Project Management Core Knowledge Areas PMBOK Aligned
Author: Mark Whitfield
Welcome to my site!
After graduating in Computing in 1990, I accepted a position as a programmer at a Runcorn based software house specialising in electronic banking software, namely sp/ARCHITECT-BANK on Tandem Computers (now HPE NonStop). This was before the internet became more prevalent and so the notion of enabling desktop access to company accounts for inter-account transfers and book keeping was still quite a cutting edge idea (and smartphones only ever hinted at in Space 1999). The company was called The Software Partnership (which was taken over by Deluxe Data in 1994).
I spent 5 years in Runcorn developing code for SP/ARCHITECT for various banks like TSB, Bank of Scotland, Rabobank and Girofon (Denmark) to name but a few. I then moved onto a software house in Salford Quays for further bank facing projects. After a further 23 years in the IT industry and now a Senior IT Project Manager (both Agile and Waterfall delivery), I thought I would echo out my Career Profile in this corner of the internet for quick and easy access.
How to Set Goals and Stick to Them
WordPress Overview and Detailed Timeline by Era and Year
WordPress has evolved from a niche blogging tool in 2003 into the dominant Content Management System (CMS), powering over 43% of all websites on the internet as of 2026. Its history is defined by consistent innovation, transitioning from simple blogging to a block-based full-site editing platform. This https://mark-whitfield.com website is WordPress.
✨ The Eras of WordPress Evolution
- 2003–2004: The Birth (Fork of b2/cafelog): Started as a solution for a stalled project by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, focusing on typography and ease of use.
- 2005–2010: The Plugin & Theme Era: The introduction of plugins (1.2), themes (1.5), and the dashboard (2.0) turned it into a flexible platform rather than just a blog.
- 2011–2017: The CMS & Mobile Era: Focus on custom post types, multisite capabilities, responsive admin interfaces, and the REST API made it a true CMS.
- 2018–Present: The Gutenberg/Block Era: The shift from a classic editor to the block editor (Gutenberg) in version 5.0 (2018) revolutionized content creation toward “what you see is what you get” (WYSIWYG) site building.
📜 Detailed Historical Timeline by Era and Year
Phase 1: Foundations and Early Growth (2003–2007)
- 2003: WordPress 0.70 (May 27) is released, a fork of b2/cafelog.
- 2004: WordPress 1.0 (Davis) is released (Jan), adding search-engine-friendly permalinks. WordPress 1.2 (Mingus) (May) introduces the plugin architecture, enabling developers to extend functionality without modifying the core.
- 2005: WordPress 1.5 (Strayhorn) debuts the Theme system and static Pages. Version 2.0 (Duke) launches the first modern dashboard, image uploading, and faster editing.
- 2006: First WordCamp is organized. WordPress receives its official logo.
- 2007: Version 2.1 (Ella) introduces auto-save, spell check, and a cleaner UI. Version 2.3 (Dexter) adds native tagging support.
Phase 2: Expanding to a CMS (2008–2014)
- 2008: Version 2.5 (Brecker) launches a major dashboard redesign. Version 2.7 (Coltrane) streamlines the admin interface and adds automatic updates.
- 2009: Version 2.9 (Carmen) adds built-in image editing (crop/rotate) and global undo (trash functionality).
- 2010: Version 3.0 (Thelonious) is a landmark release, merging WordPress MU (Multisite) with the core, introducing Custom Post Types, and the first “Twenty Ten” default theme.
- 2011: Version 3.1 (Reinhardt) adds the Admin Bar and Post Formats. Version 3.3 (Sonny) focuses on tablet usability and drag-and-drop media uploads.
- 2012: Version 3.4 (Green) improves theme customization. Version 3.5 (Elvin) launches a simplified media manager.
- 2013: Version 3.7 (Basie) introduces automatic background updates for security. Version 3.8 (Parker) updates the admin design to be fully responsive.
- 2014: Version 4.0 (Benny) improves media management with grid views and better embed handling.
Phase 3: The Block Editor & Full Site Editing (2015–Present)
- 2015–2016: Versions 4.2–4.7 focus on Emoji support, the REST API (crucial for headless WordPress), and Custom CSS in the Live Preview.
- 2017: Version 4.9 (Tipton) introduces major improvements to the Customizer, including scheduling and draft capabilities.
- 2018: Version 5.0 (Bebo) launches, introducing the Gutenberg Block Editor as the default editor, replacing the TinyMCE classic editor.
- 2019–2020: Versions 5.1–5.6 polish the block editor. Version 5.5 adds lazy-loading images and native XML sitemaps.
- 2021: Version 5.8 (Tatum) introduces Block Widgets and the Template Editor, marking the beginning of Full Site Editing (FSE).
- 2022: Version 5.9 (Joséphine) debuts Twenty Twenty-Two, the first default block theme, allowing users to edit site-wide templates. Version 6.0 (Arturo) enhances styling and block-locking capabilities.
- 2023: Version 6.2 (Dolphy) brings the Site Editor out of beta and introduces a distraction-free mode. Version 6.4 introduces the Twenty Twenty-Four theme, designed to be highly versatile.
- 2024: Version 6.5 (Regina) adds a native Font Library and enhanced data views. Version 6.6/6.7 focus on performance, block binding APIs, and zoom-out previews.
- 2025–2026 (Projections/Recent): Continued emphasis on AI integration, faster page loads (averaging 3.4s, which is a key competitive challenge), and deeper WooCommerce integration.
📊 Key Insight Metrics (2026)
- Web Usage: ~43.5% of all websites.
- CMS Market Share: ~62.8% of the CMS market (9x the closest competitor, Shopify).
- WooCommerce: Powers over 33% of all online stores.
- Gutenberg Adoption: ~72% of WordPress sites use the Gutenberg block editor.
The platform continues to grow, with roughly 660 new WordPress sites created daily.
WordPress Overview and Detailed Timeline by Era and Year
Horoscope, Libra is the 7th sign of the Zodiac, governing the period from approximately Sept 23 to Oct 22.
Libra is the seventh star sign of the zodiac, governing the period from approximately September 23 to October 22. As a cardinal air sign ruled by Venus, Libra is symbolized by the Scales, representing a deep commitment to balance, justice, and harmony.
Full Insight: Personality and Traits
- Core Characteristics: Libra is cooperative, diplomatic, gracious, and fair-minded, with a strong preference for partnership.
- The “Scales” Energy: They are driven by a need for equilibrium in all aspects of life, particularly in relationships. They are the only sign represented by an inanimate object.
- Strengths: Highly social, intellectual, charming, and adept at mediation.
- Weaknesses: Indecisive, prone to avoiding conflict at all costs, and can hold grudges.
- Interests: They value beauty, art, fashion, and intellectual conversation.
Detailed Historical Timeline
- Ancient Beginnings (Sumerian & Roman Times): The constellation was originally seen by Sumerians as Zib-ba An-na (“balance of heaven”). Roman astronomers developed the sign in the first century BCE, identifying the scales as the ones held by the goddess of justice.
- Astronomical Origins: It was previously considered part of Scorpius, which is why the brightest stars, Zubeneschamali and Zubenelgenubi, translate to “northern claw” and “southern claw”.
- Medieval Representation: In the 14th-15th centuries, Libra was heavily featured in European manuscripts (e.g., Book of Hours) and utilized in royal courts for horoscope readings.
- 1995-1997: The North Node was in Libra, bringing a period of focus on creating new partnerships, fairness, and a shift in social structures.
- 2018–April 2026: Uranus was in Taurus, acting in Libra’s eighth house, bringing significant shifts, sudden changes, and, in some cases, upheavals regarding money, investments, and deep partnerships.
Current Timeline: 2025-2026
- October 2024–April 2025: A six-month cycle began with a new moon solar eclipse in Libra (October 2). This cycle forced a re-evaluation of personal identity, relationships, and how Libras “show up” in partnerships.
- March 29, 2026: A new moon solar eclipse in Aries begins a new six-month cycle of relationship changes, acting as a “golden buzzer” moment for growth.
- April 2, 2026: A Full Moon in Libra occurred, bringing awareness to the balance between personal needs and partnership demands.
- End of April 2026: Uranus moves into Gemini, beginning a 7-year journey in Libra’s 9th house, sparking a shift toward expanding horizons, learning, and fresh mental landscapes.
Key 2026 Themes for Libra
- Relationship Recalibration: Balancing personal independence with partnership needs is the main focus, influenced by the Aries/Libra eclipse axis.
- The “Golden Buzzer” Era: Early April 2026 is a high-frequency, lucky period due to a stellium in Aries (Sun) and Venus in Taurus, promoting major life-changing opportunities.
- Shifting Focus: The focus moves from intense financial or deep psychological change (Uranus in 8th) to intellectual and expansive growth (Uranus in 9th).
Project Management Office PMO, an Overview
Soft Skills of Successful Project Managers
BASE24 Overview and Historical Timeline
BASE24 is a foundational electronic payments software suite developed by ACI Worldwide, first launched in 1982 to provide “always-on” (24/7/365) transaction processing, primarily on HP NonStop servers.
It is used by large financial institutions to acquire, authenticate, route, switch, and authorize card- and non-card-based financial transactions across multiple channels, including ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, and mobile/internet banking.
The product has evolved from “Base24 Classic” into BASE24-eps (formerly BASE24-es), a modern, object-oriented, platform-independent payments engine designed to support high-volume, real-time transaction processing in hybrid or cloud-based environments.
Comprehensive Historical Timeline of BASE24
- The Foundation Era (1975–1981): ACI (Applied Communications, Inc.) was founded in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1975, initially developing software for fault-tolerant Tandem NonStop computers. The focus was on connecting the first wave of ATMs to bank systems.
- The Launch and Global Expansion (1982–1990):
- 1982: BASE24 product family is officially launched, serving as the “baseline” software for 24-hour operations.
- 1986: By 1986, ACI has 131 customers in 14 countries, expanding globally.
- 1987: ACI receives the U.S. President’s “E” Award for Excellence in Export.
- Public Company and Modernization (1995–2000):
- 1995: ACI becomes a public company.
- 1997: Adopts the name ACI Worldwide.
- 1996–2000: Initial expansion of support to platforms beyond Tandem, including IBM mainframes and UNIX, to support rising internet commerce.
- The Transition to Open Systems: BASE24-eps (2001–2010):
- Early 2000s: Introduction of BASE24-es (later renamed BASE24-eps), a Next-Gen, C++ based engine.
- 2003: BASE24-eps is live on HP NonStop, IBM zSeries, and IBM pSeries/Sun Solaris.
- 2006: ACI announces a version of BASE24-es to support UK Faster Payments.
- 2008–2010: ACI moves toward a unified strategy, with BASE24-eps becoming the mainstream offering while Classic matured.
- Modernization and Cloud Era (2011–Present):
- 2011: BASE24-eps wins the Most Innovative Financial Product Award.
- 2015: ACI celebrates 40 years of operation and introduces advanced fraud detection (Proactive Risk Manager) integrated with BASE24-eps.
- 2023: ACI goes live as an early adopter of the Federal Reserve’s FedNow Service, using modernized BASE24-eps technology.
- 2024–2025: BASE24-eps becomes fully PCI-SSF compliant (PCI 4.0), running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and supporting hybrid cloud deployments.
Key Features of BASE24-eps
- Fault Tolerance: Designed for high availability with near-zero downtime.
- Multi-Channel Support: Manages ATM (NCR, Diebold Nixdorf), POS, and Mobile/Web traffic in a single engine.
- Scripting Engine: Uses JavaScript-like scripts to allow customers to define authorization logic without modifying the core system.
- Universal Connectivity: Supports 40+ global and regional network interfaces (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
- Platform Independence: Runs on HPE NonStop, IBM z/OS (CICS), and Linux/x86_64.
- Real-time Fraud Prevention: Integrated with ACI Proactive Risk Manager.
BASE24 Classic vs. BASE24-eps
- Classic: Monolithic, Tandem-dependent, older technology.
- eps: Object-oriented (C++), open systems architecture, 30% faster processing, supports cloud-native approaches.
BASE24 Overview and Historical Timeline
International Tandem User Group (ITUG) is dedicated to users of the Tandem NonStop computing platform (now HP Connect)
The International Tandem User Group (ITUG) is a non-profit association dedicated to users of the Tandem NonStop computing platform. Now part of the Connect Worldwide community, it facilitates education, networking, and technical exchange between users, vendors, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE).
ITUG Overview
- Purpose: To provide a platform for sharing technical knowledge, advocacy, and strategic information regarding Tandem (now HPE NonStop) systems.
- Structure: ITUG operates as a global umbrella for various regional chapters, such as the British Isles Tandem User Group (BITUG) and the German Tandem User Group (GTUG).
- Key Resources: ITUGLIB, an extensive download library containing open-source software, technical white papers, and legacy Guardian tools.
Historical Timeline by Era
1. The Foundational Era (1974–1983)
- 1974: Tandem Computers is incorporated in California by Jimmy Treybig and a core team of former HP 3000 engineers.
- 1976: The first Tandem/16 (NonStop I) system ships to Citibank, establishing the fault-tolerant market.
- 1980: Regional groups begin forming, such as GTUG in Germany, to support the rapidly growing user base.
- 1981: Introduction of NonStop II, which adds 32-bit addressing capabilities.
2. Growth and Expansion Era (1984–1996)
- 1984: BITUG is founded in the British Isles, eventually becoming the largest user group outside the USA.
- 1986: Tandem launches NonStop SQL, the first fault-tolerant SQL database.
- 1991: The platform migrates from proprietary stack-based processors to MIPS RISC architecture (TNS/R).
- 1993: Release of the NonStop Himalaya K-series, further expanding scalability.
3. Acquisition and Integration Era (1997–2008)
- 1997: Compaq acquires Tandem Computers to bolster its enterprise server portfolio.
- 2002: Hewlett-Packard (HP) acquires Compaq, bringing Tandem “back home” to the company that inspired its founders.
- 2003: ITUG celebrates its 25th anniversary with participation from original Tandem executives.
- 2005: ITUG officially merges with other HP user groups (Encompass and HP-Interex) to form Connect, though it often retains the “ITUG” branding for its NonStop-focused division.
4. Modern Era (2009–Present)
- 2014: The platform completes its transition to Intel x86 architecture, branded as Integrity NonStop X.
- 2015: Hewlett-Packard splits; Tandem/NonStop becomes a core part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE).
- Present: ITUG continues to operate under Connect Worldwide, hosting major annual events like the NonStop Technical Boot Camp (TBC).
……….
HP Connect (often referred to as Connect Worldwide) is a leading global IT user community dedicated to professionals using Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and HP Inc. solutions. It serves as an independent hub for peer-to-peer networking, technical education, and advocacy, primarily supporting users of high-availability systems like NonStop, ProLiant, and HP-UX.
Historical Timeline by Era
The community’s history is defined by the evolution and eventual merger of several legacy user groups representing the giants of the mid-20th-century computing world.
1. The Legacy Foundations (1960s – 1990s)
Before the name “Connect” existed, three distinct user groups served the customers of the companies that would eventually form the modern HP/HPE ecosystem:
- DECUS (1961): The Digital Equipment Computer Users’ Society was one of the oldest and largest user groups, supporting DEC systems.
- Interex (1974): Founded as the HP 3000 International Users Group, it later expanded to support HP 9000 and HP-UX users.
- ITUG (1970s): The International Tandem User Group supported the high-availability Tandem NonStop server community.
2. The Consolidation Era (2000 – 2008)
Major corporate mergers necessitated the union of these independent communities:
- 2002: HP acquired Compaq, which had already acquired DEC and Tandem.
- 2004 – 2005: The DECUS community transitioned into Encompass, serving the Enterprise users of the merged entities.
- 2008: Connect Worldwide was officially launched through the merger of Encompass and ITUG, creating a single, unified global community for HP enterprise users.
3. The Unified “Connect” Era (2008 – 2015)
During this period, Connect Worldwide solidified its role as the primary independent voice for HP enterprise technology:
- Global Advocacy: It represented over 50,000 members across 1,000+ member companies worldwide.
- Technical Focus: The community focused heavily on HP’s “Converged Infrastructure” and mission-critical systems.
- The “Boot Camp”: The NonStop TBC (Technical Boot Camp) became its flagship global event.
4. The Modern Era & Digital Transformation (2015 – Present)
Following the historic 2015 split of Hewlett-Packard into HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), the community adapted to a dual-focus landscape:
- Specialised Sub-Communities: While “Connect” remains the umbrella for legacy enterprise users, newer platforms like the HP Support Community have risen to manage consumer and PC-specific technical needs.
- HP Connect (Cloud Service): HP introduced a modern cloud-based tool also named HP Connect, which IT admins use to manage BIOS and security settings for corporate PC fleets via Microsoft Intune.
- AI Integration: The latest era (2024+) focuses on the “HP AI Helix,” embedding AI management and security into the user experience.
