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Jacobs to Acquires UK's L.E.S. Engineering in Grimsby

Reported by Bob Owen in the UK

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., a US-based technical and constructions outfit, has announced that it has acquired L.E.S. Engineering Limited (LES), a 700-person national maintenance, construction and service works contractor headquartered in Grimsby, U.K.. LES specializes in mechanical, instrumentation, and electrical installations for the process and utility industries. Grimsby is in the Humber Bank region of North East England, an industrial area where the Humber River meets the North Sea.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1962, LES is a multidiscipline firm handling projects from initial concept through manufacturing, installation, commissioning and maintenance. The firm specializes in project management; fabrication and pipe work services; instrumentation, electrical, machining and mechanical services; and resource planning services, all executed with their own employees.

In making the announcement, Jacobs President and Chief Executive Officer Craig Martin (pictured at right) stated, "We are committed to growing our global field service business. A key element of this initiative is growing our small capital and maintenance business. While Jacobs has a strong North American direct hire presence in this business, we are less established in Europe. By combining our 300-person operation in Grimsby with LES, we are creating a 1,000-person operation providing our clients with more integrated service offerings, and a foundation from which we can grow in the U.K. market and the rest of Europe."

Jacobs (NYSE:JEC), with over 55,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues exceeding $10.0 billion, provides technical, professional, and construction services globally. More information http://www.jacobs.com//p>

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Return to Mars! One of World's Most Advanced Online Project Management Courses Now Available at Discounted Price
Through PMForum

PMForum has announced the availability and discount pricing for readers and subscribers to enroll in Return to Mars, an online simulation-based project leadership course developed for NASA by Palatine Group. The negotiated discount, some 9% off the previous pricing, is available only through the new Return to Mars program. The discount climbs to 12% for teams of five or more.

The Return to Mars course was created with a foundation project management skills curriculum merged with an advanced project (case study) -- the Mars Pathfinder. The result is a highly flexible learning solution that develops competencies for project management professionals at multiple levels of experience. Return to Mars blends over 40 movies, 350 screens, state-of-the-art sound, animation, interface facility - and even the legendary actor Leonard Nimoy - into 14 powerful, 45-minute modules. NEAR and IMAGE are modeled on the Harvard Business Case Study Method.

The groundbreaking, interactive, media-rich learning experience recreates many of NASA's innovative projects, including the Pathfinder Mission to Mars (PMI's Project of Year). The course uses an advanced project to create a dramatic context for a learner to build skills and practice project management techniques within a subsystem of the Pathfinder mission/project. It puts you in the hot-seat of a bold attempt to land a spacecraft on Mars. The budget is tight: $150 million. The schedule is rigid: do it in 3.5 years, or you'll miss the launch window. Participants simulate a real project, gaining information and skills they can immediately apply to their own projects.

The course gives participants an understanding of the dynamics and challenges of project management, and provides tools and techniques for managing the entire project life cycle. Return to Mars helps develop soft skills by immersing participants in a simulation of Pathfinder's unique project environment, stressing performance and creativity, as well as innovation under tight budget and schedule restraints. Alongside insights into the value of such skills as leadership, teamwork, and communication, Return to Mars provides practical tools such as work breakdown structures, lessons learned, and a 60-day scheduling software.

According to David Pells, Managing Editor for PMForum, "The Return to Mars course is being offered as a service to project managers and organizations worldwide who want access to an advanced web-based project management course at reasonable pricing. Developed for and with NASA program and project managers, this is one of the most sophisticated courses in the world. It is not for beginners. It is for experienced, senior-level, project managers and teams who are prepared to accept the challenge of leading a project team into space. It requires participants to actually learn and apply project management principles."

The Return to Mars course is being offered by PMForum in partnership with Palatine Group as a service to project managers and organizations worldwide. Return to Mars is one of the most sophisticated and advanced courses in the world. Benefits of passing the course will include competency improvement, increased knowledge, career advancement, and 14 PDUs for PMP recertification. For more information, visit http://www.returntomarslearningsite.com/info.html.

Founded in 1976, Palatine Group is a professional services firm offering business and project management simulations, performance support and technology-based learning. Key service areas include Leadership and Project Management, Performance Management, e-Learning and Mobile Learning, Coaching, Mentoring and Business Communications. Based in New York City, Palatine is pioneering new ways to think about knowledge delivery, client performance, and innovation. Visit http://www.thepalatinegroup.com/index.php.

Established in the early 1990s in Canada, www.pmforum.org, was the world’s first website devoted to professional project management; it continues to be one of the world’s most popular sources of project management news and information. PMForum also produces the popular monthly PM World Today eJournal; free subscriptions available at www.pmworldtoday.net.

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Jacobs acquires stake in Delhi firm to strengthen position
in Indian Infrastructure Market

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. and Consulting Engineering Services (India) Private Limited (CES) has announced that a subsidiary of Jacobs has purchased a minority ownership position in CES. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

CES is a leading infrastructure and civil engineering company in India, headquartered in Delhi. It employs more than 2,000 people engaged in consulting, engineering, and construction supervision of projects in surface transport, seaports, airports, water management systems, environmental clean-up, buildings and facilities, and the power industry.

According to Jacobs President and CEO Craig Martin (pictured), "Our investment in CES adds to our 2,000-person-strong existing presence in India, complements our process industry strength there, and gives us access to resources to address the strong, emerging infrastructure market in India and in other regions in Asia and the Middle East. CES has an impressive track record of large-scale civil and infrastructure projects such as highways, bridges, ports, airports, railroads, power plants, architectural services, environmental clean-up, and water supply and sanitation facilities. CES is able to benefit from our complementary skills and global markets, and working with Jacobs creates the largest consulting engineering and construction force in India."

Chairman and Managing Director of CES Professor S.S. Chakraborty stated, "CES sees strong synergies with Jacobs in providing planning, engineering, and project management services for the rapidly growing infrastructure and related sectors in India and abroad. We are proud to have this strategic alliance, and look forward to rapid growth and enhanced impact for both companies. The combined operations of CES and Jacobs make for a formidable force in India and the surrounding region."

Jacobs, (NYSE:JEC) with over 55,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues exceeding $10.0 billion, provides technical, professional, and construction services globally. Web site: http://www.jacobs.com/

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Free Set of Project Management Materials Available in Brazil

Reported by Peter Mello in Brazil

The IGPP (Introduction to Project Management based on the PMBOK Guide, in Portuguese) is a free set of educational materials related to project management. It contains over 100 MB of information, with exercises, articles, seminars and a full set of activities around the 12 chapters of PMI’s PMBOK Guide.

The user has a special interface that provides the ability to see local files and online links; the basic set was even registered with PMI as one of X25’s PMI R.E.P courses.

The initiative started in 2003 and was based on the PMBOK 2000 version. The two courses together have counted over 9,000 subscribers.

 

 

Besides the Brazilian contributions to the material, international contributors include Russell Archibald, Edward Fern, Vladimir Liberzon and others. It now has a special section for the Risk-Doctor Portuguese files and also links to PMForum.

Recently an auto-update feature was added to the pack and X25 expects an increase in the number of contributors to the material (today around 15 people helps maintaining the website and course materials)

X25 Training and Consulting also keeps freeware versions of other commercial software that can be used during the use of IGPP. From Mind Mapping software to Certification Prep Questions and an electronic game with PMBOK’s 44 processes, students may find introductory to advanced information made available. All materials are in the Portuguese language.

More information can be found at: http://www.correntecritica.com

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How to find Project Managers for big projects?
Panel discussion planned for IPMA World Congress in Rome

The project management team for the 22nd IPMA World Congress on Project Management – ROMA 2008 Project Management to Run – has announced several major panel discussions for the November World Congress. The IPMA 22^nd World Congress on Project Management will be held in Rome, Italy during 9-11 November 2008. For information, visit www.ipmaroma2008.it.

According to the latest congress announcement, a Panel discussion on finding project managers for big projects and programmes in the oil & gas, petrochemicals and engineering/construction sectors will be held in Rome.

The number and the size of big projects in the oil and gas industry are increasing and the engineering companies have difficulty in assigning the right project manager to these jobs. Why? Because there are too many projects ongoing at the same time and few project managers have the experience to manage the problems and the risks of a multimillion dollar project.

How do the Engineering Companies and the Project Owners intend to overcome this difficult situation? The topic will be discussed in a round table by top Managers of Engineering Companies and Oil and Gas Corporations together with project management and human resources experts.

The Panel moderator will be Dr. Martin Barnes, APM President and past Executive Director of the Major Projects Association in the UK. Panel members will be: Veikko Välilä, IPMA President; Umberto della Sala, CEO of Foster Wheeler, and several other top managers of oil and engineering companies. For large EPC companies or those looking for experienced project managers, this will be an opportunity to discuss your needs with others in the industry and in the project management profession with experience in this area.

The 22nd IPMA World Congress and Exhibition will be held at the Palazzo dei Congressi near the heart of downtown Rome, during 9-11 November 2008. The “ROMA 2008 – Project Management to Run” World Congress will include keynote speeches, 12 streams of presentations over three days with discussions and presentations on various programme and project management topics, and an international exhibition of products and services. Over 1,000 participants from the 45+ countries represented by IPMA membership are expected to attend, making it one of the largest project management events in the world this year.

For registration, schedule and other information, visit the conference website at www.ipmaroma2008.it.

The local hosts for the ROMA 2008 World Congress are the Italian Project Management Academy and the Italian National Association of Industrial Plant Engineering (ANIMP). The President of ANIMP is Fabrizio Di Amato; the President of the Italian PM Academy is Roberto Mori; the Congress Chairman is Luigi Iperti; and the Project Manager for IPMA 2008 is PierMarco Romagnoli.

Founded in 1967 and registered in Switzerland, the International Project Management Association (IPMA) is an international federation of more than 45 national PM societies in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Local societies serve each country in its national language. IPMA provides an umbrella organization at the international level. Additional information is available at www.ipma.ch.

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Project Finance Experts to Highlight North America West Coast Infrastructure Conference in LA in October

Several of the world's leading project finance authorities have been lined up to speak at the North America West Coast Infrastructure Partnerships conference in Los Angeles in October. This conference related to Public Private Partnerships (P3) for major infrastructure projects will be held during 14-15 October 2008 at the Four Seasons hotel in Los Angeles, California, USA.

At 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 14 October, a panel of Project Finance Experts will "Survey project financing and corporate lending for P3 infrastructure projects". Connor Kelly, Managing Director of Depfa Bank, Nicholas Hann, Executive Director Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Limited, and Kevin O'Brien, Director of Merrill Lynch & Co., will address the following topics:

• Examining debt and equity ratios across P3 projects and identifying typical funding models

• Identifying the availability and sources of debt financing for both P3 and conventional project financing

• Analyzing credit ratings, refinancing activity and secondary markets for projects

They will be followed by a group of P3 project financing experts who will discuss the topic of "Equity & Infra Funds - Identifying the drivers and benefits for equity partners investing in P3 infrastructure projects". Catherine Deluz, Vice President/Senior Analyst on Project and Infrastructure Finance for Moody's Investor Service and Dr. Stefan Parche, PPP North America for Babcock & Brown LP (plus other selected speakers), will address:

• Surveying current private equity trends in infrastructure projects

• Examining evolving funding structures and models for private equity partners

• What role might infrastructure funds play in the development of P3s?

The topic of funding large public infrastructure projects has never been more important. Public private partnership (P3) models for delivering public and private finance for social and hard infrastructure projects are being developed and applied in the Western United States and in Canada and Mexico. The west coast of North America is being transformed under these partnerships. With the British Columbia projects in Canada and Mexico border projects, West Coast North America is now a region of choice for global project finance. Organizations that want to learn about or participate in these big programs and projects should consider attending.

The North America West Coast Infrastructure Partnership conference in Los Angles will showcase opportunities for private sector organizations to get involved in public infrastructure projects across the Western USA, Canada and Mexico. It will also be an opportunity to meet some of the major participants, from owners representatives to global financing organizations.

The 1.5 day conference will be held at the Los Angeles Four Seasons hotel. Organizers are PFI conferences, a division of Thomson Reuters. The conference will highlight current and ongoing opportunities for funding organizations, sponsors, contractors and project advisors. A major networking opportunity and the only regional conference of its kind this year, the PFI West Coast Infrastructure conference will be an important event for global and regional partnership professionals and organizations. For information, visit http://www.pficonferences.com/pfi_west_coast_2008/conference_home.aspx

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Lend Lease to Develop Darling Walk Regeneration Project
in Sydney CB

Lend Lease Corporation Limited ("Lend Lease") has announced that it has been awarded the A$560 million Darling Walk regeneration project by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority in Sydney, Australia. Lend Lease Development has entered into an agreement with Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority to redevelop the 1.5 hectare site in Sydney's Central Business District (CBD) Darling Harbour precinct.

The 65,000 square metre development will comprise 58,000 square metres of low rise, campus style office space, a Youth Theatre, a rejuvenated retail precinct, a water play park and associated car parking. Demolition will start immediately, with construction commencing after final planning approval of the project application, which is anticipated in early 2009. Bovis Lend Lease will undertake the project management, design management and construction. Completion is planned for late 2011.(photo: Darling Harbour CBD today)

Australian Prime Property Fund (APPF) Commercial, one of Lend Lease Investment Management's wholesale property funds, will finance and acquire the project in joint venture with one of its existing offshore institutional investment partners. Lend Lease Investment Management will act as Investment Manager for both owners.

Underpinning the quality of the development, Commonwealth Bank of Australia has signed an agreement with APPF Commercial and its partner to lease the entire 58,000 square metre commercial tenancy for an average of 13 years. The building will provide high quality office accommodation for 4,500 staff. The development comprises two nine-storey buildings, separated to maximise views and enhance connectivity with the CBD and adjoining park.

According to the Lend Lease announcement, international best practice sustainability outcomes will be delivered through a commitment to a 6 Star Green Star design rating and 5 Star NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) Energy rating. Achievement of these targets will include: a high performance façade; chilled beam and fresh air systems; carbon emission reduction; waste water treatment and rainwater harvesting generating an 80% reduction in potable water usage; and onsite waste recycling during construction.

Mr. David Hutton (pictured at left), Director of Lend Lease Development said the Darling Walk project is a prime example of a State Government initiated private sector partnership, delivering on Government's vision of Darling Harbour as a world class waterfront, mixed use precinct complementing the city centre. The pre-commitment of the Commonwealth Bank emphasises the importance of this development.

"Building on Lend Lease's experience from developing Darling Park and Cockle Bay Wharf, we are excited about the opportunity to again work with Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority in transforming Darling Walk into a quality home for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and a successful, interactive destination for city workers, residents and visitors. The end result will reinvigorate this part of Darling Harbour by enhancing the link with the CBD, upgrading the public realm and dramatically improving the quality of experience for all users of the area. The building is being designed by Richard Francis-Jones, partner in architectural firm FJMT, and DTZ acted as leasing agents," Mr Hutton said.

Carmel Hourigan, CEO, APPF said, "Darling Walk will deliver world class environmental initiatives and innovative and sustainable design that is sympathetic to the surroundings. We see the delivery and ownership of highly sustainable commercial office buildings as integral in underpinning investment value both today and over the long term."

The public domain plays a central role in the Darling Walk upgrade, with key elements including an active water play area, a community green, a new and expanded children's playground and the creation of a Youth Theatre. The Youth Theatre will be operated by the Jacobsen family's Arena Management (operator of the Sydney Entertainment Centre and Capitol Theatre). The Theatre will focus on the development of local talent and family entertainment.

The development will also include a ground floor retail precinct to provide a quality offering of food and services to meet the needs of workers and visitors to the area. Underground car parking will also complement the development alongside the links to public transport. Darling Walk will lead the rejuvenation of Darling Harbour's southern precinct and further activate and improve this important part of Sydney’s CBD.

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AMEC Awarded $75 Million Programme Management Consultancy Contract in UAE

Reported by Miles Shepherd in London, UK

AMEC plc, the UK-based international engineering and project management company, has been awarded a five-year programme management consultancy (PMC) contract by Zakum Development Company (ZADCO) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The announcement was made in London on 2 September 2008.

The reimbursable contract is estimated to be worth US $75 million over the five years - the largest oil-related PMC contract ever awarded by ZADCO.

AMEC will provide engineering, consultancy and project management services extending from concept stage through front-end engineering design (FEED), design, construction and commissioning of several projects on the multi-billion dollar Upper Zakum full field development programme. The programme began in 2007 and is expected to be completed by 2013.

Among the projects in which AMEC will be involved are the replacement of the 60-kilometre main subsea oil pipeline, expansion of onshore/offshore gas treatment facilities, development of the east and west areas of the field, and a major programme of work to increase offshore crude production capacity from 500,000 to 750,000 barrels per day.

"This contract on one of the world's major offshore fields is another significant step in our strategic growth plans in the Middle East and North Africa region," said Tony Cruddas, President - Growth Regions, AMEC's Natural Resources division. "Our offshore expertise from around the world, our PMC experience in the Middle East, together with our Convero programme management system, were key factors in winning the contract, which we hope will lead to further work in the region."

Upper Zakum is the most important of ZADCO's fields. Located 84 kilometres offshore to the north west of Abu Dhabi islands, the field covers approximately 1,200 square kilometres of the Arabian Gulf. It is part of the Zakum field, the second largest field in the Gulf and the fourth largest field in the world.

Source: AMEC press release

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Power at Sea - Northrop Grumman Wins $5.1 Billion Contract to Build New Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier for US Navy

Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced that the company has received a $5.1 billion, 7-year cost plus incentive fee contract award for detail design and construction of the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. This new class of carrier is the replacement for the Nimitz-class design that originated in the 1960s.

The company's Shipbuilding sector will perform the work, which includes ship construction, ship design activities, engineering services, procurement of materials and hardware to support construction and logistics activities.

"This contract award is an important and historic milestone for our company, our Navy and our country," said Matt Mulherin, vice president and general manager for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Newport News operations. "It represents an incredible opportunity for the great shipbuilders of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding to build the first new aircraft carrier class in more than 40 years. The work we are doing today will play a significant role in America's defense for many generations to come."

Advance construction of the Gerald R. Ford began in 2005 under a separate contract valued at $2.7 billion. This advance work allowed shipbuilders to test the design-build strategy, exercise new processes, prototype new features used on this ship before the overall construction contract was awarded, and to build a sufficient backlog of ship units to support production, undocking and delivery. About one third of the ship's 1,200 structural units are currently under construction. The ship's keel will be laid in the fall of 2009 and delivery to the Navy is scheduled for 2015.

The Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) class will continue the legacy of highly capable U.S. Navy aircraft carrier ship platforms. Enhancements being incorporated into the design include flight deck changes, improved weapons handling systems, and a redesigned island, all resulting in increased aircraft sortie rates. It will also include a new nuclear power plant; increased electrical power generation capacity; allowance for future technologies; and reduced workload for the sailors, translating to a smaller crew size and lower operating costs for the Navy.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is a global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide. Their website is http://www.northropgrumman.com/index.html.

Editor's note: Projects like this one will employ hundreds of program and project management professionals, and dozens of project managers, up and down the supply chain. The defense industry remains one of the largest employers of program and project management professionals in the world, and represents a serious career path for many in our profession. No doubt, Northrop Grumman and its various suppliers will be looking for more project management professionals now.

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Major Infrastructure Projects to be Showcased on Day 1 of North America West Coast Infrastructure Conference in October

Two major western US infrastructures will be showcased on Day one of the North America West Coast Infrastructure Partnerships conference being held during 14-15 October 2008 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, California, USA. This major conference related to Public Private Partnerships (P3) for major infrastructure projects will feature keynote addresses by state leaders, international finance experts and development executives, along with panel discussions and case studies.

Beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 October, the following major projects will be reviewed:

• Oakland Port Projects - Detailing progress in the public-private partnership to develop four berths in the port's Outer Harbor Terminal area totaling 107 acres – by Alistair Sawers, Director, West U.S. Group, Infrastructure & Project Finance, RBC Capital Markets

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Is a National Framework for P3 Financing needed in the USA?

Topic to be discussed at North America West Coast Infrastructure Conference in California in October

Is there a need for a national framework and a public consensus for financing Public Private Partnerships? This important topic will be reviewed and debated during the plenary session at the North America West Coast Infrastructure Partnerships conference in Los Angeles in October. This conference related to financing and developing Public Private Partnerships (P3) for major infrastructure projects will be held during 14-15 October 2008 at the Four Seasons hotel in Los Angeles, California, USA.

At 12:30 p.m. on 14 October, the subject of "National Frameworks and Public Funding" will be taken on by Adrian Moore, Executive Director or Reason Foundation, Ian Wainwright, and Deirdre Fretz, Americas Editor for Project Finance International. Other speakers may also participate.

Some of the related issues to be presented and discussed:

• Findings of recent reports in to P3s for transportation projects

• How do the procurement processes and funding structures for P3s differ across states and what are the benefits in unifying P3 processes in a common cross state framework?

• What are the ideal timeframes for P3s – should the lengths of contacts be limited, for example?

• How might public consensus and support be achieved for P3 projects?

• How might P3s complement other infrastructure funding mechanisms in the State including TIFF or bond financing?

The topic of financing large public infrastructure projects has never been more important. Public private partnership (P3) models for delivering public and private finance for major infrastructure projects are being developed and applied in the Western United States, Canada and Mexico. The west coast of North America is being transformed under these partnerships. With the British Columbia projects in Canada and Mexico border projects, West Coast North America is now the location of a number of major P3 projects, and projects that are candidates for the P3 approach. Organizations that want to learn about or participate in these big programs and projects should consider attending.

The North America West Coast Infrastructure Partnership conference in Los Angles will showcase opportunities for private sector organizations to get involved in public infrastructure projects across the Western USA, Canada and Mexico. It will also be an opportunity to meet some of the major participants, from owners representatives to global financing organizations.

The 1.5 day conference will be held at the Los Angeles Four Seasons hotel. Organizers are PFI conferences, a division of Thomson Reuters. The conference will highlight current and ongoing opportunities for funding organizations, sponsors, contractors and project advisors. A major networking opportunity and the only regional conference of its kind this year, the PFI West Coast Infrastructure conference will be an important event for global and regional partnership professionals and organizations. For information, visit http://www.pficonferences.com/pfi_west_coast_2008 conference_home.aspx

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ARCADIS to Design Constanta's Ring Road in Romania

Reported by Florin Gheorghiu in Bucharest

ARCADIS, the international consultancy, design and engineering company based in The Netherlands, has announced that it will design Constanta's ring road, connecting the city to the Romanian capital of Bucharest. The design-build project will be financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Total construction costs are estimated at EUR 125 million. The road project will be 22 km long and will include 26 underpasses and bridges. The new road is expected to open in 2011.

A consortium consisting of Spanish builder FCC and Italian Astaldi will build the ring road on the basis of the ARCADIS design. The motorway is part of Pan-European corridor IV, a multi-modal Northwest - Southeast transport link that will run from Nürnberg in Germany, to Romania and then through to Turkey. It is part of the European Union's effort to improve infrastructure in nations that have recently joined the Union and bring them up to EU standards. The realization of Pan-European Corridor IV through Romania is expected to promote distribution of goods in the region, and contribute to the growth of Romania and neighbouring countries.

"This project clearly signals the buoyant market conditions in Central Europe for infrastructure services," said ARCADIS board member Michiel Jaski. "Our strong market presence in that region combined with our extensive experience in European infrastructure design, make us an attractive partner to work with."

ARCADIS is an international company providing consultancy, engineering and management services in the field of infrastructure, environment and buildings. ARCADIS develops, designs, implements, maintains and operates projects for companies and governments. With more than13,500 employees and more than EUR 1.5 billion in gross revenue, the company has an extensive international network that is supported by strong local market positions. For more information, visit www.arcadis-global.com.

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Serena Software Acquires Projity for Open Source Alternative
to Microsoft Project

Serena Software announced on 23 September 2008 that it has acquired Projity, Inc., for OpenProj, its free, open source desktop project management software, and Project-ON-Demand, its Software as a Service (SaaS) - based project management software. The acquisition is expected to bolster Serena’s Serena^® Mariner^® Project & Portfolio Management (PPM) offering.

According to Serena's news release, Serena Mariner was rated by Forrester as a leader in The Forrester Wave™: Project Portfolio Management Tools, Q4 2007 (December 2007) with "top-of-the-line portfolio management software, robust reporting, and a unique implementation road map process." Serena Mariner provides total visibility into project and portfolio status and metrics to ensure the right people are on the right projects at the right time, ultimately delivering more value to the business. With the addition of the Projity offerings, Serena Mariner gains both an alternative to Microsoft Project as well as high fidelity bi-directional integration.

OpenProj is an open source desktop project management application available under the Common Public Attribution License (CPAL) for individual project managers to download free of charge. OpenProj offers similar functionality as Microsoft Project - with support for multiple platforms.

The success of OpenProj, with more than 600,000 downloads in 142 countries over the last year alone, shows there is considerable market opportunity for an open source alternative to commercial desktop project management applications. OpenProj is available for Windows, Linux, Macintosh, and Unix, compatible with Microsoft Project files, available in 11 languages, and designed to work with leading open source office suites including Sun's StarOffice, IBM Symphony, and OpenOffice.org, which boasts 100 million users.

Project-ON-Demand is for small- to medium-sized organizations (SMBs) where several users collaborate on multiple group projects. Project-ON-Demand is a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution that eliminates the complexity of deploying project management software for large, geographically dispersed teams. It builds on the functionality in OpenProj by delivering additional multi- project, collaboration, reporting, and management features for a small subscription fee.

Serena plans to ultimately integrate Project-ON-Demand's project management capabilities into Serena Mariner, the company's enterprise-level PPM offering, to provide broad views of project and portfolio status across departments or organizations.

"Strong project management support is a critical part of our PPM strategy," said Jeremy Burton (pictured), CEO of Serena Software. "The addition of Projity brings our customers not only a viable functional alternative to Microsoft Project, but first and foremost a much stronger PPM offering on demand."

Serena will continue to offer OpenProj as an open source product under the name Serena OpenProj. Project-ON-Demand is available immediately as Serena Projects On Demand and is priced starting at $10 per user per month. Serena Mariner 2008 is available now for on premise and on demand implementations. Pricing for Mariner 2008 On Demand is as low as $18 per user per month. The integrated Serena / Projity product will be available in the first quarter of 2009.

Serena is a privately owned company, headquartered in Redwood City, California, with 29 offices in 14 countries and more than 800 employees. Serena provides software on premise and on demand to over 15,000 customers including 96 of the Fortune 100. Serena enables teams of programmers to become more efficient by standardizing and automating development processes across both mainframe and distributed environments. For more information on Serena, visit http://www.serena.com/.

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First Project Management Center of Excellence
in Sub Saharan Africa Close to Reality

Reported by Getachew Teklemariam Alemu in Addis Ababa

The first sub Saharan Africa center of excellence in project management is close to get a hit in the market. It is named African Center for Excellence in Project Management (ACEPM). According to the draft implementation plan, the initiative for its establishment is closing the gap in project management knowledge and skills across all disciplines. It has an inspiration of making itself an essential African infrastructure to fight poverty and promote a wholesome development.

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