Program Management Course Scheduled
for Portland, Oregon, USA in November

The Program Management Academy will sponsor a public course on program management in Tigard, Oregon, USA during 12-13 November 2008. The 2-day course will be held at the Courtyard^® by Marriott^® 20 minutes from Portland at 15686 SW Sequoia Parkway Tigard, Oregon 97224 USA. The instructors will be Russell Martinelli and Jim Waddell, authors of the book Program Management for Improved Business Results (Wiley, 2007)

Personal development through continuing education is a key element in career growth, especially in the fast paced and complex world of Program Management.Growing personally and gaining knowledge from others in the discipline increases the ability for even greater contributions to improve business results in our organizations.

With the need for enhancing program management skills and knowledge, the newly published book, Program Management for Improved Business Results, is gaining recognition worldwide. Building on the book, the authors will teach a public 2-day course on November 12-13, 2008. The book is included in the course fee; lunch, snacks, and refreshments are provided on both days. Attendees from around the globe provide the benefit of shared experiences from a variety of organizations and experiences. Upon completion, students can receive 16 PDU credits.

Russ Martinelli and Jim Waddell designed the course for program and project managers seeking to grow their skills in the Program Management discipline and provide greater value to their companies. The new skills, tools and techniques are even more efficiently implemented when multiple people attend from the same company, so a discount price is offered for 3 or more people from the same organization.

Russ and Jim have many years of experience in high risk, high profile programs and offer their own as well as contemporary examples of program management challenges and solutions. Their approach is ideal for small group discussions and activities, which is the design of the workshop. While participants in the workshop bring their own situations and experiences, participants will benefit from the direct contact with these leading experts.

The 2-day workshop will be in Tigard, Oregon, USA just 30 minutes from the PDX airport or 20 minutes south of downtown Portland off the I-5 freeway. This course is offered in collaboration between the Program Management Academy and Innovation Frameworks. For more information, visit one of the following websites: http://www.innovationframeworks.com or http://www.programmanagement-academy.com/.

Click here to register for November 12-13, 2008 or for assistance contact the registrar: rose.marshall@innovationframeworks.com. Early bird discounts are available until Oct 15; group discounts are available for 3 or more from the same organization.

The Program Management Academy was created to help companies, organizations, and individuals better understand the principles of program management and to improve their program management practices. The primary goals of the Program Management Academy are: (1) To increase the awareness of program management as a critical business function; (2) To provide training, coaching, and consultation for individuals, teams and organizations practicing program management; and (3) To perform research and continued publication to further evolve program and business management practices worldwide. For additional information, visit www.programmanagement-academy.com.

Professor Frank Anbari of George Washington University named International Editorial Advisor for PMForum & PM World Today

PMForum has announced that professor Frank Anbari, Ph.D., assistant professor of project management at The George Washington University (GW) in Washington, DC, USA has been named an International Editorial Advisor for PMForum and the monthly PM World Today eJournal.

Frank T. Anbari, PhD Project Management and Quality Enhancement, MBA, MS Engineering, PMP^®, PE, and ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, is a faculty member and past Director of the Project Management Program at The George Washington University (GW) in Washington, DC, USA. He has also taught in the graduate programs at Drexel University, Penn State University, and the University of Texas at Dallas.

Dr. Anbari gained extensive industrial experience serving in leadership positions at the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), Day and Zimmermann, and American Water Works Service Company. He has developed and taught seminars in project management, quality management, and Six Sigma method, for public sector and private industry organizations globally.

Dr. Anbari serves as co-Editor of Project and Program Management Abstracting Journal, Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN) and as member of the Editorial Boards of Project Management Journal, International Journal of Project Management, and International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. He previously served as the first Chair, Project Management Academic Committee at GW; as Vice President–Education and Certification, College of Performance Management, Project Management Institute (PMI^®); and as examiner (1993–1995) and alumni examiner (1999–2000) for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Dr. Anbari conducts rigorous research, presents widely, and publishes extensively on significant, timely topics in project management, quality enhancement, technology management, and Six Sigma. Additional information about Dr. Frank Anbari can be found at http://home.gwu.edu/~anbarif/. Dr. Anbari can be contacted at anbarif@gwu.edu.

GW's Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) program is among the oldest and most reputable specialized degree programs of its kind in the world. With over a decade of educating successful project managers, this unique program blends the study of project management with a grounding in general management principles, and guides students in mastering advanced project management techniques. The innovative curriculum balances practice and theory, developing the skills that professionals need to become effective project managers. The MSPM program is ideal for managers who want to enhance their ability to integrate complex projects, motivate people, and achieve cost-effective results. It is designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Courses are offered on campus in the evening at the Foggy Bottom location, and using state-of-the-art distance learning technology, students can complete the degree from virtually any location. For more information, visit http://business.gwu.edu/grad/mspm/.

Founded by an act of the US Congress in 1821 as Columbian College, The George Washington University grew from the desire of America’s first President to establish a national institution of higher learning. In 1904, the name was changed to The George Washington University (GW) and it moved to its present location in Foggy Bottom, the area George Washington had envisioned for the university. Both as president and private citizen, Washington believed the fledgling country urgently needed a national university where "Youth from all parts of the United States” might go to be educated in the arts and sciences, and to study "the principles of Politics and good Government."

Located in the heart of Washington, DC, GW enrolls more than 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students in nine schools. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the US capital. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and more than 130 countries. For more information about GW, visit http://www.gwu.edu.

PM World Today is one of the world’s leading project management eJournals, distributed monthly to subscribers worldwide and containing project management related articles, information, news and stories from leading PM authorities and experts around the world. Free subscriptions are available at www.pmworldtoday.net. The PM World Today International Editorial Advisory Council includes professors and heads of departments from some of the world’s leading universities with graduate programs in project management. Information about PMForum’s International Editorial Advisory Council can be found at www.pmworldtoday.net/ team.htm.

PMForum, Inc. administers and operates http://www.pmforum.org, the world’s first project management website and one of the world’s best known and leading sources of project management news and information. PMForum also publishes the monthly online PM World Today e-Journal, where articles, case studies, papers and viewpoints by leading project management authorities and experts from around the world can be found. PMForum is rapidly gaining global recognition due to its growing team of international advisors and correspondents, now representing more than 40 countries. For more information, contact editor@pmforum.org.

North American Academia Continues Emergence in PM World -
22 Universities exhibit at PMI Denver Congress

Is the academic world finally emerging from the shadows in the project management professional world? While some universities have been pioneers with their graduate and undergraduate programs in project management, many leading academic institutions have ignored the rise of project management as a mainstream discipline. Perhaps that is finally changing.

At the recently completed PMI Global Congress - North America 2008 conference, twenty two (22) universities actually participated in the exhibition of project management products and services. This was a very impressive showing. While several universities with leading graduate programs in PM, such as The George Washington University and The University of Texas at Dallas, have been visible for many years, others are now raising their profiles.

Here is a list of universities that were highly visible at the PMI congress in Denver:

American Graduate University
Athabasca University
Boston University
Bryant University
Defense Acquisition University
Kaplan University
Keller Graduate School of DeVry University
Northeastern University
Penn State University
Regis University
The George Washington University
The University of Texas at Dallas
University of California Irvine
University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Denver
University of Management and Technology
University of Maryland
University of Wisconsin
Villanova University
Walden University
Western Carolina University

(Top photo – Phyllis Tutora at The GWU booth; bottom photo – James Joiner and Debbie Samac at The UT Dallas booth in Denver)

Those planning to enroll in a masters degree program with a major focus on project management now have more options. Many of these schools also offer online courses and programs in project management. For links to these and other universities around the world offering degree programs in project management, visit http://www.pmforum.org/pmeducation/universities.htm. For information about major universities with graduate programs in project management that are well known to PMForum, visit the PM Academic Showcase at http://www.pmforum.org/pmeducation/showcase.htm.

For information about The George Washington University program in project management, visit http://mspm.gwu.edu . For information about The UT Dallas PM program, visit http://som.utdallas.edu/graduate/execed/projectMgmtProg/. These are both outstanding and highly successful programs, and both offer online options.

Strong Practitioner Focus for Major Programme Centre

Reported by Miles Shepherd in the UK

The BT Centre for Major Programme Management at Oxford University's Said Business School has announced the formation of a new Advisory Board.

Dr Janet Smart, Director of the BT Centre for Major Programme Management, promised in her inaugural presentation that the teaching programme would include significant contributions from both academics and practitioners. So it is no surprise to see that the new Advisory Board has a strong practitioner element to it.

(Photo: From left to right, back row: Professor Peter Dobson, Mike Brown, Dino Rinaldi, Nicholas Pitts-Tucker, Professor Colin Mayer, Front row: Janet Smart, Sir Peter Gershon, Paul Morrison, N. Chandrasekaran)

The Board is chaired by APM Honorary Fellow Sir Peter Gershon who championed the strengthening of project and programme specialist teams while he was head of the UK Government’s Office of Government Commerce, and further saw the development of Ministerial Centres of Excellence while running the Prime Minister’s Efficiency Unit as part of the Cabinet Office Efficiency Unit. The practitioner element is reinforced by the inclusion of Mike Brown, Rolls Royce’s Head of Project Management Development and chair of the British Standards Institute’s Project Management Committee. This committee has been instrumental in getting the new ISO standard on Project Management to the committee stage.

The ten members of the Board represent a wide range of sectors, and bring significant insight and experience to the group. Board members are senior professionals practising within the field and with a strong interest in the management of major programmes. The board members come from academia, manufacturing, finance, IT and property development.

Program Management Workshop Scheduled for Portland, Oregon
on February 18-19, 2009

The Program Management Academy will sponsor a public workshop on program management in Portland, Oregon, USA during February 18-19, 2009. The instructors will be Russ Martinelli and Jim Waddell, authors of the book Program Management for Improved Business Results (Wiley, 2007).

The workshop will be highly interactive, with exercises oriented to the knowledge and tools in the book, including many tips and techniques for immediate use on the job. The workshop and the book are both gaining recognition worldwide. Based on the previous workshop, attendees are expected from around the globe, thus providing the benefit of shared experiences from a wide variety of organizations and industries.

According to Stacy Pritchard, Senior Marketing Program Manager for Autodesk, Inc. and a recent workshop participant, "It was a great class. I took home a lot of new ideas, tools, tips and tricks. You can't ask for more than that out of a workshop".

Russ Martinelli and Jim Waddell designed the course for program and project managers seeking to grow their skills in the Program Management discipline and provide greater value to their companies. The new skills, tools and techniques are even more efficiently implemented when multiple people attend from the same company, so we have created a discount price when 3 or more people attend from the same organization.

Russ and Jim have many years of experience in high risk, high profile programs and offer their own as well as other examples of program management challenges and effective solutions. Their approach is ideal for small group discussions and activities. While participants in the workshop bring their own situations and experiences, participants will benefit from the direct contact with these leading edge experts.

The 2-day workshop will be held in Tigard, Oregon at the Courtyard by Marriott. This beautiful setting is an easy 40 minutes from the PDX airport and immediately off the I-5 freeway. This course is offered in collaboration between the Program Management Academy and Innovation Frameworks. For more information, visit one of the following websites: www.innovationframeworks.com or http://www.programmanagement-academy.com/. The book is included in the course fee; lunch, snacks, and refreshments are provided on both days. Upon completion, students can receive PDU credits

Click here to register for February 18-19, 2009 or for assistance contact the registrar: rose.marshall@innovationframeworks.com. Early bird discounts are available until Jan 16, 2009; group discounts are available for 3 or more from the same organization.

The Program Management Academy was created to help companies, organizations, and individuals better understand the principles of program management and to improve their program management practices. The primary goals of the Program Management Academy are: (1) To increase the awareness of program management as a critical business function; (2) To provide training, coaching, and consultation for individuals, teams and organizations practicing program management; and (3) To perform research and continued publication to further evolve program and business management practices worldwide. For additional information, visit www.programmanagement-academy.com

NAO Director Opens Saïd Seminar Series

Reported by Miles Shepherd in the UK

The autumn seminar series Complexity and Escalation at Oxford University's Saïd Business School and organized by the BT Centre for Major Programme Management launched this month with Tim Banfield, Director of Defence Acquisition Studies, at the National Audit Office (NAO), addressing complexity in projects.

Banfield noted that 75% of the reports published by the NAO examine project management issues and that many identify project management capability as a core skill in delivering change. He confirmed that skilled project staff are in short supply in the public sector as well as in the world of contracting more generally. He went on to explain that NAO analysis showed clearly how complexity of the projects undertaken by the State is increasing.

Since successful projects create new and more responsive public services as well as offering the capability of delivering these services more efficiently, successful delivery is critical for the prosperity of the nation. Thus the shortage of skilled project people impacts outcomes that affect the lives of millions.

Banfield outlined the track record of the public sector in addressing the basics of project and programme management, including dealing with complexity. He drew on a number of recent NAO reports to highlight examples of good practice and explain how collaborative working skills contribute to consistent and effective delivery of outcomes.

UK Government Approach to Programme Management

Reported by Miles Shepherd in the UK

The BT Centre for Major Programme Management continued it's seminar programme on Complexity and Escalation on 23 Oct with Patrick Mayfield on the UK Government approach to programme management. Mayfield is well known for his work on project based methodologies pioneered by the UK Government. He lead the team that redeveloped their successful IT project management method PRINCE^® into the globally successful PRINCE2^™

Mayfield (pictured left) took an enthusiastic audience through the UK Government approach to the management of projects and programmes, explaining why they opted for a ‘best practice’ approach and the design rationale for Managing Successful Programmes (MSP^™). Addressing how a single approach such as MSP can be relevant to the widely differing types of Government programme, Mayfield explained that MSP was intended to present practitioners with generic guidance whilst maintaining a robust approach. Taking his audience through the applications principles, he highlighted the intention that MSP, like PRINC2, was aimed at effective implementation rather than a prescriptive approach.

Patrick Mayfield is Chairman of PearceMayfield, a company he formed in 1994 while a member of the PRINCE2 development team.

The series continues this week with Professor Graham Winch of Manchester Business School examines three distinctive contributions that have attempted to address major projects with theoretical sophistication. Tickets are still available for the seminar from hazel.fry@sbs.ox.ac.uk