SEO, analytics, and multilingual paid search, shared candid insights on how errors can shape careers and client relationships. Embracing Mistakes to Grow Indi opened up about one of the most significant mistakes in his career: an automated budget feature in Search Ads 360 went unchecked during his holiday, resulting in the US account overspending by a substantial amount. Despite the magnitude of the error, the client’s response was surprisingly supportive—they recognized it as an honest mistake and collaborated to mitigate the impact. Key takeaway. Mistakes are inevitable, but transparency, a calm response, and collaborative problem-solving can turn potential disasters into learning opportunities. Indi emphasizes that experiencing and managing errors is essential for growth—both personally and professionally. The Importance of Team Communication and Handover Indi reflected on how the overspend could have been avoided with better team preparation: Ensuring critical information isn’t solely in the manager’s head. Documenting handovers thoroughly and leaving room for junior team members to step in effectively. Establishing multiple layers of oversight to prevent single points of failure. He stressed that team members should feel empowered to act and communicate when issues arise, even if the manager is unavailable. In his experience, the junior team caught the overspend themselves and waited for Indi’s return rather than panicking—a testament to clear communication and a supportive team culture. Lesson for managers. maintain composure during crises, focus on solutions over blame, and ensure your team knows their role in resolving issues. Automation and AI: Tools, Not Crutches The discussion turned to automation and AI, where Indi shared practical advice: Treat AI as an assistant, not a replacement. Blind reliance on AI can lead to errors, especially if users don’t understand the subject matter. Always validate outputs and run rigorous testing before implementing AI-driven changes. He cited an example from his past work rewriting product descriptions: AI produced repetitive, generic content that wasn’t an improvement over the original, highlighting the need for careful oversight. Automation can enhance efficiency but requires clear rules, regular checks, and accountability to prevent mistakes like unmonitored budget overspend. Insight. Automation amplifies efficiency but cannot replace thoughtful human oversight and strategic decision-making. Client Relationships Matter A recurring theme in Indi’s story was the importance of cultivating strong client relationships. The supportive response of a previously “difficult” client revealed that mutual respect, trust, and proven value can turn challenging situations into opportunities for stronger partnerships. Lessons in Leadership and Mindset Indi also shared broader reflections applicable beyond PPC: Resilience matters: he likened his career journey to Rocky, emphasizing that success isn’t about avoiding hits but about how you respond and keep moving forward. Learning through experience: setbacks are essential; they teach you to handle pressure, improve processes, and grow professionally. Balanced guidance: leaders should manage crises calmly, focus on facts, and support their teams without panicking. Final Thought The conversation underscores that mistakes are not the end—they are a catalyst for learning, collaboration, and improvement. From automation missteps to client communication, the insights shared by Indi provide a roadmap for PPC professionals aiming to thrive in a fast-evolving industry. Whether it’s refining handovers, managing automation, or leveraging AI responsibly, the core lesson remains the same: anticipate errors, respond calmly, communicate clearly, and use each experience to build stronger teams and smarter processes. View the full article

Multi-manager firm says performance has not kept pace with expectations and cites cost of attracting tradersView the full article

AstraZeneca laid out plans on Monday to switch to a direct listing of its shares in the United States, as the drugmaker seeks to maximise gains from a booming U.S. stock market, even as it said it was not exiting London. The decision to remain UK-based and listed there will be of some relief to British investors after media reports suggested the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker—London’s most valuable company—was considering ditching its UK listing in favour of the U.S. London’s stock market has been shrinking due to companies moving away for higher valuations and access to deeper capital markets elsewhere, particularly the U.S., prompting listing reforms from regulators to score some wins. AstraZeneca said it would list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange and move away from the current depositary receipts structure, with trading expected on February 2, 2026. Trading in fully listed stocks is generally more liquid than in ADRs, attracting more investors. The company will remain headquartered in the UK and listed in London and Stockholm, with the plan subject to a shareholders’ vote on November 3. Its London-listed shares rose roughly 1% on Monday, taking the company’s gains for the year to about 6%. They have underperformed domestic rival GSK, which is up 13.6%, and the UK’s broader, blue-chip FTSE 100 index which has gained 14.2%. Commitment to UK Nearly 22% of AstraZeneca’s shareholder base is from North America, its biggest, according to LSEG data, in line with other top UK-based blue-chip companies. Iain Pyle at Aberdeen Group, a shareholder, said the main takeaway from the announcement was AstraZeneca’s “re-commitment” to the primary listing in the UK. “From our point of view, (AstraZeneca) remains an attractive investment on a fundamental basis, with a broad pipeline still undervalued by the market – the listing location doesn’t alter that view.” AstraZeneca Chair Michel Demare said the proposed “harmonised listing structure” would support the company’s long-term growth strategy. “Enabling a global listing structure will allow us to reach a broader mix of global investors,” he said. A spokesperson for Britain’s Treasury welcomed AstraZeneca retaining its London listing, while the London Stock Exchange said that there would be no change to the drugmaker’s place on the FTSE 100 following the switch. Peel Hunt analysts viewed AstraZeneca’s plans to stay in the UK as positive in the short term, but cautioned that U.S. success might prompt others to follow suit. U.S. investment and visibility Over the past decade, the FTSE 100 has severely underperformed U.S. markets, gaining only 53% while the S&P 500 more than tripled in value. Wall Street indices, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite, hit multiple record highs this month, broadening the market’s appeal. Companies are also ramping up U.S. investments to avoid hefty tariffs threatened by President Donald The President’s administration. AstraZeneca has pledged to invest $50 billion by 2030 in manufacturing in the U.S., its biggest market by sales. It has also said it will cut some direct-to-patient U.S. drug prices as drugmakers face pressure from the The President administration to reduce prices. The U.S. market remains pivotal for AstraZeneca, accounting for more than 40% of revenue in 2024. The company is betting on its U.S. expansion and expected launches to reach $80 billion in annual revenue by 2030 and offset generic competition. Earlier this month, AstraZeneca paused a planned 200 million pound ($268.80 million) investment in its research site in Cambridge, England, the latest drugmaker to pull back from the UK, citing a tough business environment. ($1 = 0.7440 pounds) —Pushkala Aripaka; Additional reporting by Maggie Fick, Josephine Mason, Sarah Young, Charlie Conchie, and Danilo Masoni, Reuters View the full article

A reader writes: Could we do an open thread for federal employees and federal contractors about the possible government shutdown? I wasn’t working in government for the last one and don’t really know what to expect. Yes indeed. People impacted by the last shutdown, what advice do you have for people affected by this one? And people affected by this one, ask and share away. The posts from the shutdowns in 2018 and 2019 might also be helpful, and here’s a piece from 2013 by a commenter about what not to say to friends who had been furloughed by the government shut-down then. The post the government shutdown: an open thread for federal employees and contractors appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

UK carmaker plans to resume manufacturing this week following month-long shutdownView the full article

Rare joint statement with US Treasury seen as ‘green light’ for further currency intervention by Swiss central bankView the full article

In the absence of stronger federal regulation, some states have begun regulating apps that offer AI “therapy” as more people turn to artificial intelligence for mental health advice. But the laws, all passed this year, don’t fully address the fast-changing landscape of AI software development. And app developers, policymakers and mental health advocates say the resulting patchwork of state laws isn’t enough to protect users or hold the creators of harmful technology accountable. “The reality is millions of people are using these tools and they’re not going back,” said Karin Andrea Stephan, CEO and co-founder of the mental health chatbot app Earkick. ___ EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. ___ The state laws take different approaches. Illinois and Nevada have banned the use of AI to treat mental health. Utah placed certain limits on therapy chatbots, including requiring them to protect users’ health information and to clearly disclose that the chatbot isn’t human. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California are also considering ways to regulate AI therapy. The impact on users varies. Some apps have blocked access in states with bans. Others say they’re making no changes as they wait for more legal clarity. And many of the laws don’t cover generic chatbots like ChatGPT, which are not explicitly marketed for therapy but are used by an untold number of people for it. Those bots have attracted lawsuits in horrific instances where users lost their grip on reality or took their own lives after interacting with them. Vaile Wright, who oversees health care innovation at the American Psychological Association, agreed that the apps could fill a need, noting a nationwide shortage of mental health providers, high costs for care, and uneven access for insured patients. Mental health chatbots that are rooted in science, created with expert input, and monitored by humans could change the landscape, Wright said. “This could be something that helps people before they get to crisis,” she said. “That’s not what’s on the commercial market currently.” That’s why federal regulation and oversight are needed, she said. Earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission announced it was opening inquiries into seven AI chatbot companies — including the parent companies of Instagram and Facebook, Google, ChatGPT, Grok (the chatbot on X), Character.AI and Snapchat — on how they “measure, test and monitor potentially negative impacts of this technology on children and teens.” And the Food and Drug Administration is convening an advisory committee Nov. 6 to review generative AI-enabled mental health devices. Federal agencies could consider restrictions on how chatbots are marketed, limit addictive practices, require disclosures to users that they are not medical providers, require companies to track and report suicidal thoughts, and offer legal protections for people who report bad practices by companies, Wright said. Not all apps have blocked access From “companion apps” to “AI therapists” to “mental wellness” apps, AI’s use in mental health care is varied and hard to define, let alone write laws around. That has led to different regulatory approaches. Some states, for example, take aim at companion apps that are designed just for friendship, but don’t wade into mental health care. The laws in Illinois and Nevada ban products that claim to provide mental health treatment outright, threatening fines up to $10,000 in Illinois and $15,000 in Nevada. But even a single app can be tough to categorize. Earkick’s Stephan said there is still a lot that is “very muddy” about Illinois’ law, for example, and the company has not limited access there. Stephan and her team initially held off calling their chatbot, which looks like a cartoon panda, a therapist. But when users began using the word in reviews, they embraced the terminology so the app would show up in searches. Last week, they backed off using therapy and medical terms again. Earkick’s website described its chatbot as “Your empathetic AI counselor, equipped to support your mental health journey,” but now it’s a “chatbot for self care.” Still, “we’re not diagnosing,” Stephan maintained. Users can set up a “panic button” to call a trusted loved one if they are in crisis and the chatbot will “nudge” users to seek out a therapist if their mental health worsens. But it was never designed to be a suicide prevention app, Stephan said, and police would not be called if someone told the bot about thoughts of self-harm. Stephan said she’s happy that people are looking at AI with a critical eye, but worried about states’ ability to keep up with innovation. “The speed at which everything is evolving is massive,” she said. Other apps blocked access immediately. When Illinois users download the AI therapy app Ash, a message urges them to email their legislators, arguing “misguided legislation” has banned apps like Ash “while leaving unregulated chatbots it intended to regulate free to cause harm.” A spokesperson for Ash did not respond to multiple requests for an interview. Mario Treto Jr., secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, said the goal was ultimately to make sure licensed therapists were the only ones doing therapy. “Therapy is more than just word exchanges,” Treto said. “It requires empathy, it requires clinical judgment, it requires ethical responsibility, none of which AI can truly replicate right now.” One chatbot company is trying to fully replicate therapy In March, a Dartmouth University-based team published the first known randomized clinical trial of a generative AI chatbot for mental health treatment. The goal was to have the chatbot, called Therabot, treat people diagnosed with anxiety, depression or eating disorders. It was trained on vignettes and transcripts written by the team to illustrate an evidence-based response. The study found users rated Therabot similar to a therapist and had meaningfully lower symptoms after eight weeks compared with people who didn’t use it. Every interaction was monitored by a human who intervened if the chatbot’s response was harmful or not evidence-based. Nicholas Jacobson, a clinical psychologist whose lab is leading the research, said the results showed early promise but that larger studies are needed to demonstrate whether Therabot works for large numbers of people. “The space is so dramatically new that I think the field needs to proceed with much greater caution that is happening right now,” he said. Many AI apps are optimized for engagement and are built to support everything users say, rather than challenging peoples’ thoughts the way therapists do. Many walk the line of companionship and therapy, blurring intimacy boundaries therapists ethically would not. Therabot’s team sought to avoid those issues. The app is still in testing and not widely available. But Jacobson worries about what strict bans will mean for developers taking a careful approach. He noted Illinois had no clear pathway to provide evidence that an app is safe and effective. “They want to protect folks, but the traditional system right now is really failing folks,” he said. “So, trying to stick with the status quo is really not the thing to do.” Regulators and advocates of the laws say they are open to changes. But today’s chatbots are not a solution to the mental health provider shortage, said Kyle Hillman, who lobbied for the bills in Illinois and Nevada through his affiliation with the National Association of Social Workers. “Not everybody who’s feeling sad needs a therapist,” he said. But for people with real mental health issues or suicidal thoughts, “telling them, ‘I know that there’s a workforce shortage but here’s a bot’ — that is such a privileged position.” ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. —Devi Shastri, Associated Press health writer View the full article

Six areas for evaluation. By Domenick J. Esposito 8 Steps to Great Go PRO for members-only access to more Dom Esposito. View the full article

Six areas for evaluation. By Domenick J. Esposito 8 Steps to Great Go PRO for members-only access to more Dom Esposito. View the full article

Program implementation is the process of putting a planned initiative into action to achieve desired results. Successful program implementation requires careful planning, coordination of resources and clear communication across teams. Without a structured approach, even well-designed programs can face delays, cost overruns or misalignment with organizational goals. Creating a program implementation plan helps teams stay organized and ensures each step is executed as intended. By following a clear guide, organizations can streamline workflows, assign responsibilities effectively and monitor progress against objectives. Using program implementation tools and templates makes it easier to track tasks, measure success, and adapt as challenges arise, keeping projects on course from start to finish. What Is Program Implementation? Program implementation is the process of taking a program from planning to execution to achieve specific goals. It involves coordinating tasks, assigning resources, monitoring progress and ensuring that all components work together as intended. A successful program implementation turns strategy into actionable steps that produce measurable results and align with organizational objectives. It also requires oversight to manage risks, track milestones and adapt to changing conditions. Program implementation is more than completing tasks on time; it ensures that each element of a program contributes to the overall purpose and delivers the intended value to stakeholders. Without structured execution, even well-designed programs may fail to meet expectations. Project management software streamlines program implementation by providing tools to plan, assign and track work in real time. Teams can monitor progress, manage dependencies, allocate resources efficiently and communicate updates instantly. By centralizing information, project management software reduces the risk of miscommunication and allows managers to respond to issues quickly, keeping programs on schedule and within budget. ProjectManager combines multiple project views, resource management, task tracking and dashboards in one platform, making it ideal for program implementation. Teams can use Gantt charts and roadmaps to link dependencies, filter for the critical path and set a baseline to track variance in real time. Kanban boards and task lists organize complex workflows, balance workloads across resources and monitor progress at a glance. Its real-time updates, reporting features and AI project insights help managers identify risks, optimize schedules and make informed decisions, ensuring successful program implementation from start to finish. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/light-mode-CTA.jpgLearn more Who Participates In Program Implementation? Program implementation is a team effort that involves multiple roles working together to ensure the program achieves its objectives. Clear responsibilities and accountability are critical to success. Understanding who participates in program implementation helps organizations assign tasks effectively, monitor progress and maintain alignment with strategic goals. Program Sponsor The program sponsor is typically an executive or senior leader who champions the program at the organizational level. They provide strategic guidance, secure funding, and ensure the program aligns with broader business objectives. During program implementation, the sponsor supports decision-making, removes obstacles and ensures the team has the resources it needs to succeed. They act as the bridge between the program team and key stakeholders, advocating for the program and reporting progress to executives. A strong sponsor helps maintain focus and momentum, keeping the program on track even when challenges arise. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Program-roadmap-featured-image.jpg Get your free Program Roadmap Template Use this free Program Roadmap Template for Excel to manage your projects better. Download Excel File Program Manager The program manager oversees the day-to-day execution of the program and coordinates multiple projects within it. They develop the program implementation plan, assign tasks, monitor progress and manage risks. The program manager ensures that project teams work together effectively, resources are used efficiently and milestones are achieved on schedule. They also communicate updates to the program sponsor and governance board, keeping all parties informed. By managing dependencies and aligning objectives, the program manager is essential for turning strategic plans into tangible outcomes. Program Governance Board The program governance board provides oversight, guidance and approval for key decisions during program implementation. Composed of senior stakeholders or subject matter experts, the board reviews progress reports, approves major changes and ensures compliance with organizational policies. They monitor risks, confirm alignment with strategic goals and help resolve conflicts between projects or teams. The governance board acts as a quality and accountability checkpoint, supporting the program manager and sponsor while ensuring that program implementation stays on course and delivers the expected value to the organization. Program Roadmap Template Download this free program roadmap template to manage multiple projects within a program. This template allows program managers to list all projects and their tasks and set durations and identify dependencies. The visual timeline helps in tracking progress, aligning stakeholders and ensuring that strategic goals are met. /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Program-roadmap-template-2.png It’s particularly useful during the planning phase to align project schedules, allocate resources and identify dependencies before execution begins. Additionally, it aids in auditing performance by tracking progress against planned milestones during ongoing programs. Why Is Program Implementation Important? Program implementation is important because it turns strategic plans into actionable results. Without proper execution, even well-designed programs can fail to meet objectives, waste resources or miss deadlines. Effective program implementation ensures that tasks are coordinated, milestones are achieved and risks are managed throughout the process. It provides a structured approach that allows teams to track progress, measure success and adjust actions when issues arise. Beyond achieving immediate goals, program implementation helps maintain alignment with organizational strategy. It provides visibility to stakeholders, ensures accountability across teams and supports consistent communication. By implementing programs effectively, organizations can maximize return on investment, improve operational efficiency and increase the likelihood of long-term success. Related: 10 Free Program Management Templates for Excel and Word What Is a Program Implementation Plan? A program implementation plan is a detailed roadmap that outlines how a program will be executed. It includes objectives, timelines, resources, responsibilities and key milestones. The plan provides a framework for coordinating multiple projects, assigning tasks, managing dependencies and monitoring progress. Having a clear program implementation plan ensures that all participants understand their roles, expectations and deadlines. The plan also serves as a communication tool for stakeholders and decision makers. It allows managers to anticipate risks, allocate resources efficiently and track performance against the program’s goals. By following a structured program implementation plan, teams can maintain focus, adapt to changes and achieve consistent results across all aspects of the program. What Should Be Included in a Program Implementation Plan? A program implementation plan is most effective when it clearly outlines all aspects of executing the program. Including comprehensive elements ensures that teams understand expectations, resources are allocated efficiently and progress is tracked consistently. A well-documented plan helps minimize risks, maintain alignment with strategic goals and provides a roadmap for achieving program success. Program Purpose The program purpose explains why the program exists and what it aims to achieve. It provides a high-level view of the intended outcomes and the value the program delivers to the organization or stakeholders. Clearly defining the program purpose sets a foundation for decision-making and helps align all activities with the overarching objectives during program implementation. Program Goals and Objectives Goals and objectives translate the program purpose into specific, measurable outcomes. Goals define the desired results while objectives break them down into actionable steps. Including clear goals and objectives in a program implementation plan ensures that each team member understands their role and what success looks like, creating accountability and a shared vision for program execution. /wp-content/uploads/2023/08/smart-goals-template-image-600x603.jpg Program Strategic Alignment Strategic alignment ensures that the program supports the organization’s long-term priorities and initiatives. It demonstrates how the program contributes to business goals, resource planning and stakeholder expectations. By documenting strategic alignment in the program implementation plan, leaders can justify the program, prioritize resources effectively and maintain focus on delivering high-value outcomes. Program Scope The program scope defines what is included and excluded from the program. It sets boundaries, identifies deliverables and clarifies expectations for stakeholders and teams. A well-defined scope reduces confusion, prevents scope creep and ensures that program implementation stays focused on achieving intended results within agreed timelines and resources. Program Governance Roles and Responsibilities This section identifies who is responsible for decision-making, oversight and execution. It includes the program sponsor, program manager and governance board, as well as project leads and key stakeholders. Clearly outlining roles and responsibilities in the program implementation plan ensures accountability and enables efficient communication and collaboration throughout the program. Program Implementation Strategy The program implementation strategy outlines how the program will be executed from start to finish. It defines the approach, methods and processes that teams will follow to achieve program objectives efficiently. A clear strategy helps coordinate tasks, manage risks, allocate resources effectively and guide stakeholders through each phase of the program. By documenting the strategy, organizations create a roadmap that supports consistent execution and maximizes the likelihood of program success. Phased Rollout Approach The phased rollout approach divides the program into manageable stages. Each phase includes specific deliverables, milestones and evaluation criteria. This method allows teams to implement changes incrementally, test processes, and make adjustments before moving to the next phase. A phased approach reduces risk and ensures smoother program execution. Change Management Guidelines Change management guidelines describe how organizational changes will be introduced, communicated and adopted. They outline steps to engage stakeholders, address resistance and support team members during transitions. Including change management in the program implementation plan helps maintain buy-in and ensures that program changes are successfully embedded into existing workflows. Related: 14 Free Change Management Templates for Excel and Word Communication Plan The communication plan defines how information will be shared among stakeholders, teams and leadership. It specifies channels, frequency, content types and responsible parties. Clear communication ensures that everyone remains informed about progress, risks and key decisions, supporting transparency and alignment throughout program implementation. Program Roadmap & Timeline The program roadmap and timeline illustrate when major deliverables and milestones will occur. It provides a visual overview of dependencies, deadlines and critical paths. Including a roadmap in the program implementation plan allows teams to track progress, manage resources effectively and adjust schedules when necessary, ensuring the program stays on course. /wp-content/uploads/2024/08/portfolio-roadmap-light-mode-webp-e1723229198497.webpLearn more Program Resource Requirements Resource requirements detail the personnel, equipment, budget and other assets needed to execute the program. It identifies resource allocation, availability and potential constraints. Documenting resource needs in the program implementation plan ensures that teams have what they need to meet objectives and minimizes delays caused by resource shortages. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/assign-people-resource-allocation-light-mode-gantt-chart-workload-assignments.pngLearn more Risk Management Plan The risk management plan identifies potential threats to program success, assesses their likelihood and impact, and defines mitigation strategies. Including a risk plan in the program implementation plan helps teams anticipate issues, respond proactively and maintain program continuity under changing conditions. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/risk-image-lightmode.pngLearn more Program Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring and evaluation define how program progress and performance will be measured. Metrics, KPIs, reporting schedules and feedback mechanisms are included to track success against objectives. A structured monitoring plan ensures that program implementation is transparent, progress is measurable, and lessons learned are captured for continuous improvement. Program Sustainability Program sustainability addresses how outcomes will be maintained after implementation is complete. It includes strategies for ongoing support, resource management, stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement. Including sustainability in the program implementation plan ensures that the program delivers lasting value and remains aligned with organizational goals over time. How ProjectManager Helps With Program Implementation ProjectManager is designed to streamline program implementation by giving managers complete visibility across multiple projects. With multiple project views—including Gantt charts, task lists, boards and calendars—teams can easily see how individual tasks fit into the overall program. This flexibility addresses the common pain point of scattered information and helps managers prioritize work, track dependencies and keep complex programs aligned with organizational goals. By centralizing all projects in one platform, our software reduces confusion, prevents missed deadlines and ensures everyone stays on the same page. Use Resources Efficiently Effective program implementation relies on using resources efficiently. Our software provides robust resource management tools that show team availability, workload distribution and potential conflicts. Managers can quickly reassign tasks, balance workloads and forecast resource needs across multiple projects. This resolves the common challenge of overloading staff or misallocating resources, ensuring programs run smoothly without overburdening team members or exceeding budgets. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Team-Light-2554x1372-1.png Meet Deadlines With Tracking and Reporting Keeping track of progress and measuring program success can be time-consuming, but our software simplifies it with real-time tracking and reporting features. Automated dashboards for projects, programs and portfolios, progress charts and customizable reports let managers monitor milestones, identify delays and adjust schedules proactively. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Portfolio-Summary-Dashboard-Home-Screen-Light-Mode.png Related Program Management Content Program implementation is part of the larger program management process. For readers curious to read more about this topic, check out the links below. There are articles on best practices, free templates and much more. 10 Program Management Best Practices 10 Free Program Management Templates for Excel and Word What Is a Program Roadmap? (Example & Template Included) Program Life Cycle Management: Mastering Program Phases Program Manager vs. Project Manager: Key Differences 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. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Program Implementation: A How-to Guide (With Free Template) appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Do you suffer from time anxiety? Before you answer, consider if any of the following scenarios sound familiar: You get a late start, and the whole day you’re running behind. You always feel rushed, to the point that you start to get panicky. You look at your task list at the end of the day, and you’ve only finished half of what you planned. You constantly feel that time is slipping away. In other words, you’re constantly battling the feeling that there’s simply not enough time. But what if you could reframe the way you think about time? Well, you can. It involves learning a little ancient Greek, and getting to know that society’s approach to time. As you do, you’ll have an emotionally intelligent tool that allows you to see time through a different lens. I like to call this tool the “Kairos Rule.” What is the Kairos Rule? And how can it help you manage your emotions, reduce anxiety, and make the most of your time? To answer those questions, let’s take a lesson in ancient Greek. (Sign up here for my free email emotional intelligence course.) Chronos, Kairos, and the ancient Greek view of time In her book Tiny Experiments, neuroscientist Anne-Laure Le Cunff explains how the ancient Greeks had not one, but two words to speak of time: Chronos refers to quantity. This is the time of clocks and calendars, productivity tools, and linear goals. Then, there’s kairos. Kairos expresses the quality of time, as opposed to the quantity. It recognizes each moment as unique, rather than a fixed, mechanical unit. Le Cunff describes moments of kairos as those instances “suspended in time,” where you are caught up in a moment with loved ones, or when you’re deeply engaged in self-reflection. “Kairos,” she says, “is when you feel like this moment, right now, is perfect.” (Interestingly, the Japanese have a similar expression: Ichi-go ichi-e, or “once in a lifetime.”) The Kairos Rule, then, basically says this: Not all moments are created equal, and the value of time depends on the situation. The Kairos Rule is helpful because of the world we live in—a world that idolizes productivity, but the wrong kind of productivity. Toxic productivity “Nobody really wants to live a productive life,” writes Le Cunff in Tiny Experiments. “We want to express ourselves, connect with others, and explore the world. Productivity is just a means to those ends; it should certainly not come at the expense of actually living life.” Le Cunff argues somewhere along the way society’s ideas of productivity went bad, to the point where we downplay the meaning of rest, reflection, and meaningful engagement. “Each project needs a clear outcome,” writes Anne-Laure. “Conversations become transactional. So-called unproductive moments of playful curiosity and quiet contemplation where our most profound insights can arise are eliminated.” It’s this broken view that causes many today to measure productivity in the short term, versus looking at the big picture—which is why we see so much stress-related sickness and burnout, and so many mental health issues. In contrast, the Rule of Kairos encourages you to make the most of those “moments of playful curiosity” and “quiet contemplation.” It empowers you to prioritize and maximize the minutes, hours, and days with friends and loved ones. So, how can you use the Rule of Kairos to reframe the way you think about time? I recommend using the following questions: How much time am I taking for the things that really matter—like spending time with loved ones? Or taking time to reflect, recover, and recharge? Do I really need to get everything on my task list done? If I do, will it come at the expense of more important things? What changes can I make to use my time more wisely, with the big picture in mind? Remember: Not everything you do will feel productive. And that’s OK. Instead of focusing on productivity, strive to see the unseen. See the kairos moments. If you do, you’ll start to realize something important: You’re not running behind at all. In fact, you’re right on time. — By Justin Bariso This article originally appeared on Fast Company‘s sister publication, Inc. Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy. View the full article

I vividly remember the first time that I buckled my 8-year-old son into a 4,000 pound, AI powered robot, pressed a button, and sent us careening through the streets of San Francisco with no one behind the steering wheel. We were riding a Waymo, one of the first self-driving cars to offer public rides in selected U.S. cities, our own city of San Francisco included. After a few minutes of riding, I asked my son what he thought. “I feel . . .” he said, taking a long pause before responding, “. . . uncomfortable. But, it’s really cool!” I suspect he’s not alone in feeling that way. According to data from AAA, 61% of Americans consider themselves “afraid” to ride in a self-driving car, with only 13% saying that they fully trust the technology. Yet people are immensely fascinated by these AI-powered machines–and surprisingly inclined to use them. A study in the journal Science and Public Policy explored early public dialogue around self-driving vehicles, finding that “The investment and excitement surrounding self-driving vehicles are huge.” That’s borne out by real-world data. In cities like San Francisco that adopted self-driving tech, autonomous rides now account for over 25% of all rideshare trips, surpassing the market share of companies like Lyft. Waymo has nearly 1,000 self-driving cars cruising the city’s streets on any given day. I ride self-driving Waymo vehicles 2–3 times per week, and here’s what I can tell you: They’re surprisingly boring. And that’s their superpower. Summon the robots When I tell friends and colleagues from other cities about my Waymo habit, they usually assume that summoning a self-driving car requires some kind of high-tech, sci-fi-like process. Perhaps there’s a glowing pendant you hold up in the sky, or some kind of supercomputing device that the company secretly issues to its cabal of riders. Maybe there are incantations. In reality, the process of calling up a Waymo is almost exactly like booking an Uber or Lyft. Waymo has an app with a user interface that looks entirely cribbed from the apps of its human-driven competition. You specify your destination, enter a credit card, and watch as a little animated car slowly approaches you on a map. Except instead of meeting John in a Kia Optima with a 4.93 rating, your vehicle is an anonymous robot with a rapidly spinning laser scanner on top. When your Waymo arrives, it pulls to the side of the road, trying its best not to block traffic. As annoyed human drivers curse under their breath and assertively careen around you (just like with a real Uber!), you climb inside, buckle your seatbelt, and press a button on the dashboard. Its steering wheel spinning as if controlled by some benign, rideshare-giving poltergeist, your Waymo turns into traffic, and you’re off. During my first Waymo trip, I felt much like my son—nervous, excited, in awe of the tech. By my second Waymo ride, it was already starting to feel old-hat. Today, after more than a year of riding the cars all over San Francisco, it feels entirely normal. The fact that I’m being chauffeured around town by an AI-powered, laser-studded robot barely registers. What does register is the surprisingly delightful sensory experience of riding in one of these super high-tech cars—and the immense, almost subversive pleasure of being totally alone. No person, please Sartre famously said “Hell is other people.” He was talking about the existential angst of the human condition. But he could just as easily have been describing a bad Uber ride. As a professional news and travel photographer, I’ve taken a lot of Ubers. And while most drivers are great, I’ve had some truly bad experiences. I’ve had drivers who appear to be on substances, who ask me probing questions about my life (one demanded to know, point-blank, “How much do you make per year?” and was unwilling to accept a noncommittal answer without a dollar figure attached), and drivers who seem to believe my airport ride across the Bay Bridge is secretly a time trial on the Nuremberg ring. And I’m lucky—many experiences are far worse. Data from the Government Accountability Office shows that over 4,600 people were sexually assaulted in rideshare vehicles in 2019. At least 19 people were killed in rideshare-related assaults. Both drivers and riders are at risk. To be clear, the vast majority of traditional rideshare trips end well, and rideshare companies are doing more and more to keep people safe. Still, even if a trip isn’t outright dangerous, there are times where you simply don’t feel like sharing space with another person–smelling their cologne, breathing their air, and answering their questions about your life. Without a human driver, Waymos offer something that no rideshare vehicle can provide—solitude. As you cruise through your city in one of the company’s cars, you’re present in the world around you. Yet simultaneously, you’re totally alone. Relaxing spa music plays over the car’s speakers. The leather-wrapped seats are clean and cool to the touch (Waymo uses Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, a luxury electric SUV that retails for over $75,000). A map shows your surroundings and ride time, complete with cheerful icons representing cyclists, pedestrians and fellow drivers. It’s pleasant, almost meditative. And people appear to love it. Again, when given the choice between Waymo and traditional rideshare vehicles, San Franciscans are increasingly choosing Waymo–even though a study by the rideshare data company Obi shows Waymo rides cost up to $11 more. Why? As Obi’s Chief Revenue Officer told TechCrunch, they like being alone. Back to the future Self-driving car skeptics usually criticize the tech on safety grounds, or claim that it’s an overhyped, faddish technology that riders will try once and abandon. Most critics compare the tech to traditional rideshares. What they’re missing is the fact that riding in a self-driving car isn’t like a traditional rideshare at all. Indeed, the whiz-bang sci-fi coolness of the tech quickly becomes boring. It’s the unique solitude and independence of the experience—not the fancy AI tech—that makes it an entirely new way of traveling. As with public transit, you’re moving through your city without needing to directly move yourself. Yet on public transit, you’re always surrounded by other people. Here, you’re not. In a private car, you’re alone. But you can never direct your attention away from the road for long enough to truly notice and experience your surroundings. During a recent Waymo ride, I realized that the technology reminded me most of a far older piece of transportation tech—the horse. If you’ve ever ridden on horseback, you know that you can never truly control your horse—you can merely suggest to it where you’d like it to go, and trust that the horse—an autonomous entity capable of acting on its own–will decide to act on your suggestions. You also can’t crash a horse. If you direct your attention away from the task of riding—or even drop the reins entirely—your horse will keep right on following its path. It can sense the space around it, and wants to walk into a tree even less than you do. As a kid, I even remember riding on old rental horses that knew their trails and routines so well, they’d turn around and head back to the stable of their own accord when your 60 minutes of riding time was up. Riding a Waymo feels similar. You’re in charge to a degree, but ultimately you’re ceding the task of moving your body to an independent, non-human intelligence. You give up control, yes. But you gain something else—the ability to move through the world while fully experiencing it. Alone and freed from the task of directing your own movement, you can open the window and watch city life unfold around you in an almost cinematic way—or just close your eyes and truly tune out for a moment. The AI is the boring part If the AI powering your Waymo constantly made its presence known, it would distract from this experience. Instead, the fact that the AI tech quickly becomes mundane—unnoticable, even–facilitates this entirely new way of moving. Last month, I took another first-time rider on a Waymo trip; my Boomer-age mom. Seated behind the non-existent driver, my mom told me she quickly forgot we were riding in an AI robot. We could chat and catch up without another person eavesdropping on—or perhaps joining in—our conversation. It was a pleasant ride. Waymo’s AI facilitated the experience, but nothing about it felt especially high-tech or futuristic. Ultimately—beyond the economics, or the novelty, or the safety—that’s why self-driving cars will succeed. They’re a uniquely pleasant way to get around. Their technology is boring, fading into the background. And that’s what makes them great. View the full article

How decisions in construction and property oversight can reshape multifamily loan performance. View the full article

From volunteer trips to virtual costume parties, lenders are looking for new ways to boost employee wellness to keep their teams happy and healthy. View the full article

The pharma group may not be planning to up sticks. But it is putting the UK on noticeView the full article

Managing stakeholders is one of the most important parts of running a successful project. Every initiative involves people with different levels of interest and influence, from clients and executives to suppliers and end users. A stakeholder matrix helps project managers see these relationships clearly so they can focus attention where it matters most. When you can visualize who needs regular updates, who should be kept satisfied and who might block progress, you can make better decisions and avoid costly surprises. Using a stakeholder matrix keeps communication targeted and efficient. Instead of guessing who to involve at different stages, you can prioritize stakeholders based on their impact on the project’s outcome. This leads to stronger collaboration, fewer delays and smoother approvals. The right stakeholder matrix template makes the process simple and repeatable so your team stays aligned from kickoff to delivery. /wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Stakeholder-Matrix-Template.png Get your free Stakeholder Matrix Template Use this free Stakeholder Matrix Template for Excel to manage your projects better. Download Excel File What Is a Stakeholder Matrix? A stakeholder matrix is a visual tool that helps project teams categorize stakeholders based on their level of interest and influence in a project. It typically places stakeholders on a grid, making it easy to see who has the most power to affect the project and who needs the most communication. By using a stakeholder matrix, project managers can focus their time and resources on the people who matter most, ensuring that expectations are managed and support is secured. This tool is especially useful for complex projects with many participants. It reduces the risk of overlooking key voices, helps anticipate where resistance might occur and guides the team in creating targeted engagement strategies. A well-built stakeholder matrix provides clarity early in the project lifecycle, which helps minimize conflict and keeps everyone aligned on goals. Project management software centralizes stakeholder information, communication history and engagement plans in one place. This makes it easier to keep track of who needs updates, assign tasks related to stakeholder outreach and monitor the impact of stakeholder actions on the project timeline. Real-time dashboards, reporting features and document sharing ensure that every interaction is logged and accessible, helping teams maintain transparency and consistency. ProjectManager is built to work seamlessly with a stakeholder matrix, giving teams multiple project views, including Gantt charts, kanban boards and dashboards, to monitor stakeholders alongside tasks and milestones. We have unlimited free guest licenses to keep stakeholders informed on progress without using a paid license. By combining stakeholder mapping with robust resource management and tracking tools, our software helps teams build stronger relationships and keep projects on schedule. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/portfolio-dashboard-cta-1.pngLearn more What Should Be Included in a Stakeholder Matrix? A stakeholder matrix should include each stakeholder’s name, role, level of interest and level of influence so project managers can see at a glance who needs close management and who only needs occasional updates. It can also capture communication preferences and engagement strategies to make outreach more effective. By including these key details, the matrix becomes a practical tool that guides decision-making and keeps teams aligned with stakeholder expectations. 1. Stakeholder Identification Stakeholder identification lays the groundwork for an effective matrix. It begins by recognizing everyone who can influence or be affected by the project and clarifying their role in relation to it. This process ensures no key group is missed and helps distinguish between those directly involved and external parties such as regulators, suppliers or customers. Name/Group: Identify individuals, teams or organizations. Role/Position: Note their function in the project. Category: Specify whether they are internal (employees, management) or external (customers, regulators, community). Related: 5 Stakeholder Map Examples With Analysis 2. Stakeholder Attributes Attributes highlight what makes each stakeholder relevant and how they connect to project outcomes. These factors reveal what drives them, how much influence they wield and the degree to which the project affects them. Capturing these qualities allows project managers to anticipate challenges and design strategies aligned with stakeholder priorities. Interests: Key expectations or concerns. Influence/Power: Ability to shape project decisions. Impact: Positive or negative effect of the project. Support/Attitude: General stance—supportive, neutral or resistant. Related: 13 Free Stakeholder Management Templates for Excel & Word 3. Mapping Dimensions Mapping dimensions translates the assessment into a clear visualization. By positioning stakeholders on axes such as power versus interest, project teams can quickly see who requires close attention and who can be monitored with less effort. Other models, like influence versus impact or the salience model, provide alternative lenses for analyzing stakeholder relationships. 4. Engagement Approach The engagement approach defines how the team interacts with stakeholders across the project lifecycle. It covers the flow of information, the type of involvement expected and accountability for maintaining the relationship. By setting this structure, the project team builds trust, reduces conflict and ensures stakeholders remain aligned with project goals. Communication Needs: Frequency and channels for updates. Engagement Strategy: Planned level of involvement (updates, consultations, active participation). Assigned Owner: Person responsible for stakeholder relationship. 5. Assessment Over Time (Optional) Stakeholder priorities and influence often shift during a project, making regular reassessment valuable. Comparing their current stance with the desired one highlights gaps and informs corrective action. Continuous updates ensure the matrix reflects real conditions and remains an effective tool for guiding engagement. Current Status vs. Desired Status: Position now versus where they should be. Change Tracking: Notes on how influence, interests or attitudes evolve. Related: Project Stakeholder Management Plan YouTube Video When to Use a Stakeholder Matrix A stakeholder matrix is best used at the start of a project when you’re identifying who will be impacted and who has influence over decisions. It can also be updated at key project milestones when new stakeholders are added or priorities shift. Use it whenever there is a risk of miscommunication or when you need to focus engagement efforts on the most critical people. A stakeholder matrix is helpful during planning, execution and even closing to make sure every stakeholder is informed and satisfied. /wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ProjectManager-Gantt-Chart-Milestones-600x360.pngLearn more Benefits of Using a Stakeholder Matrix A stakeholder matrix is a powerful tool for managing the people who influence or are affected by your project. By visually mapping stakeholders based on their level of interest and influence, project managers can identify who requires close attention, who should be kept informed and who can be monitored periodically. Using a stakeholder matrix not only clarifies priorities but also helps teams communicate effectively, reduce risks and maintain alignment throughout the project lifecycle. Here’s a short list of the benefits of a stakeholder matrix. Improves communication by showing who needs updates and how often Helps manage risk by identifying stakeholders who could delay or block progress Builds stronger buy-in by keeping key players engaged at the right time Saves time by prioritizing outreach and avoiding unnecessary meetings Supports smoother approvals by aligning expectations early Stakeholder Matrix Template Download this free stakeholder matrix template for organizing and analyzing stakeholder groups in a project environment. By listing each stakeholder’s name, group and role, teams gain visibility into who holds stakes in the outcome and what their communication needs are. Columns in the template capture essential attributes such as whether the stakeholder is internal or external, their interests, level of power, influence and impact, plus their attitude toward the project and preferred communication channels. The template helps clarify expectations for progress meetings, technical check-ins and milestone reports so each party stays informed. /wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Stakeholder-Matrix-Template.png Using the attached stakeholder matrix template, teams can rate the level of power and interest for each stakeholder, supporting decisions about management strategies for engagement and oversight. Common classifications like “Manage Closely,” “Keep Satisfied” and “Keep Informed” guide how often and in what style to interact with each group. For example, a high-power, high-interest sponsor might require weekly summaries, whereas a supplier could be updated monthly. This structured approach streamlines stakeholder communication and establishes accountability across project phases. Stakeholder Matrix Example To better understand how a stakeholder matrix works, let’s take a look at an example. Imagine a construction company starting a project to build a new community recreation center. This project involves multiple moving parts: funding, design, compliance, materials and ultimately the people who will use the facility. Each of these aspects ties directly to key stakeholders who influence the project in different ways. At the top is Ralph Williams, the Executive Sponsor. He represents the company’s leadership and has been instrumental in securing funding for the project. His influence is high and his active involvement ensures the project stays aligned with broader organizational goals. On the technical side, David Chen from the IT Department plays a critical role. The recreation center will integrate smart systems for energy efficiency and visitor management and David is responsible for making sure these systems work seamlessly. Externally, the company relies on GreenBuild Ltd., a trusted supplier providing construction materials. Their reliability makes them a supportive partner, but their continued engagement depends on clear agreements and timely payments. The project also cannot move forward without the City Council, which issues permits and enforces building regulations. Their approval process has a huge impact, making them a powerful stakeholder that must be carefully managed with formal communication. Finally, the End Users Group, made up of local residents and community organizations, will ultimately benefit from the recreation center. Their input on design and usability is essential to ensuring the facility meets real needs and gains public support. /wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Stakeholder-matrix-example-table-1.png This example shows how different stakeholders—executives, technical experts, suppliers, regulators and end users—come together in a project. By mapping their interests, influence and communication needs, the construction company can manage relationships strategically and improve the project’s chances of success. The table below shows their level of power, interest, impact, attitude and communication needs. /wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Stakeholder-matrix-example-table-2.png This is how the stakeholder matrix looks when each of the stakeholders is placed in it. /wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Stakeholder-matrix-example-table-3.png Related Stakeholder Management Templates Managing stakeholders effectively requires structured tools to identify, organize and engage everyone involved in a project. Related templates provide a framework for capturing key stakeholder information, prioritizing communication and planning engagement strategies. Using these templates helps ensure no stakeholder is overlooked and that project goals are aligned with stakeholder expectations. Stakeholder Analysis Template The stakeholder analysis template helps project managers assess each stakeholder’s interest, influence and potential impact on the project. By categorizing stakeholders, teams can focus on the most critical relationships and develop strategies to address their concerns or leverage their support. Stakeholder Register Template The stakeholder register template provides a centralized record of all stakeholders, including their roles, contact information and level of influence. It acts as a reference for the project team to maintain transparency and track engagement throughout the project lifecycle. Stakeholder Engagement Plan Template The stakeholder engagement plan template outlines how and when stakeholders should be engaged. It specifies communication frequency, methods and responsibilities, helping teams foster collaboration, manage expectations and address concerns proactively. How ProjectManager Helps With Stakeholder Management Managing stakeholders can be complex, especially when multiple parties have differing levels of interest and influence. ProjectManager simplifies stakeholder management by centralizing information, tracking engagement and providing tools to visualize relationships, making it easier for teams to communicate effectively and stay aligned with project goals. Streamline Resource Management ProjectManager allows teams to allocate resources efficiently by linking tasks and responsibilities to stakeholders. Managers can assign roles, track workloads and adjust resources in real time to ensure key stakeholders are engaged and project milestones are met. This feature helps prevent bottlenecks and ensures that critical tasks receive the attention they need. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Team-Light-2554x1372-1.png Monitor and Track Stakeholder Engagement With dashboards and reporting tools, our software provides real-time tracking of stakeholder interactions. Teams can monitor updates, manage communications and evaluate engagement effectiveness. This transparency reduces risks, ensures follow-ups occur and helps teams proactively address concerns before they impact the project. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Team-summary-better-data-light-mode-home-screen-dashboard.png Related Stakeholder Management Content A stakeholder matrix is but one tool used in stakeholder management. For readers who are curious to learn more about the topic, below are links to articles on how to make a stakeholder management plan, stakeholder analysis and much more. How to Make a Stakeholder Management Plan Stakeholder Analysis 101 (Example & Template Included) Stakeholder Salience Model in Project Management Top 10 Stakeholder Management Skills for Project Managers 13 Free Stakeholder Management Templates for Excel & Word How to Manage Stakeholder Expectations 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. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Stakeholder Matrix: A Quick Guide With Free Templates appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. It's an exciting time to be an iPhone user. There's iOS 26, of course, which brings a number of major changes to the platform. For the daring, there's the iOS 26.1 beta, which continues to build upon the foundation of Apple's latest OS. If that weren't enough, however, it seems Apple is also working on yet another iPhone update—this time intended mostly to fix problems with the last one. The update, iOS 26.0.1, could drop any time in the coming days. These types of updates aren't necessarily unusual: Apple released iOS 18.0.1 three weeks after iOS 18 last year. The intention here is not to introduce new features or add changes; rather, you should notice bugs fixed and less instability. Per MacRumors, we may see four key bugs squashed with iOS 26.0.1. Those could include the following: A patch for a bug affected the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air's cameras A patch for a bug that causes wifi to disconnect and reconnect on the iPhone 17 series. Reportedly, this bug can also disconnect CarPlay in some cars. A patch for a bug that affects search in the Calendar app. A patch for a bug that stops some users from downloading Apple Intelligence models on the iPhone 17 series. This is not an exhaustive list by any means. We won't know exactly what Apple has planned for 26.0.1 until the update comes out. It's possible there will be other bugs patched here, as well as security updates not included in this list. You usually can tell how monumental an Apple update is by the numbers in its name: An update like iOS 26, a round number, indicates a major, one a year update; an update like iOS 26.1, with one decimal, denotes a minor update that still introduces new features; and an update like iOS 26.0.1, with two decimals, indicates a stability or security update. When Apple does release iOS 26.0.1, you can install it from Settings > General > Software Update. View the full article

A reader writes: I recently came across a letter you answered about 10 years ago, where a woman wanted to decline an invitation to a wedding because she was uncomfortable with it being gender segregated. Your response was unsurprising, but I was a bit taken aback that a number of commenters mentioned they would be offended even being invited to a gender-segregated wedding, which are common in my community. I am a single Orthodox Jewish woman in my 20’s. My company is located near the large Orthodox Jewish community I am part of, so about half of my coworkers are from that community as well, and the other half are a mix of religious and secular non-Jews. We are a small office with just 35 employees. I have what I think is a normal relationship with all my coworkers: I am very close with three of them (think out of work friends as well), I am coworker-friendly with about 20 (chatting at work, asking after their kids/cats/significant other by name, sharing pictures of vacations, etc.), and the remaining 15 or so is just a polite, professional relationship (how are you, how was your weekend, and then straight into business). Now, for some background on how weddings work in my community. I want to give a disclaimer that the Jewish world is very big, and there are many, many, communities and sub-communities. Whatever I describe here is how I plan to have my wedding, but this varies greatly so don’t take it as a general rule at all. Basically, add the words “In my community specifically,” before every sentence I write here. Immediately after the proposal, there is a party called the L’chaim, which can be as small as the couple and their parents, but ranges to much bigger parties with relatives, close friends, and neighbors. Next is the engagement party, called the Vort, which is pretty soon after — within a day or two, or max up to two weeks later. This is a much larger party, with extended family, old classmates, friends of the parents/grandparents. It is often held in a small hall and lasts about three hours, with a light buffet of salads, cakes, and some hot food. There is often live music and sometimes dancing, but for the most part everyone stands around socializing. Standard etiquette is that only a very close friend or relative stays the entire time, and an old classmate or the like might just stop in for five minutes to say Mazel Tov and then leave. Everyone else ranges in the middle, depending on how close their relationship is, whatever other commitments they have that night, and (let’s be real) how many other people they know at the Vort who they are enjoying schmoozing with. There is a mechitza (partition) down the center of the room for the entire event, and the men and women each stick to their side of the room (though there will always be an uncle or aunt who comes to the other side of the room to say Mazel Tov as well). Since it is planned so quickly, there are not really invitations sent out — it’s mostly passed through word of mouth. Now, the wedding. We make large weddings, and we invite a lot of people. The local caterer’s minimum is 300 people at a wedding. The invitations have Hebrew on one side, and English on the reverse. The main invitation is for the ceremony, the reception, and dancing. Again, it is very normal to just stop in at any of those times and wish the couple or family members a quick Mazel Tov. An additional card is included with the invitation to extend the invitation to dinner as well. But the plates are not calculated exactly, whoever wants to eat is welcome to, and we’re not going to run out of food. At the wedding, there are signs assigning each table to a category — Family of the Bride, Family of the Groom, Bride’s Friends, Bride’s Family Friends, etc. No one is monitoring where you sit, so everyone figures themselves out as they please. The entire wedding, from reception to dinner to dancing, is in one large room with a mechitza down the middle. During the ceremony, there is no mechitza but the men and women sit on separate sides of the aisle. Okay, so that’s just the background. Here’s what I was planning to do when I get engaged. For the Vort, I would send an evite to all my coworkers. The ones from my community will try to stop in for a few minutes. If I’m at work the days between the engagement and the vort, I am planning on telling my non-Jewish coworkers that they should not feel any pressure to come since there is still a wedding coming up, but if they do want to come, they should try to come with some of the Jewish coworkers so they don’t feel out of place or unsure on the norms, and they definitely don’t need to stay longer than 30 minutes. For the wedding, I would send out the full invitation, including the dinner invitation, addressed to the coworker and any significant others who I am aware of. I would then speak to my coworkers in person and explain: (1) the basic schedule of the wedding, (2) they are welcome to bring a plus-one (or plus-five) if they please, but if they are of the opposite gender they will not see each other the entire wedding, (3) for my male coworkers, I’m so happy for them to come, but … I won’t see them at all, so not really much of a point, and (4) again, if they would like to come they might be served best by coming with a Jewish coworker who could show them the ropes. I am really not invested in whether anyone comes or declines, but I don’t want anyone to feel obligated to attend because they were invited (which members of my community would not assume,) or to feel offended because they’re invited to a gender-segregated wedding, or to feel left out if I invite only members from my community. Basically, I felt like the above was the best way to say, “I’d love to have you at my wedding, but no pressure either way.” Is this wildly offensive? Is there a better way to go about it? I think your plan is fine! The non-Jewish coworkers in question work in an office where half their colleagues are Orthodox Jews, so they’re likely to already know that you follow different customs than they do. One thing you could do is include a card in their invitations that spells out some of what you shared here, so they know what to expect. But I highly doubt this will be the first time they’re learning that Orthodox Jews in your community have traditions different than their own. In the case with the 2014 letter you linked to, the set-up was very different: the letter-writer had been invited to (what sounds like) an Orthodox wedding where she would be the only woman from her team attending, so she would have needed to sit separately from all her colleagues (while they all got to sit together). She was frustrated that she would be the only one who didn’t get to sit with her peers, just because she was a woman. Most of the debate in the comments was about whether she was being elitist because, as a female physician, the women she was objecting to being seated with were support staff and her colleagues’ wives. (Personally, I think it was legitimate for her to worry about that, given that female doctors often already face an uphill battle to claim the same professional respect as their male peers.) But I didn’t see anyone saying they’d be offended to be invited, just that they might choose not to go. (And yes, there was a lot of discussion about the tradition itself being rooted in beliefs harmful to women — but there are many religions with practices that fall in that category.) Ultimate verdict: inviting your coworkers isn’t offensive. Give them info about what to expect so they know how it works and also can decide if it’s for them or not. That’s it! The post will I offend my coworkers if I invite them to my religious wedding? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Some top news items for this week's world of Wi-Fi. Enjoy. The post Roundup: News from Comcast, Aprecomm, Browan, Morse Micro plus a new Wi-Fi-friendly spectrum needs report appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

New York City Mayor Eric Adams ended his struggling reelection campaign Sunday, an acknowledgment that he was no longer a credible contender after a year of scandal and political turmoil. In a video released on social media, Adams spoke proudly of his tenure as mayor. But he said his now-dismissed federal corruption case left voters wary of him, and “constant media speculation” about his future made it impossible to raise enough money to run a serious campaign. “Despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign,” he said. Adams did not endorse any of the remaining candidates in the race, but he warned of “insidious forces” using local government to “advance divisive agendas.” “That is not change, that is chaos,” Adams said. “Instead, I urge New Yorkers to choose leaders not by what they promise, but by what they have delivered.” Adams’ capitulation could potentially provide a lift to the campaign of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a fellow centrist who portrayed himself as the only candidate able to beat the Democratic Party’s nominee, state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani. It is unclear, though, whether enough Adams supporters will shift their allegiances to Cuomo to make a difference. Mamdani, 33, would be the city’s youngest and most liberal mayor in generations if elected. He beat Cuomo decisively in the Democratic primary by campaigning on a promise try to lower the cost of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities. Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa remain in the race In a statement after Adams’ announcement, Mamdani took aim at Cuomo, who is trying to make a political comeback after resigning the governor’s office after being accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. “New York deserves better than trading in one disgraced, corrupt politician for another. On November 4th, we are going to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas and deliver a government every New Yorker can be proud of,” Mamdani said. Cuomo, in a statement on social media, praised Adams for “putting the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition.” “We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them,” Cuomo said. Republican Curtis Sliwa also remains in the race, though his candidacy has been undercut from within his own party; The President in a recent interview called him “not exactly prime time.” Rough showing in polls Speculation that Adams wouldn’t make it to Election Day has been rampant for a year. His campaign was severely wounded by both the bribery case and liberal anger over his warm relationship with President Donald The President. He skipped the Democratic primary and got on the ballot as an independent. Polls conducted in early September illustrated his challenges. One poll by The New York Times and Siena University and another by Quinnipiac University showed likely voters favoring Mamdani over Cuomo, with Sliwa and Adams trailing further behind. The Quinnipiac poll suggested the gap between Mamdani and Cuomo could narrow if Adams dropped out. The Times/Siena poll suggested that if both Adams and Sliwa withdrew, Mamdani’s advantage over Cuomo could shrink even further. Sliwa, though, has repeatedly insisted he will not quit. “Curtis Sliwa is the only candidate who can defeat Mamdani,” his spokesperson, Daniel Kurzyna, said Sunday. In recent weeks, The President administration intermediaries interested in blocking Mamdani’s path to victory by getting him into a one-on-one matchup with Cuomo had approached Adams to see if he could be coaxed out of the contest with an offer of a government job. Amid reports on those discussions, Adams called a news conference where he pledged to keep running and derided Cuomo and Mamdani as “spoiled brats.” Later, on social media, Adams called Cuomo “a liar and a snake.” Indictment overshadows progress Adams, 65, is the city’s second Black mayor. A former New York City police captain and Brooklyn borough president, he took office in 2022 promising to crack down on crime and revitalize a city still bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic. On his signature issue, he succeeded. Crime rates that ticked upward after COVID-19 hit the city have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels, though it’s unclear how much that had to do with Adams’ policies. But scandals and corruption probes have crippled Adams’ chances at another term. Over a head-spinning period of weeks last year, his police commissioner, schools chancellor and several deputy mayors resigned following a series of federal raids on their homes. None have faced criminal charges. Then, in late September, federal prosecutors brought fraud and bribery charges accusing Adams of accepting illegal campaign contributions and steep travel discounts from a Turkish official and others, and in exchange later accelerating the opening of Turkey’s diplomatic building, among other favors. The President intervenes Adams denied wrongdoing and pledged to remain in office. He also began speaking warmly about The President, then seen as having a growing chance of regaining the White House. He defended The President in media briefings, urged his party to tone down rhetoric against the Republican and refrained from criticizing him. After The President won, Adams met with The President’s border czar, Thomas Homan. Then, in February, The President’s Justice Department ordered federal prosecutors in New York to drop the charges against Adams so the mayor could assist with the Republican president’s immigration agenda. The extraordinary intervention triggered fresh tumult in City Hall and the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office, with some of Adams’ closest allies suggesting he had struck a deal with the White House for his freedom. Adams announced he would skip the June Democratic primary but would stay in the race. In late August, Adams former top adviser — who served as a campaign volunteer — was hit with fresh bribery charges. Another former aide was removed from the campaign after handing a potato chip bag full of cash to a local reporter. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has endorsed Mamdani, said after Adams’ announcement that she has been proud to have worked with him for the past four years, adding in her statement that he leaves the city “better than he inherited it.” This story has been corrected to reflect that Adams said “New Yorkers should choose leaders” by what they have delivered, not “leaders should choose leaders” by what they have delivered. —Jake Offenhartz and Anthony Izaguirre, Associated Press View the full article

Pending sales of US existing homes rose in August to the highest level in five months, as falling mortgage rates gave a much-needed lift to the sluggish housing market. View the full article

Today (Monday, September 29) is National Coffee Day. To celebrate, many coffee shops and eateries are promoting discounts and freebies. Keep these National Coffee Day deals and freebies in mind when stopping to get your daily dose of caffeine. Bruegger’s Bagels Rewards members can get a free hot or iced coffee with a purchase when ordering in the app. Burger King Burger King Royal Perks rewards members can get a free medium iced coffee with a minimum purchase of $1 when ordering through the Burger King app. Members must activate the offer before placing an order. Caribou Coffee On September 29, receive a free medium hot or iced classic latte with a purchase of another beverage when ordering in-store or through the Caribou Coffee app. Dunkin’ Dunkin’ Rewards members can get a free medium coffee with hot or iced coffee with a purchase when ordering in the Dunkin’ app. Dutch Bros On September 29, customers who buy a “Drink More Coffee” hat in-store will get any drink of their choice for free. Einstein Bros. Bagels On September 29, Einstein Bros. Rewards members can get any size free hot or iced coffee with purchase when ordering in-app or online. Krispy Kreme The donut chain that loves to give things away for free is getting in on the action. On September 29, get a free medium hot or iced coffee and a free donut of your choice, with no purchase necessary. Paris Baguette PB rewards members can get a free medium hot or iced coffee with purchase through September 29. To join, download the Paris Baguette app. Pret a Manger On September 29, get a free 16 oz. Barista-made drink for free. Drink options include hot or iced coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, and more. Starbucks Through September 29, when purchasing a hot or iced brewed coffee of any size, Starbucks Rewards members will earn 100 bonus stars, which can be redeemed for a free hot or iced brewed coffee or tea, bakery item, or packaged snack. Members must activate the offer within the Starbucks app before placing their order. View the full article

Bad Bunny will bring his Latin trap and reggaeton swagger to the NFL’s biggest stage next year: The Grammy winner will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show in Northern California. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Sunday that Bad Bunny will lead the halftime festivities from Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California. The Puerto Rican superstar’s selection comes amid another career-defining run: He’s fresh off a historic Puerto Rico residency this month that drew more than half a million fans and is leading all nominees at the Latin Grammys in November. He has become one of the world’s most streamed artists with albums such as “Un Verano Sin Ti,” an all-Spanish-language LP. Bad Bunny will host “Saturday Night Live” on Oct. 4. “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” Bad Bunny said in a statement. “It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.” Roc Nation founder Jay-Z said in a statement that what Bad Bunny has “done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.” The 31-year-old artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has won three Grammys and 12 Latin Grammys. He has become a global ambassador for Latin music, starred in films such as “Bullet Train,” “Caught Stealing” and “Happy Gilmore 2,” and collaborated with top fashion houses. He’ll enter the Latin Grammys as the leading nominee with 12, dethroning producer and songwriter Édgar Barrera. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Hamish Hamilton will serve as director. “We know his dynamic performances, creative vision, and deep connection with fans will deliver the kind of unforgettable experience we’ve come to expect from this iconic cultural moment,” said Jon Barker, SVP of Global Event Production for the NFL. Last year, Kendrick Lamar shined with guest SZA in New Orleans, setting the record for the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show with 133.5 million viewers. His performance surpassed the audience for Michael Jackson’s 1993 show. “His music has not only broken records but has elevated Latin music to the center of pop-culture and we are thrilled to once again partner with the NFL and Roc Nation to deliver this historic performance to millions of fans worldwide,” said Oliver Schusser, the vice president of Apple Music and Beats. “We know this show will be unforgettable.” —Jonathan Landrum Jr., AP Entertainment Writer View the full article