Claim Ownership5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas
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Since 2007, Ricardo Vargas publishes the 5 Minutes Podcast where he addresses in a quick and practical way the main topics on project, portfolio and risk management.
760 Episodes
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In this episode, Ricardo warns against a common mistake in organizations: believing that more tools and software mean more maturity. Many companies invest in expensive platforms, dashboards, and impeccable reports, but continue to make poor decisions. Tools don't create maturity; they only highlight what already exists. If there is no prioritization, clear criteria, and decisions, technology only organizes the confusion. Teams end up spending more time feeding systems than thinking about projects. Abundant indicators do not compensate for the absence of priorities. Maturity is not about having the best software, but about knowing who decides, based on what criteria, and what changes when something deviates from the plan. Without this, any tool becomes just a digital ornament.
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In this episode, Ricardo reflects on his participation at CES 2026 through the lens of project management, highlighting a structural shift rather than new gadgets. Using LEGO’s smart bricks as an analogy, he explains how projects today extend, not replace, traditional foundations by integrating data, AI, and digital capabilities. He highlights Project AVA, a holographic AI advisor, as an example of projects becoming complex ecosystems where hardware, software, data, governance, ethics, and security must work in harmony. From AI-powered consumer products to robotaxis like Zoox, projects now continue beyond delivery into ongoing operation. Ricardo concludes that project managers are evolving into value orchestrators who connect technological possibilities with meaningful, responsible value for organizations and society.
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In the first episode of 2026, Ricardo warns about the biggest mistake that ruins projects early in the year: saying yes to everything. January brings optimism, pressure for fast results, and a belief that everything is possible, leading to overloaded portfolios and teams working far beyond capacity. Projects are planned under unrealistic assumptions, confusing hope with real capacity. Failures don’t happen at the end of the year, but at the beginning, when wrong choices are made. Strong projects start with focus, tough decisions, and renunciation. The key question is not what to start, but what not to do. Saying no early is less painful than canceling projects later. Projects fail not due to a lack of ideas, but an excess of promises.
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In this final episode of 2025, Ricardo proposes a reflection on changes that will profoundly impact projects in 2026. He presents five central insights: the end of projects as isolated islands, which will operate as parts of a continuous value stream; the radical fragmentation of teams, marked by high fluidity between people, partners, and AI agents; the silent transfer of authority, with decisions distributed among boards, algorithms, and teams; the emergence of cognitive risk, caused by flawed mental models and excessive reliance on automated responses; and the silent obsolescence of the traditional project manager. For Ricardo, 2026 will be the year of repositioning, requiring the courage to unlearn, assume new responsibilities, and lead in ambiguous environments, focusing on real impact and conscious choices.
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In this episode, Ricardo looks back at the year in projects with a mature and deeply reflective perspective, focusing on the lessons learned. He describes an intense year, marked by strong pressure for results, shorter deadlines, and increasingly tight budgets, where good planning ceased to be a differentiator and became a matter of survival. Execution took center stage, and mistakes became more costly. At the same time, artificial intelligence ceased to be a promise and became part of the daily routine of projects, bringing real productivity gains. AI did not replace the project manager; it replaced improvisation. Even so, the biggest challenge remained human: fatigue, overload, burnout, and failures caused by human exhaustion. The dispute between methods lost its meaning; those who knew how to adapt to the context won. Projects became more strategic, guided by value, purpose, and conscious choices for the future.
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In this episode, Ricardo highlights the importance of milestones, baselines, and control points in project management, using December 31st as a powerful example of a milestone, both personally and organizationally. Just as individuals reflect on decisions and plan the future at the end of the year, projects and organizations use milestones to review budgets, compare goals, and consolidate results. Although the calendar is a human convention, milestones provide essential reference points for comparison and control. Without a clear baseline, it is impossible to assess real progress. Projects without milestones rely on perception, while projects with milestones rely on facts. Milestones are not bureaucracy; they are moments of reflection, decision-making, and adjustment that help prevent gradual and unnoticed project deviation.
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In this episode, Ricardo wraps up the discussion on the PMBOK Guide 8th Edition by highlighting the role of artificial intelligence in project management. PMI included AI in Appendix X3, presenting three adoption strategies: automation (making tasks faster), assistance (AI as a partner helping with scheduling and resources), and augmentation (expanding managers’ capabilities and decision-making). The appendix provides practical use cases for governance, risks, resources, scheduling, and other areas. Ricardo emphasizes that AI evolves rapidly, so some examples may soon become outdated, but project managers must understand and leverage AI to remain competitive. Recent research indicates that organizations are already saving significant money by utilizing AI. He encourages readers to study the appendix carefully and stay adaptable.
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In this episode, Ricardo explains that in the PMBOK® 8th Edition, you do not need to memorize all 40 processes. Many of them are very similar, especially in the planning phase, which alone contains 19 processes. He shows that processes like Plan Scope Management, Plan Schedule Management, Plan Financial Management, and Plan Risk Management follow the same logic: they define the “rules of the game” for each performance domain. If you understand one, you know the others. Ricardo advises candidates for CAPM or PMP to focus on understanding the logic and flow of the processes rather than memorizing them, which is less effective for real-world project management.
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses a key change in the PMBOK® Guide 8th edition: the relationship between stakeholders and communication. In previous editions, communication was a separate knowledge area, but now it is considered part of stakeholder management. This shift is significant because communication only exists when there are stakeholders with different needs. If a project had no stakeholders besides yourself, communication would be unnecessary. Therefore, communication is a tool to support stakeholder engagement. In the new PMBOK® structure, stakeholders remain a performance domain that includes planning, execution, and control activities. Ricardo encourages PMI members to download the PMBOK® Guide PDF and explore these updates to improve project value and delivery.
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1In this episode, Ricardo discusses the new edition of PMBOK 8, which brings important changes more aligned with the real work of project managers. Based on nearly 48,000 data points and two rounds of global feedback, it has become more practical, clear, and value-oriented. The old 12 principles have been condensed into six more focused ones, while maintaining good project practices. The traditional five process groups return and now apply to predictive, agile, and hybrid projects. The old knowledge areas have evolved into seven performance domains: governance, scope, schedule, finance, stakeholders, resources, and risks. This edition also features 40 updated processes with integrated ITTOs and reinforces tailoring with practical examples, making the guide more applicable and balanced.
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the role of luck and probability in project management. He explains that while luck can influence outcomes, it favors those who are prepared. Probability, he says, is not a prediction but a decision-making tool that helps manage uncertainty. Effective project managers turn randomness into results through preparation: identifying risks, creating contingency plans, defining triggers, and building buffers. Ricardo also warns against hindsight bias, which makes us underestimate luck after success. He recommends modeling uncertainty with scenarios, using simulations for high-risk decisions, protecting the critical path with buffers, and designing flexibility into projects. True management, he concludes, is not about eliminating luck but shaping how it affects outcomes—turning uncertainty into smarter choices and opportunities.
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In this episode, Ricardo explains why executives need to understand the logic of project management to make informed strategic decisions. Projects drive organizational changes, such as digital transformation, new products, entry into new markets, and mergers. Without understanding how projects add value and manage risk, leaders may fail to connect strategy to execution. Many focus only on "normal functioning," but the future depends on "business as change." By understanding the dynamics of projects, executives ask better questions, support teams effectively, and build a results-oriented culture. This knowledge helps them keep pace with the organization, prioritize efficiently, and see failures as learning opportunities. True leadership requires learning to think like a project, not like tools, but like governance, critical thinking, and value creation.
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses activity loops, which occur when tasks become predecessors and successors to each other, creating cycles that make schedule calculations difficult. Although schedules are designed for linear flows, engineering and innovation projects are often iterative, with constant revisions and feedback. Looping isn't a mistake, but it needs to be represented correctly. Ricardo suggests some ways to avoid this problem, such as creating successive versions (elaboration 1, 2, final), using intermediate milestones, or delayed start-start relationships. When interdependence is unavoidable, he recommends using the Design Structure Matrix (DSM), which maps circular relationships and helps plan blocks of iterative activities. The important thing is to choose the model that best represents the project's reality.
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In this episode, Ricardo explains that projects don’t really fail — they reveal the truth about an organization. Projects act as mirrors, exposing hidden cultural flaws like poor alignment, weak leadership, and political decisions. When pressure from deadlines and budgets increases, the organization’s true nature surfaces: silos, egos, and fear replacing collaboration. A troubled project is not a failure but an X-ray showing what is broken and who has the courage to fix it. Crises test maturity and trust, revealing whether teams can speak honestly or stay silent. The real mistake is ignoring these lessons and repeating errors. Ricardo explains that learning from failing projects leads to real growth and invites listeners to explore his new course on recovering troubled projects.
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses AI washing, a growing trend where organizations falsely claim to use artificial intelligence. Similar to greenwashing, AI washing occurs when companies exaggerate their AI capabilities to attract investors or appear innovative. In reality, many so-called AI systems are just basic automation or rule-based tools. This practice creates serious risks, including loss of credibility, legal issues, and project failure. Vargas highlights warning signs: flashy storytelling over science, unrealistic promises, lack of true AI experts, neglect of data quality, and poor governance. He explains that real AI projects require transparency, solid data, ethics, and humility—reminding project managers to avoid overpromising and to focus on genuine, data-driven value instead of hype.
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In this episode, Ricardo announces the release of the second global research on AI in project management, co-authored with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez. Compared to their first study two years ago, AI has moved from experimentation to mainstream adoption. The 2025 report, based on insights from 870 professionals in 97 countries, shows that AI familiarity has doubled, and over two-thirds now use AI tools daily. Nearly half of organizations report cost reductions, and 25% achieved over $250,000 ROI. The greatest benefits appear in scaling, risk management, and forecasting. Barriers have shifted from technical to cultural and ethical. By 2028, 42% of organizations expect AI copilots to manage most projects. AI won’t replace humans but enhance leadership and decision-making. Download the free report at pmairevolution.com.
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In this episode, Ricardo introduces the concept of nano projects: ultra-short, highly focused initiatives lasting just a few days, designed to generate value quickly. Unlike megaprojects, which require months or years, nano projects respond to the need for speed and adaptation in a fast-paced world. Examples include testing a marketing channel in five days, redesigning hospital processes in a week, or running rapid pilots in the public sector. Their advantages include low risk, rapid learning, and greater team engagement, as results are quickly seen. However, they require a well-defined scope, discipline, and attention to quality. Ricardo emphasizes that they complement traditional models, helping to reduce uncertainty and stimulate innovation in short cycles.
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In this episode, Ricardo questions whether Agile is still sufficient in the face of the speed of artificial intelligence. Created in 2001, the Agile Manifesto introduced short iterations and continuous learning to address the unpredictability of software development. However, today, tools become obsolete in days, raising questions about the relevance of 2- to 4-week cycles or a quarterly backlog. Vargas doesn't criticize Agile—on the contrary, he recognizes its essential role for organizations in dealing with volatility. The point is to reflect on how to apply it intelligently in the face of the rapidity of AI: smaller microcycles? More discipline? An "Agile 2.0" that includes governance, ethics, and social responsibility? The challenge is adapting to the current intensity of change.
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In this week's episode, Ricardo questions whether artificial intelligence (AI) actually reduces project risks or creates new ones. While it helps predict delays, identify flaws, and minimize errors, AI can create invisible risks, such as data bias, which distorts results, and "blind trust," when professionals accept predictions without critical analysis. Another risk is technological dependence: if the tool fails or disappears, the project could stall. There are also ethical and legal questions about who is responsible for AI's misguided decisions. Vargas emphasizes that AI is neither a villain nor an absolute solution. It should be seen as an ally, but always with human oversight, contingency plans, and clear accountability from managers.
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In this week's episode, Ricardo explains the "broken windows" theory, which originated in criminology, and how it applies to project management. The central idea is that minor signs of disorder, when ignored, lead to bigger problems. In projects, accepting delays or failures without correction sends the message that quality and discipline are unimportant, opening the door to widespread carelessness. Therefore, it's crucial to quickly correct violations, maintain organized processes, and set an example of consistency and accountability. It's not about micromanaging, but about demonstrating that attention to detail protects the project. Often, it's not major disasters that destroy it, but the accumulation of minor oversights that undermine trust and results.
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certeza kkkk, que venham projetos impossíveis. Vem no pai
@Ricardo are there any English version of all u r podcast?? If so plz share the link