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Volume IX - Issue X - October 2007

 

PM Profession News

 

Report on the 7th International Workshop
in Project and Programme Management at ESC-Lille in France

Reported by Russ Archibald, PhD, Fellow PMI and APM/IPMA, PM


The 7th International Workshop in Project and Programme Management, "Project & Programme Management Standards: Source of Organizational and People Development?", recently concluded in Lille, France. Hosted by the Graduate Program in Project & Programme Management in the ESC-Lille School of Management, the annual workshop occurred during 20-24 August, 2007.

This intensive, 5 day workshop is unique in the world of project management. It brings together 65 invited world authorities in PM (professors, consultants, and executive practitioners) from 22 countries, plus 38 PhD candidates at ESC-Lille/Paris (from almost as many countries), plus 14 IPMA Young Crew Members (graduate students from Eastern European and other countries), plus many ESC-Lille faculty members and graduate students. The agenda runs every day from 9:00am to 7:00pm, and from Wednesday through Friday there is a parallel track with the "2nd International Research Seminar in Project and Programme Management."

Prof. Dr. Christophe N. Bredillet is the father of this impressive event, which he started in 2000 with the full support of ESC-Lille/Paris (one of the grande ecoles of France) when Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Debourse was Dean of the school. The ESC-Lille campus is located in a modern high-rise building in the heart of the beautiful city of Lille, one hour north of Paris by train, very close to the Belgian border. The PhD and other graduate students have the opportunity to hear, question, and discuss their reactions and opinions with the invited authorities and other faculty members very freely during the formal presentations, at coffee and lunch breaks on-campus, and at dinner every evening in various brasseries and restaurants of Lille -- all hosted by Christophe Bredillet and ESC-Lille.

The overall experience was marvelous for both the old hands and the younger people. The cross-cultural, cross-generational, cross-organizational interchange is a powerful catalyst for intellectual (and sensory) stimulation and learning by every participant. It can only be hoped that other business schools and universities will emulate this excellent model in other parts of the world.

The formal agenda for the 5 day workshop on PM standards included presentations and workshop sessions by authorities from 7 countries, plus sessions on Islamic Finance, as follows:

  • Welcome and Introduction: Prof. Christophe Bredillet

  • International Development Projects: Peter Heffron (Hawaii, USA)

  • Mega projects management in Norway: Ole Jonny Klakegg & Ole Morten Magnussen (Norway)

  • Improving project & programme management in the UK local government sector: Dr. Stephen Simister (UK)

  • APM (IPMA): Mary McKinley (UK)

  • Comparison between PMI and PRINCE2 Project Management Systems: Prof. Azhar Khan (Pakistan)

  • Governance Specific Interest Group APM: David Shannon (UK)

  • Project management licensing: Stewart Moffet (UK)

  • GAPPS: Prof. Lynn Crawford (Australia)

  • Maturity and Success in IT Project Management: Darci Prado and Dr. Russ Archibald (Brazil)

  • Standards Implementation: case studies & lessons learned: Oliver Lazar (France)

  • PMI-ESC Joint Research Project: "Project Managers as Senior Executives:" Prof. J-P Debourse (France) & Dr. Russ Archibald (USA)

  • NASA process for identifying & supporting new technologies: Dr. Edward Hoffman and Anthony Maturo (USA)

  • APM Group-PRINCE2, MSP, M_o_P, Maturity Models: Alan Harkham (UK)

  • P2M: Project & Program Management for Enterprise Innovation: Hiroshi Tanaka (Japan)

  • PM Standards: Prof. Rodney Turner (UK)

  • Project Finance and Risk Management: Roland Barrois (France)

  • Islamic Finance Principles: Brian Kettell (UK)

  • Islamic Finance: Ladislas Gallant (France)

  • Introducing a Professional Certification in Islamic Finance: John Willsdon (UK)

From about 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm each day an ESC-Lille PhD candidate defended his thesis before his thesis review panel and the entire workshop participant group, which resulted in several very interesting and lively discussions and exchanges. All of the theses defended were approved by the respective panels.

The 2nd International Research Seminar, Wednesday through Friday in parallel with the workshop, heard and discussed 24 presentations.

The social highlight of the week was a bus ride by 80 participants to an old auberge in the Flanders countryside for a wonderful dinner, plentiful wine, and a singing contest by participant groups representing specific countries or geographic regions. This raucous evening resulted in a statistical first, when all 8 singing groups were ruled to be absolutely equal in quality by the appointed judge, Russ Archibald, who was selected for that position as the oldest person attending the workshop and seminar. The "Class of 2007" will be inscribed on the special plaque that has space for future singing contest winners over the next 12 years. The plaque was provided by Dr. Ed Hoffman and Tony Maturo from NASA.

Founded in 1892, Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Lille- ESC Lille - is one of the oldest business schools in France, with campuses in Lille and Paris. It is also the first institution outside North America to receive GACPM accreditation by the Project Management Institute (PMI®). The project management program at ESC Lille was inaugurated in 1979. ESC Lille offers postgraduate programs in project management: two masters in project & program management (one taught in English, the other in French); a MBA in Strategy, Program & Project Management (English); and a PhD in Strategy, Program & Project Management (English). ESC Lille research activities in project & program management are grouped together into the International Centre for Project Management and Analysis (CIMAP). Additional information about the university can be found at www.esc-lille.com.

Editor’s note: This breaking news article was provided by Russ Archibald, global advisor to PMForum, who participated in the Lille event. We are grateful for Russ’ report . Click here to see Russ's bio.

 

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Perth Seawater Desalination Project Wins WAPM Award

Reported by Robert Posener in Sydney Australia

The nation's first large scale desalination plant for public water consumption has been recognized as winner of the Western Australia Project Management Achievement Awards (PMAA) in Perth. The $387 million project was completed on schedule and provides up to 17 percent of Perth's water supply. The Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) organises the annual PMAA to recognise excellence in project management in each State.

The plant will draw water
from the Cockburn Sound.

The ground-breaking water supply development project that has placed Western Australia at the forefront of water supply planning was named the winner of the WA PMAA in Perth on Thursday evening, August 30.

According to the Water Corporation of Western Australia, the project is the nation's first large-scale desalination facility for public water consumption and provides up to 17 per cent of Perth's water requirements with no dependence on rainfall, amounting to an extra 45 gigalitres of water per annum. According to the press release, the project has been deemed an overwhelming success. It was delivered on time for the 2006/2007 summer and on budget for $387 million, representing excellent value for money with costs well below comparative desalination plants of its type around the world and within Australia.

AIPM WA Chapter President, Dr Neveen Moussa said the Project of the Year was a hugely successful engineering feat that other Australian states can learn from. "This year's WA winner is an exciting project for Australia that addresses the water shortage problems that most states are facing. The project has been implemented with great success, bringing great benefits to the region. This project provides a model for other states and countries to emulate," said Dr Moussa.

The project (shown under construction in photo) included a Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination Plant, 25 kilometers of trunk main, and a pump station to deliver the water into the Integrated Water Supply Scheme. The success of the project was achieved by excellent planning, a highly experienced project team, best practice community consultation and meticulous environmental and engineering assessments.

The project also met the most rigorous environmental approval procedures ever imposed on a completed Water Corporation development project, which included the most intensive marine monitoring program of any desalination plant in the world.

All State and Territory PMAA winners will proceed to the national finals. The National Project of the Year will be announced in Hobart, Tasmania at the national awards ceremony on October 9, 2007 during AIPM's annual conference.

The Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) represents and promotes professional project management Australia-wide. The organization also offers a recognition framework for project management and project managers in Australia. AIPM was formed 30 years ago and has since grown to more than 5,500 individual members and 120 corporate members. This membership represents a diverse range of industries including finance, human resources, government, defense, engineering and construction. Additional information can be found at http://www.aipm.com.au/.


Australian Defence Project named AIPM
Project Management Award Winner for Victoria State

Reported by Robert Posener in Sydney Australia

The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation's (DMO) Land 907 - Tank Replacement Project - was named Victorian State winner of the Australian Institute of Project Management Awards on 30 August 2007. The Project Management Achievement Awards recognise excellence in all aspects of project management across Australia. DMO was well represented at the awards with seven projects short-listed for their excellence in project management

Land 907 also won the Defence Category for excellence in project management. Land 907 is a major Australian Defence project with a budget of over $500 million, which has delivered the new fleet of 59 Abrams M1A1 tanks, tank transporters and recovery vehicles, fuel trucks, gunnery and driver training packages and simulators, 7500 spare parts, and new facilities on three bases in Australia. The project is also managing the complete withdrawal and disposal of the Leopard tank fleet, which has served Australia for over 30 years.

Land 907's success is due to procurement through the Foreign Military Sales program, enabling delivery within three years; and close cooperation between DMO and Army, which brought the project in ahead of schedule and on budget. Mr. Iain Watt, who was involved in the Land 907 project from its inception in 2004, accepted the award on behalf of the project team. Land 907 will now represent Victoria at the National Awards in Hobart on 9 October 2007.

The Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) organizes the annual PMAA to recognize excellence in project management in each State. All State and Territory PMAA winners will proceed to the national finals. The National Project of the Year will be announced in Hobart, Tasmania at the national awards ceremony on October 9, 2007 during AIPM's annual conference.

The Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) represents and promotes professional project management Australia-wide. The organization also offers a recognition framework for project management and project managers in Australia. AIPM was formed 30 years ago and has since grown to more than 5,500 individual members and 120 corporate members. This membership represents a diverse range of industries including finance, human resources, government, defense, engineering and construction. Additional information can be found at http://www.aipm.com.au/.

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PMI completes 3rd CONO SUR TOUR in Argentina,
Chile, Peru & Uruguay


Reported by Ana Maria Rodriguez in Argentina

The PMI CONO SUR TOUR has just completed. With the presence of Ms. Karen Tate from PMI Board of Directors, the tour landed on august 29th at Lima (Peru), on august 31st at Santiago de Chile, on September 3rd at Montevideo (Uruguay), and successfully ended on September 5th in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

More than 30 lecturers were part of this event. While the events organized by the PMI Chapter at Lima, Peru and Montevideo, Uruguay included a broad variety of issues on Project Management methodologies and experiences, the Santiago de Chile chapter organized an event focused on Risk Management with the presence of Mr. Charles Bossler, President of the PMI Risk Specific Interesting Group (SIG) and the Buenos Aires Chapter focused on Telecommunications Projects.

This Tour was a joint effort of the chapters of the Cono Sur region of Latin America, as a means to spread Project Management
best practices offering an excellent training and networking opportunity for professionals in the region. It is developed
every year, since 2006.

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PMI Desarrolla El Tercer Tour Del Cono Sur En Argentina,
Chile, Peru Y Uruguay


Reportado porAna Maria Rodriguez en Argentina

El Tour del PMI Cono Sur está finalizando. Con la presencia de la Señora Karen Tate del PMI Board of Directors, el tour se detuvo el 29 de agosto en Lima (Peru), el 31 de agosto en Santiago de Chile, el 3 de septiembre en Montevideo (Uruguay) y terminó exitosamente hoy 5 de septiembre en Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Mas de 30 expositores participaron de este evento. Mientras que los encuentros organizados por los capítulos en Lima y Montevideo de PMI incluyeron una gran variedad de experiencias y metodologías en diversos temas de Project Management, el capítulo de Santiago de Chile organizó un evento enfocado en la Gestión del Riesgo, con la presencia del Sr. Charles Bossler, Presidente del Risk Specific Interesting Group (SIG) y el capítulo Buenos Aires focalizó su evento en las necesidades de los proyectos de telecomunicaciones.

Este tour es un esfuerzo conjunto de los capítulos de la región cono sur de Latinoamérica como una forma de divulgar las mejores prácticas del Project Management, ofreciendo una excelente oportunidad de entrenamiento y networking a profesionales de la región. Se desarrolla anualmente, desde el año 2006.

 


Help Rebuild New Orleans! PMI GNO Professional Development Summit in October to include Community Service Day

The Greater New Orleans Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI GNO chapter) is inviting PMI members and project management professionals to come to New Orleans and contribute to rebuilding. The chapter has announced that day one of the upcoming Professional Development Summit (PDS) will be a Community Service Day, offering conference attendees opportunities to help rebuild New Orleans (from Hurricane Katrina damage). The PMI GNO chapter is partnering with LavaCon to co-host a Professional Development Summit (PDS) in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA during October 27–30, 2007. This four day event will be one of the biggest project management conferences ever held in New Orleans.


Community Service Day – Saturday, October 27, 2007

The PMI GNO chapter is coordinating a community service day on Saturday
October 27 for people wanting to help areas of the city that are still in the process of recovering from hurricane Katrina. Currently the two following opportunities will be available for PMI members and other conference attendees:

Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans is helping people in hardest hit areas rebuild their homes and would welcome anyone wanting to participate. This event will run from approximately 7:30am until 3pm. Transportation and lunch will be provided.


New Orleans City Parks needs volunteers to help replant trees and other plants lost during the hurricane. This is a good opportunity for attendees who want to help but cannot allocate a whole day. City Park is a short streetcar ride from the conference hotel, so you can set your own hours and come and go as needed.

New Orleans City Park needs volunteers to help replant trees and other plants lost during the hurricane. This is a good opportunity for attendees who want to help but cannot allocate a whole day. City Park is a short streetcar ride from the conference hotel, so you can set your own hours and come and go as needed.

What about the Summit? According to the conference organizers, the PDS in New Orleans will take the professional development model to a new level, by:

  • Extending the program to a three-day conference with over 60 breakout sessions and hands-on workshops;
  • Introducing national and international speakers at a state-of-the-art conference setting;
  • Utilizing a professional conference management team
  • Incorporating unusual and entertaining networking concepts; and
  • Contributing to the New Orleans community

The Project Management PDS will be held October 27-30 at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel in the French Quarter in New Orleans. The PMI GNO Chapter is partnering with the LavaCon(R) Conference to co-produce the 2007 PDS. LavaCon is a conference for advanced technical communication professionals-senior technical writers, documentation managers and other professionals interested in learning how to deploy and manage technical communication projects.

The Summit will present proven best practices in the fields of technical communication and project management, as well as innovative techniques for meeting project management challenges. The event will include national and international speakers, professional leaders and project management experts. Help rebuild New Orleans; attend this conference! For those in the southern USA, it should not be missed.

With more than 240,000 members in more than 160 countries, the Project Management Institute (PMI®) is the world’s leading membership association for the project management profession. The PMI Greater New Orleans (PMI GNO) chapter serves members in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama with project management programs and educational events. The President of the PMI GNO Chapter for 2007 is Ana Boudreaux, PMP. For more information on the PMI Greater New Orleans chapter, visit www.gnopmi.com. For more information about the October Professional Development Summit in New Orleans, visit http://www.gnopmi.com/PDD2007/PDD%202007%20Index.html.



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Exhibition Sold Out for October APM
Project Management Conference in London

Reported by Miles Shepherd in the UK

The exhibition for the October APM Project Management Conference in London has been sold out. The 2007 apm national conference - The Business of Projects – will be held at The Brewery Conference Centre in London during 30-31 October 2007. The first such event for the association in its long history, the 2007 conference will focus on project management “issues of national importance” in the UK.


According to conference organizers, all exhibition and advertising opportunities at the conference were fully taken by the end of August. This represents unprecedented interest and support for the conference by the project management vendor community.

The following companies will be exhibiting at the APM Project Management Conference 2007:

 

  • Asta
  • CITI
  • Corporate Project Solutions
  • Deltek
  • ILX Group
  • Maven Training
  • PMProfessional
  • Program Framework
  • Project Place
  • SPOCE Project Management Limited
  • Technology Associates
  • The Projects Group Plc

According to apm executive director Scott Walkinshaw, “These exhibitors have recognized the significance of our first national conference, and of the topics to be discussed. We will be raising the visibility of some key national issues in the UK. The participating exhibitors of project management products and services will be helping us move project management onto the national agenda.”

For an opportunity to take part in developing the national and international project management agenda in the UK, complete the application form at www.apm.org.uk/conference.asp. Discounts for groups of 4 or more.


The Association for Project Management (APM) is the national body for professional project management in the United Kingdom (UK). With over 15,000 individual and 390 corporate members, apm is one of the largest organizations of its kind in Europe. The organization develops and promotes project management across all sectors of industry and beyond. apm 's mission is: "To develop and promote the professional disciplines of project and programme management for the public benefit." At the heart of the association is the apm Body of Knowledge; containing fifty-two knowledge areas required to manage any successful project. apm promotes the use of the apm Body of Knowledge through qualifications, accredited training, research, publications and events. apm is the UK member of the International Project Management Association (IPMA). With headquarters in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, apm has twelve regional branches throughout the UK and one in Hong Kong. Additional information can be found at www.apm.org.uk.

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PMI's Program Management Certification Debuts October 1

The new Program Management Professional (PgMP) credential has been announced by the Project Management Institute (PMI®). It will be PMI’s first credential designed to demonstrate both project and program management skills. To be eligible for the PgMP credential, individuals must meet experience, education and knowledge criteria, undergo an application process and satisfy three assessments. Applicants must also agree to adhere to the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

Eligibility requirements

With a bachelor’s degree or global equivalent, individuals must have at least four years of project management experience and four years of program management experience over the last 15 years. Without a bachelor’s degree, applicants must have at least four years of project management experience and seven years of program management experience during the last 15 years.

Application and Assessment Process

  • Application forms must be completed, after which education claims are reviewed by PMI staff and experience claims are reviewed by a panel of program managers.
  • A four-hour exam includes 170 multiple-choice questions to measure ability to apply program management knowledge, skills and techniques.
  • Applicants are then assessed by a team of peers in a web-based survey, called a Multi-rater Assessment.

Applicants are encouraged to PMI’s Standard for Program Management, PgMP Credential Handbook, and PgMP Examination Standard before applying. For more information, visit http://www.pmi.org/CareerDevelopment/Pages/Obtaining-Credential.aspx#pgmp.

With nearly 250,000 members in over 150 countries, the Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world’s largest and best known project management professional society. PMI is actively engaged in advocacy for the PM profession, setting standards, conducting research and providing access to a wide variety of information and resources. PMI also promotes career and professional development and offers certification, networking and community involvement opportunities. PMI was founded in the USA in 1969, but is now a global organization with members, chapters and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.pmi.org.

PMI®, PMP® and PgMP™ are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute.

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PMI Chapter Partnering with LavaCon to Maximize Value
of October Professional Development Summit in New Orleans!

The Greater New Orleans Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI GNO chapter) is inviting PMI members and project management professionals around the world to come to New Orleans for one of the biggest project management events of the year. The PMI GNO chapter is partnering with LavaCon to host a Professional Development Summit (PDS) in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA during October 27–30, 2007. This four day event is expected to be one of the biggest project management events ever held in New Orleans.

LavaCon is a conference for the advanced technical communication professionals – senior technical writers, documentation managers and other professionals involved in technical communication projects. LavaCon brings a proven track record of successful conferences. The combination of PMI with LavaCon will provide more speakers, more topics, more attendees and more opportunities for all participants to learn, network and advance their careers.

This year the PMI GNO chapter has expanded its annual professional development day to a three-day conference with over 60 breakout sessions and workshops. Conference attendees will find answers to the following questions:

  • What to do if faced with a really big project? Hear about hurricane protection, coastal restoration, airline mergers and more.
  • Now that you have earned your PMP, are you ready for the next step? Take your PMP certification to the next level, learn about OPM3 Assessor and Consultant opportunities; consider an advanced certification in Earned Value Management. Representatives from Stanford University, Boston University, the University of Southern California, and the University of Chicago will also discuss their PM certification programs.
  • How can one expand on project management skills? Learn more about project planning, estimating, negotiations, risk management, stakeholder management, portfolio selection and prioritization, and Six Sigma.
  • How can we make our projects perform better? Listen to the experts discuss earned value, peak performance PM, Metrics for Estimating, Balanced Scorecards, preventing & recovering troubled projects.
  • How can you get that next promotion? Topics will include Your Future as a PM; Five Essential Leadership Skills, Managing Virtual Teams, Selling projects to upper management, using Wikis for fast and furious PM, complex projects in organizational settings.
  • What’s new among project management tools? Introducing OPM3, taming Microsoft Project, Collaboration with MS Sharepoint, tools to simplify & visualize - plus a vendor exhibition for networking.
  • How to get the best performance from your team? What your team isn’t telling you, surviving office politics, overcoming resistance to change, handling poor performance, and other fun & exciting challenges.
  • Is there something out of the ordinary this year? Applying PMBOK® techniques to non-traditional projects, technical communications, critical chain project management, and other adventures.

Other highlights will include:

  • Post Katrina New Orleans – is this the world’s largest troubled project? Join the discussion, help with solutions.
  • Project Management Exhibition – of vendors of PM services, technologies & tools.

The Project Management PDS will be held October 27-30 at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel in the French Quarter in New Orleans. The Summit will present best practices in the fields of technical communication and project management, as well as innovative techniques for meeting project management challenges. The event will include national and international speakers, professional leaders and project management experts. Help rebuild the project management profession in New Orleans; attend this conference! For those in the southern USA, it should not be missed. For more information about the October PDS in New Orleans, visit http://www.gnopmi.com/PDD2007/PDD%202007%20Index.html.

With more than 240,000 members in more than 160 countries, the Project Management Institute (PMI®) is the world’s leading membership association for the project management profession. The PMI Greater New Orleans (PMI GNO) chapter serves members in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama with project management programs and educational events. The President of the PMI GNO Chapter for 2007 is Ana Boudreaux, PMP. For more information on the PMI Greater New Orleans chapter, visit www.gnopmi.com.

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Plenary Speakers Announced for October
APM Project Management Conference in London

Reported by Miles Shepherd in the UK

Plenary session speakers for the October APM Project Management Conference in London have been announced. The 2007 apm national conference - The Business of Projects – will be held at The Brewery Conference Centre in London during 30-31 October 2007. The first such event for the association in its long history, the 2007 conference will focus on project management “issues of national importance” in the UK. The two day conference is being formatted to include a plenary session to begin the conference, three main tracks of presentations and discussions each day, and a closing plenary. For the plenary sessions, the main speakers will include the following:

Martin Barnes, PhD, apm President (Opening Address) – APM President Martin Barnes is a project management pioneer, a founding member of the Association, an honorary fellow and past chairman. During his wide and varied 30-year career, he has pioneered, amongst other things, the time-cost-quality triangle and the New Engineering Contract (NEC). He has presented papers and lectured all over the world, talked about project management on TV and radio, and has designed and run training courses. He became one of the first to sign up to the fledgling APM when it was formed in 1972 and has contributed his knowledge and experience to the development of the profession. As the Association’s chairman during1986-91, he helped lay the foundations for the Certificated Project Manager qualification, introduced in 1992, and APM’s regional branch network.


Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD, Conference Chair (Opening & Closing Plenary) – Winner of apm’s 2006 prestigious Sir Monty Finniston Award for lifetime achievement, Dr Terry Cooke Davies is executive chairman of Human Systems and a pioneering practitioner well known for his efforts in integrating project management into mainstream management techniques. A true thought-leader and always ahead of his time, Terry founded Human Systems' project management knowledge networks in 1993 to demonstrate the value of assessment and benchmarking best practices. Terry Cooke-Davies has contributed to a great many industry initiatives over the years. He is an expert adviser for the apm, reviewed the then CCTA’s Managing Successful Programmes initiative in the early 90s, was programme manager for PMI’s OPM3 initiative and was a key participant in ‘Rethinking Project Management’, a UK based research network funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Terry remains passionate about changing and improving things in the world of project management and is currently involved in a number of research programmes including analysis of the value of project management, the role of the project sponsor and the relevance of complexity theory.

Terry Cooke-Davies will chair the Plenary session that will also include Tom Taylor, Geoff Reiss, Peter Harpum, Mary McKinlay, and David Shannon. They will discuss the five strategic areas of the conference: the business of projects, the project management skills gap, governance, mega projects and sustainability.


Mike Nichols, APM Chairman (Closing Remarks day 2) – Mike has been a member of apm since 1980 and was elected to Council in 2004. A career project manager, Mike is currently chairman and chief executive of Nichols Group, a UK firm specialising in large and complex infrastructure projects and major business change initiatives. Mike has directly managed or advised on numerous mega projects and programmes for the transport, telecommunications, energy and finance sectors in the UK and Far East. He has introduced improved project management to more than a hundred organisations and trained a generation of managers in project and programme management. He has also advised on PFI projects, outsourcing, franchising, placement of concessions and the Government’s Strategic Defence Review. Mike is a board member of the Major Projects Association, a member of BSI Standards Policy and Strategy Committee, DfT’s Governance Panel for Crossrail, chairman of STRATrisk Steering Group and is currently undertaking strategic review of Highways Agency’s major roads programme on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

According to APM executive director Scott Walkinshaw, “Our plenary speakers will help set the tone for the conference. They will set the stage for two days of serious discussion and debate on some of the most important issues facing the project management profession in the UK today.”

In between the plenary sessions, during the afternoon of day one and most of day two, on the following important project management topics of national interest in the UK:

  • The Business of Projects
  • Governance
  • The Project Management Skills Gap
  • Learning from Mega Projects
  • Project Management in a Sustainable Society

For more information and for an opportunity to take part in developing the national and international project management agenda in the UK, visit www.apm.org.uk/conference.asp.


The Association for Project Management (APM) is the national body for professional project management in the United Kingdom (UK). With over 15,000 individual and 390 corporate members, apm is one of the largest organizations of its kind in Europe. The organization develops and promotes project management across all sectors of industry and beyond. apm 's mission is: "To develop and promote the professional disciplines of project and programme management for the public benefit." At the heart of the association is the APM Body of Knowledge; containing fifty-two knowledge areas required to manage any successful project. apm promotes the use of the apm Body of Knowledge through qualifications, accredited training, research, publications and events. apm is the UK member of the International Project Management Association (IPMA). With headquarters in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, apm has twelve regional branches throughout the UK and one in Hong Kong. Additional information can be found at www.apm.org.uk.



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Report from the Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (GAPPS) Working Session 12, Bond University, Australia

Reported by Paul Giammalvo in Jakarta

Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia was the host for the Global Alliance of Project Performance Standards (GAPPS) Working Session 12 during September 1-3, 2007.

Working Session 12 was focused on further development of Program Management Standards as well as a large scale mapping exercise focusing on GAPPS as compared against the ICB, AACE and other competency standards in Project, Program and Portfolio Management.

At this Working Session, reaffirmation was given to the fact that practitioners and the users of program management services do not share a single view of what a program is. Generally speaking, research has established there are 4 “views” or definitions of program:

  • A very large project- Such as a Boston’s “Big Dig” or the design of Boeing’s 777;

  • Multi-Project Programs- Version 2 on of most software development programs or the initial response to a natural disaster;

  • A Strategic Program- A series of projects designed to achieve a specific strategic goal or objective, i.e. major weapons system (from the governments perspective) or an ERP implementation

  • On-Going Operations- projects which are in support of an operation, such as mine operations and maintenance or the creation of a TV series, funded by an annual budget.

Within these 4 categories, we find that the boundaries are fuzzy and porous, and that many programs fall into more than one category. To complicate the development of competency standards, the perspective often changes the category a program may fall into. From the owner’s perspective, a program may very well fall under category 3, a strategic program, while from the contractor’s perspective it may well be a very large project, or category 1.

This Working Session also recognized that while many of the competencies associated with Project Management remained the same or similar for Program Managers, the granularity or reduced focus on tactical and more on strategic issues became clear, which are reflected in the range statements rather than the competencies themselves.

Working Session 12 also saw the start of the mapping exercise for IPMA’s competency based standards, the ICB v3 as well as the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineers Certified Portfolio, Program and Project Manager (C3PM) credential, among others, which will assist with the Endorsed Provider process.

For those reading this for the first time, GAPPS, which is an all voluntary, not-for-profit organization, has positioned themselves as the “Linux of Project and Program Management”. Membership in GAPPS is for organizations only (no individual members) and the volunteers create standards which are placed in the “public domain” under a form of GNU or “copyleft” licensing, meaning anyone is free to adopt, adapt, change or modify them to meet your own needs.

More importantly, it enables those organizations which have their own internal or proprietary project/program management methodologies to BENCHMARK these programs against an INDEPENDENT standard, not aligned with any specific body of knowledge or methodology.

The schedule for upcoming GAPPS Working Sessions is as follows:

Working Session 13 – Tokyo, Japan – 12-14 March 2008
Working Session 14 - Lille, France - 24-26 August 2008
Working Session 15 - Cape Town, South Africa - November 2008 (Dates TBD)

Those organizations who have their own proprietary methodology or are using a proprietary body of knowledge are cordially invited to join and see how your approach compares against an independent minimum or threshold standard of competencies.
For those wishing to learn more, please point your browser to www.globalpmstandards.org or email the Secretariat, secretariat@globalpmstandards.org

Attendees at GAPPS Working Session 12 in Australia

From Left to Right Back Row: Paul Giammalvo, Bernhard Ho, Mary McKinley, Roy Sargent, Zoe Whitaker, Alicia Aitken, Ed Hoffman, Yip Kim Seng, Jane Carnegie, Rhonda Levert,, Bill Duncan, Front Row: Ian Morris, Lynn Crawford, Brigitte Schaden, Lesley Bentley, Lesley Rider, Alan Stretton, Missing from this photo: Callum McKinnon, Joe Iliescu, Sabina Cerimagic.

 

 

 

 

 


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