Welcome to the September
issue of PM World Today

Welcome to the September issue of PM World Today.  The Editor’s Perspective on the Current Issue provides a short overview of the articles and contributions included in the current edition.  This edition of PM World Today again contains a lot of articles and papers, including several in both English and Spanish.  This issue also reflects our continuing growth and globalization, with news about projects and project management from around the world of project management.  Reports from correspondents in 11 countries are included this month, with this section of PM World Today expected to grow even more in the months ahead.

Featured Papers are serious professional contributions to the PM literature; this month five such papers are included.  Three of the papers were prepared for and presented at the 1st UTD Project Management Symposium on August 6, 2007 in Plano, Texas, USA.  As one of the conference partners for this event, PMForum offered to publish the papers by the six most popular speakers, with three published this month and three to be included in the October edition.  This month we include papers by Larry Suda, Roy Pool and Garrett Haggerty.

Larry Suda’s paper is entitled “Linking Strategy, Leadership and Organization Culture for Project Success.”  Larry discusses how project teams and organizations have unique personalities and value systems.  The more a project leader understands the concept of culture, the more effective he/she will be in gaining support and guiding the project through the myriad of organization mazes.  Don’t miss this important paper on an increasingly critical aspect of project management.

Roy Pool’s paper is on one of the hottest topics in the project management field and is entitled “Tip Toeing into Agile Project Management.”  Roy discusses the Agile PM methodology, but suggests that it might not be appropriate for certain types of projects.  He also argues that it is not necessary to take an all-or-nothing approach to trying the Agile PM approach.  According to Mr. Pool, “The main purpose of this paper is to help you understand how your organization can move half way (Tip-Toe) into Agile and still get much of the promised benefits.”

Garrett Haggerty’s paper is entitled “The Project Manager’s role as an interface between Business Centers, I/T infrastructure and Corporate Governance.” This paper discusses how a Project Manager can serve as an interface between a company’s profit driven business centers, the expense driven I/T infrastructure and the company’s overall corporate governance. By understanding the needs and requirements of these areas, the Project Manager can be a critical piece of an effective and efficient corporate governance environment.  

Rebecca Winston, JD, PMI Fellow, has provided a new paper on project risk management, under the title of “Rethinking the Risk Management Process.”  In her paper, Becky proposes a new model for project risk management, incorporating risk documentation and communications as critical processes.  In her opinion, risks can change characterization over the life of a project; unless those changes are documented and communicated, they are often missed with potentially disastrous consequences.  According to Becky, we can “no longer assume communication in risk management!”

Mark Kozak-Holland, frequent and popular contributor to PM World Today, provides part 13 in his series on Winston Churchill, the Agile Project Manager.  His paper this month is entitled “Churchill’s Communication Plan” and discusses how Churchill used brilliant and effective public communications (with British stakeholders) in 1940, turning “Dunkirk into a propaganda victory.”  This is another interesting and entertaining lesson from history.

PM Tips & Techniques papers provide an opportunity for project management consultants, experts, trainers and vendors to contribute to the PM World Today eJournal, with helpful and practical suggestions.  Five of these advisory papers are included in this issue.  David Brojt, a leading professor and project management consultant in Argentina, has contributed an interesting paper on the subject of “People Management”, in both Spanish and English languages.  Professor Brojt shares seven suggestions on how to deal with people, both on the project team and external stakeholders, in order to be more successful, especially in practice.

Tim Bergmann’s article entitled “The Seven Deadly Project Sins: Part 2 – Elitism” is the second in a series in which he discusses problems we often create for ourselves as project managers.  Michelle LaBrosse, head of Cheetah Learning, has contributed an article entitled “Ten Ways Project Management Skills Can Help your Career”, distributed through Cheetah’s “Know How Network”.  As usual, Ms. LaBrosse provides some very good advice.  Ajith Kumar in Oman is back with another article entitled “Monitor Means Control”, in which he provides some new perspective (ala earned value is fundamental to project controls) in a discussion of price vs. cost vs. value.  Claudia Bacca, author of the recently published book entitled Project Management for Mere Mortals, has provided a short list of “Top Ten Tips for Success”.  These are all useful and interesting (and short) articles by experienced project management consultants and professionals.

Our Feature Interview this month is with Ms. Karen Tate, Director-at-large and member of the board of directors of the Project Management Institute (PMI®).  Karen was a keynote speaker at the 1st UTD Project Management Symposium in Texas in early August, where we caught up with her.  She has been traveling the world on behalf of PMI in recent years.  In this interview, Karen reflects on her experiences as a PMI board member and what it has meant to her on a personal basis.  We want to thank Karen for taking the time to answer a few questions.

Two Book Reviews are included in this edition.  Managing Agile Projects, a 2005 book produced, edited and co-authored by Kevin Aguanno, was reviewed by Ishkhan Topalian.  The Power of Enterprise-wide Project Management, a 2007 book by Dennis L.Bolles and Darrel G. Hubbard, was reviewed by Hussein Mzee.  Both Mr. Topalian and Mr. Mzee are working professionals and enrolled in the Graduate Program in Project Management at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Regional Reports is the section of PM World Today where reports from our International Correspondents around the world are collected and published each month.  These may be surveys of local PM activities and events, discussions of local conditions that affect projects and PM, or personal reflections based on their own recent experiences or activities.  In this way, we try to provide a snapshot and multi-cultural flavor of project management around the world.  For us at PMForum and PM World Today, this is one of the most interesting and rewarding aspects of our monthly production process, to learn what is happening and what is reported by these active and motivated PM professionals.  We hope you also find this section interesting and educational.

Eleven reports are included this month from correspondents in Argentina, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, India, Nigeria, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, and the USA. 

Based on the recent birth of her first child and her new role as mother, our correspondent in Argentina, Ana Maria Rodriguez, has provided an article on the subject of “Being a Project Manager and a Mom!”  This topic should be of interest to women in project management everywhere, especially those who are young and planning a family and who might be worried about either the transition or the impact to her career.  Ana Maria provides some personal and first hand perspective.  Both English and Spanish language versions of her report are included.

Irwin José Franco in Guayaquil provides a good report on “Project Management in Ecuador.” Irwin reports about PMI chapter formation activities, results of several local surveys of project management in Ecuador, and some local educational events. Mr. Franco’s report is provided in both Spanish and English languages.

The regional report from Germany by Manfred Rieck provides a good snapshot of activities within the PM profession across the country, and even across the border into Austria.  Manfred reports activities of both PMI chapters and the German PM society, then mentions a major conference now being organized in Vienna by PMI chapter leaders in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

In his regional report from Greece, Theofanis Giotis reports on two important issues affecting project management in Greece: the development of a Greek PM Standard, and the recent devastation caused by the weather and forest fires across the Greek countryside.  These and the coming national election will have a major impact on projects and PM in Greece for the balance of 2007 and well into next year.

Raju Rao in Chennai, India, reports on “Project India – at 60th anniversary of Indian Independence.”  According to Raju, “Today India, the world's largest democracy, is the 10th largest economy and the fourth largest in the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). One of weakest links to growth has been in infrastructure and it is here that considerable progress is being made now.”  Raju also reports on the formation of the India Project Management Forum (IPMF) in Chennai.

Dr. O. Chima Okereke, International Correspondent for Nigeria, has provided another monthly report on “Current developments affecting project management in Nigeria”.  Chima discusses recent public statements and commitments by President Umaru Yar’dua to improving security in the Port Harcourt area, to the Niger Delta Master Plan, and to effective legal and governmental processes in the country.  Chima reflects optimism that the situation is improving for projects and project management in his part of the country.

From Lisbon, Portugal, Alexandre Rodrigues reports on two major public infrastructure projects, the Lisbon international airport and the TGV high speed train from Lisbon to Madrid, in “Major projects in Portugal encourage better and more professional project management processes”.  According to Alexandre, these projects will affect the economy and projects environment in the country for the next few years.  He also reflects on recent developments and trends to project offices in certain large organizations, including banks in Portugal.  Alexandre’s report is provided in both English and Portuguese.

Florin Gheorghiu, International Correspondent in Bucharest, has provided an interesting and important essay entitled “When Disaster Strikes Project! or How could hazards be projectized through the PMBOK’s Project Risk Management Knowledge area?”  Reflecting on the serious natural disasters that have hit Romania in recent years, including floods and now high heat and forest fires, Florin suggests that governmental and international aid planners should adapt project risk management processes for planning and responding to natural and man-made disasters.  In my opinion, this is an increasingly important area of application for modern PM (see my editorial this month).

Alfonso Bucero in Madrid reports on the re-election of Marcos Serer as president of the PMI Barcelona Chapter and the AEDIP’s 2007 prize for the best project developed in Spain.  This is a good snapshot of recent PM developments in the country.  Alfonso’s report is also provided in both Spanish and English.

Our International Correspondent in Switzerland, Alexander Matthey has provided an interesting article entitled “Export of Swiss project management know-how to the Middle East: Reflections on Iranian project management – a mighty engine already roaring, yet to speed at full power!”  His article briefly describes his recent PM workshop in Tehran, an interesting development from a part of the world we hear little from (regarding project management).

Saralee Newell, International Correspondent in Florida, has stepped into the spotlight with her first regional report on various activities and developments at five PMI chapters around Florida.  She also discusses a $1B+ development underway in downtown Orlando, including a new sports arena, performing-arts center and upgraded Citrus Bowl stadium.

The balance of this month’s PM World Today features calls for papers, announcements of future events, news, information and stories related to projects and project management.  Please review the articles on Future PM Events and PM Community News where people are featured.  We hope the inclusion of all of these stories is both interesting and informative.

I want to welcome our newest Global Advisor, Mr. Morten Fangel, former president and chair of IPMA and a well known international project management consultant based in Copenhagen.  One of the founders and current executive director of the Danish Project Management Association, Morten is also currently managing director of Fangel Consultants Ltd.  He is well known throughout Europe and we are pleased to have him join our team of advisors.

Mark Kozak-Holland in Canada has become the newest PM AmbassadorTM and is now available to speak at project management conferences and events worldwide.  Author of the Lessons-from-History series of books that draw project management parallels and lessons from such topics as the Titanic disaster, Winston Churchill’s leadership during WWII, and The Great Escape, Mark is one of the most interesting and entertaining speakers in the PM world today.

Their addition continues our process of diversification and globalization, two important trends that will strengthen our ability to inform, educate and connect the world of PM.  Please read the articles announcing their participation in the PM Community News section of this issue.

We want to welcome two new sponsors this month, the Keller Graduate School of Management and The Graduate Program in Project Management at theUniversity of Texas at Dallas. We want to thank them as well as our other sponsors this month, which include the IPMA,Journyx, and Threon Group.  Please visit their websites for some leading PM products, publications and services.  Sponsors receive visibility and publicity in the PM World Today e-Journal that is emailed to thousands of PM practitioners and professionals worldwide, and on the PM World Today home page at www.pmworldtoday.net. If your organization is interested in sponsoring an issue of PM World Today please contact me at editor@pmforum.org.

Thank you for your subscription, and for reading the articles submitted by our authors and contributors.  We are excited about the future of this online publication and the world of project management .  Please send this to a friend or sign up for a free subscription at: http://www.pmworldtoday.net/subscribe/subscribe.htm.  

 

Good luck with your projects!
David L. Pells
Managing Editor
PM World Today
www.pmworldtoday.net
www.pmforum.org
editor@pmforum.org