Project Management News from Argentina
By Ana Maria Rodriguez, PMP
News from the PM Profession
PMI Buenos Aires Chapter News
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The PMI Buenos Aires Chapter (PMIBA) is now offering a newsletter to its members, with the aim of having a dynamic communication between the chapter board and its members. The newsletter was an old desire of the chapter and has been very welcome by its members, specially now that some of them are located in various cities of Argentina, gathered in the Mendoza branch or in the Cordoba Committee.
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During the month of August PMIBA offered a preparation seminar for the CAPM and PMP exam with great level of assistance. The seminar counted with the cooperation of a group of volunteers as trainers, Alejandro Koweindl, PMP, Enrique Cavalitto, PMP, Pablo Sabatino, PMP y Cecilia Boggi, PMP. The seminar will be offered again on October 2008 to members and non-members of the chapter. I personally recommend the seminar, which material was of great aid to me when I was studying for taking the PMP test.
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For the month of September, PMIBA offers its monthly members meeting related to the topic “ Accelerated Project Management for software development” with Ms. Leonor Viturro as a guest lecturer.. The meeting will be hold on September 18th, place to be defined.Please confirm assistance at rm@pmi.org.ar
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Ana Maria Rodriguez, PMP
PM World Today Correspondent
Ana Maria Rodriguez, PMP is an International Correspondent for PMForum in Argentina. Ms. Rodriguez is also a Project Management Consultant to the Engineering and Construction Industry in Rosario, Argentina, and an adjunct professor of project management at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Colombian by birth, Ms. Rodriguez graduated with a Civil Engineering Degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota and from the University of Texas at Austin, USA with a Masters Degree in Construction Engineering and Project Management (MSE). Ms Rodriguez has implemented project management best practices and managed projects both in the government sector and in the engineering and construction private sector. Ms. Rodriguez is an active member of PMI in Argentina. Additional information about Ms. Rodriguez can be found at www.pmforum.org/pm forum team
Ms. Rodriguez can be contacted at
arodriguez@netcds.com.ar
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Project Management News
from Germany
By Manfred Rieck
Introduction
It is beginning of September and most areas of Germany had their vacation and already restarted their business activities. Beneath some summer slump notices the Olympic Games in China dominated the press. The world champions in several sporting disciplines were in a contest to identify the ‘cream of the crop’.
Behind the sports scenes the importance of project management is self-evident to prepare the games and to execute them in time and hopefully in budget. But it is difficult to filter the best Project Managers out of the mass. Many are calling themselves Project Managers but never had an own budget to manage or a real leadership function in a project.
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About the Author:
Manfred Rieck
PM World Today International Correspondent
Based in Frankfurt, Germany
Mr. Manfred Rieck, PMP, is an International Correspondent for www.pmforum.org in Frankfurt, Germany. Mr. Rieck is Manager at IBM Corporation for IT-Business Development and Project Delivery in the finance, automotive and public sectors and holds an IBM Senior Project Manager certification. He was previously Program Manager in IBM’s Project Management Center of Excellence (PM/CoE) responsible for EMEA. Mr. Rieck is specialized on recovering critical complex projects in international environments and on the development and implementation of change management programs.
Manfred has a Master of Science in Computer Science from University Bonn, Germany and is enrolled in the Masters in Business Administration (MBA) program at Henley Management College, UK. His research investigates change management studies. He is also a member of the 2007 PMI® Leadership Institute Master Class. After being Vice President of the Frankfurt Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) for several years Manfred is actively engaged in the PMI® Component Mentor Program Mentor Advisory Group (CMP MAG) advising the European Component Mentors in PMI related topics to promote professional project management across Europe. Additional information about Mr. Rieck can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm#5.
Manfred Rieck can be contacted at Manfred.Rieck@de.ibm.com.
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Project Management News
from South Africa
By Jaycee Krüger
News from PM Professional Organizations
PMSA (Project Management South Africa) News
PMSA appointed Taryn Van Olden as their CEO – a long overdue activity. Taryn has been involved in various aspects of Project Management as well as a service provider for PMSA for a few years now, and understands the issues facing the industry pretty well. Her wide network of contacts in the industry is expected to be to the benefit of her new role. Most exited, besides Taryn herself, about the appointment, are the volunteer executive, who hope to be relieved of some demanding tasks previously expected (and often neglected due to day-job demands) of them. We wish Taryn good luck and a long and prosperous career with PMSA.
More information about PMSA can be found at http://www.pmisa.co.za.
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Jaycee Krüger
PM World Today Correspondent
Jaycee Krüger, PMP, PrTechEng, is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today in South Africa. He is also the Managing Director of the CMSS, trading as Construction Management Support Services. He has over 29 years of experience in project environments with increasing responsibility, on power, industrial and mining projects, including shutdowns and projects in remote locations. A Civil Engineer by training, Jaycee is active in the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International (AACE), Project Management Institute (PMI), Project Management South Africa (PMSA), and the South African Institute of Civil Engineering (SAICE). Jaycee is based in Heidelberg, Gauteng, Johannesburg region, and can be reached at jckruger@greybeards.co.za. For additional information about Jaycee Krüger, visit http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm#5.
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Project Management
in Spain
Reported by Alfonso Bucero, PMP
“At the Globalization Process we are living,
the project manager is accepted and valued”
RTKL is an architecture, engineering and planning international firm. It is a multidisciplinary firm on design and architecture that counts on more than 1000 professionals distributed worldwide by USA, Europe and Asia offices. They say and sustain, “We are organized by specialities areas, more than disciplines or locations. As a result, at any project undertaken, our customers have the security of accessing to our better talents and resources.”
We had the oportunity to talk to one of those talents, Jorge Beroiz, RTKL Vice president from London. Graduated as an architect by 1989, he has developed his professional career in England. Jorge joined RTKL by 1991 where was promoted as director by 1997, and as Board of Directors member by 2005. He participated in the RTKL expansion around Spain by opening an office in Madrid.
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Alfonso Bucero
PM World Today Correspondent
Mr. Alfonso Bucero, PMP, is an International Correspondent for PMForum.org in Madrid, Spain. Mr. Bucero is also founder and Managing Partner of BUCERO PM Consulting. He previously managed the office in Spain for the International Institute for Learning (IIL) for two years, and was a Senior Project Manager at Hewlett-Packard Spain (Madrid Office) for thirteen years. Alfonso is an active member of the Project Management Institute (PMI®), of the ALI (Asociación de Licenciados, Ingenieros y Doctores en Informática), and of the Spanish Project Management Association, AEIPRO (afíliate member asociación of the International Project Management Association, IPMA). Alfonso was the founder, sponsor and President of the PMI Barcelona, Spain Chapter until April 2005, and he is an IPMA Assessor. He belongs to the LIAG (Leadership Institute Advisory Group) of PMI. Alfonso has a Computer Science Engineering degree from Universidad Politécnica in Madrid, and is now studying for his Ph.D. in “Project Management”. He has 28 years of practical experience and has managed and consulted on projects in different countries throughout Europe. Mr. Bucero can be contacted at alfonso.bucero@abucero.com.
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Project Management Training Alternatives in Ecuador
By Irwin J. Franco, PMP
In a previous edition, it was commented about the growth that has been noticed on training in Project Management in Ecuador. This perception has been reaffirmed due to strong interest shown by several professionals for the next PMP ® exam organized by the Project Managers Association of Ecuador.
The exam will take place in Quito, Ecuador on October 4th, and it should be pointed out that it is the first exam that will be open to the public. Due to this event, in this edition are listed some institutions involved in promoting project management courses and training in Ecuador.
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Irwin J. Franco, PMP
PM World Today Correspondent
Irwin José Franco is a Project Manager at Image Tech, a leading web and multimedia solutions company based in Guayaquil - Ecuador. José has a B.A. in Visual Communications from Universidad San Francisco de Quito - Ecuador, and a Master degree in Project Management from Universidad La Salle, Madrid - Spain. He has more than 8 years of experience managing technological projects in the private sector. At the moment, he is working in the creation of the PMI Ecuador Chapter, and his main objective is to promote Project Management profession in his country. Additional information about José can be found at his blog: www.elcafedejoe.com or can be contacted at irwinfranco@yahoo.es .
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Project Management News – Perúvian Update
By José Carlos Machicao
Management cultural barriers and opportunities
through project management
During the first semester of 2008, Peru was recognized (by IMF, World Bank, and many business ranking setting institutions) as one of the most stable and growing economies in Latin America. Having survived with a very surprising stability to high fuel and food prices, even when the stocks were affected, the economy is still in good health. Why, then, the local press and the public opinion decreased the acceptance of the Government to a 20% of agreement with policies and strategies?
From the project management point of view, the scope management (PMBOK, Chapter 5) is failing deeply. There is always a lack of definition of achievements to finish. The focus is in the image of the Government and the expenditure. Peruvians were not used to establish final goals. Culturally, during these latest 3 decades, Peruvians were used to seeing success so far away, that there was no need to set an actual goal, or from another point of view, the goals were exclusively run away from the problems and not to be successful.
Jose Machicao
PM World Today Correspondent
Jose Machicao, PMP, is an International Correspondent for PMForum.org in Lima, Peru. Mr. Machicao is also an Organizational Project Management consultant, working in the public and private sectors in Peru. Mr. Machicao has a Masters Degree in Energy from the University of Cardiff, Wales, UK, and a Mechanical Engineering degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. He is a member of the Colegio de Ingenieros (Peruvian Association of Professional Engineers), the World Energy Council, the Association of Energy Engineers, and the Project Management Institute (PMI®). He is currently Education Director for the PMI GovSIG®. Additional information about Jose Machicao can be seen at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm#5. Jose Machicao can be contacted at jcmachicao@gmail.com, and http://blog.pucp.edu.pe/jcmachicao.
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Project Management News from Brazil
By Peter Mello, PMP
Introduction
August has been a very interesting month in Brazil with lots of activities for project managers. The highlight was a busy PMI Global 2008 in São Paulo but with the improvement of our economy new projects are popping up by the minute.
PM Events
The PMI Global Congress – Latin America 2008 in São Paulo was sold out two weeks before the event. Petrobras was the major sponsor and alone had over 50 people sent to this wonderful event. We expect to soon hear about the papers that will be presented in the PMI National Seminar that will happen in Rio Grande do Sul and we also have upcoming events for PMI-MG and PMI-ES.
As a personal note, I had a wonderful experience in presenting two papers during the PMI Global Congress in São Paulo and I am still amazed by the great public response and new networking contacts created during that event.
PM Education News
PMI R.E.Ps around Brazil are starting to get ready for the new certifications such as PMI Scheduling Professional or PMI Risk Management. We also see an increase in the interest for OPM3 and Prince2. There are many training and consulting companies offering several PM courses and one fact that has started to be of the community concern is the growing marketing of companies that actually uses PMI logos incorrectly to present their business.
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Peter Mello, SpS, PMP
International Correspondent - Brazil
Based in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State
Peter Berndt de Souza Mello, SpS, PMP is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today in Brazil. Peter has over 13 years experience on a variety of projects in South America. His PM experience includes major IT projects, Telecom, Oil & Gas. Peter Mello is an educator, researcher and consultant in Scheduling optimization, Portfolio and Risk Management. Peter actively participates in the Brazilian and International PM community, with recent papers presented at various PMI events in Brazil and elsewhere. He is on the board of directors of X25 Training and Consulting and Spider Management Technologies Brazil. Additional information about Mr. Mello can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index#Mello.htm. Peter can be contacted at peter.mello@gestaoeprojetos.com.
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Project Management Profession News from Romania
By Florin Gheorghiu, PMP
Bechtel to Go Ahead
with Romanian "Transylvania Highway" Project Against
All Odds
Long ignored problems of local infrastructure were debated hardly in the last 10 years in Romania. The major setback of a poor infrastructure from Waste Water Treatment Plants, Potable Water Treatment Plants and ending with the bitter issue of a truly state-of-the-art highway missing from the transportation network was repeatedly retaken by the Government development programs.
For the first, funds were not so difficult to mobilize since the amounts could have been easily syndicated by Romanian and European financial development schemes. For the highway project linking the center of the country with the northwest border to Hungary (from North-West of Brasov to Oradea Bors), an asphalt strip of 258 mile (415 kilometer), the only choice for the Romanian Government was to get a reputed Contractor to assume this difficult role.
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Florin Gheorghiu
PM World Today Correspondent
Mr. Florin Gheorghiu, PMP, is an International Correspondent for PMForum in Bucharest, Romania. Florin currently acts as a Professional Project Manager and Head of Engineering Department for a local based branch of Bucharest utility Company in the field of power and heat . He is also experienced working for EPC contracts within the construction industry for the industrial and real estate sectors. Florin has added much to its professional accruals when working on large power plant rehabilitation program financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (IBRD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD), and for Parsons Power (Gilbert Commonwealth), Lahmeyer International and Pennsylvania Power & Light (PP&L) as a project Consultant. Florin is a graduate of the Technical University of Bucharest in Power Engineering and the National School for Political Studies and Administration in Management. Mr. Gheorghiu can be contacted at fgheorghiu2001@yahoo.com. Additional information about Florin Gheorghiu can be seen at http://www.pmforum.org/blogs/news/2006/11/florin-gheorghiu-becomes-pmf.html
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Current Events Affecting Projects & Project Management in Nigeria
By O. Chima Okereke, PhD
“Open-ended” Projects to Stop Gas Flaring
By design a project should have planned start and finish dates. However, projects to terminate gas flaring in the country appear open-ended as no one is sure when they will be completed. There are various projects in this program but there is no realistic and coordinated program management as there is no person who really has actual control of the various projects belonging to different multinational companies. This is why it is uncertain when gas flaring will be ended.
The projects that should end gas flaring will gather and convert the gas to commercial usage. For example, it is expected that all the trains of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas complex Bonny (NLNG) and other liquefied natural gas plants (LNGs) running at full capacity will help put out these flares. Other LNG plants include West Delta LNG, Statoil LNG and Agip-Phillips-Brass LNG. More planned gas usage comprises the supply to the uncompleted Independent Power Plants, local industries in Lagos and other parts of the country, and the yet still uncompleted West African Gas Pipeline Project. When all these projects are completed, gas flaring should end.
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O. Chima Okereke, PhD
PM World Today Correspondent
Dr. O. Chima Okereke, Ph.D. is an International Correspondent for www.pmforum.org in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Dr. Okereke is also Managing Director of Total Technology Consultants, Ltd., based in the UK. A registered engineer in Nigeria, Dr. Okereke has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Lagos, and a Ph.D. and MBA from the University of Bradford. Chima is also sponsor and president of the potential chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) in Port Harcourt.
Additional information about Dr. Okereke can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm#5.
Chima can be contacted at OkerekeOC@aol.com.
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Project Management Update
from Egypt
By Ahmed Saleh Mokhtar
PM Education News
Project Management Training Affected by Holly Ramadan Month?
Traditionally, training activities in Egypt and the Muslim world are affected by the holly Month of Ramadan. This year, it seems that the project management training activities will be higher than usual in the last years. Amideast (www.amideast.org) announced that its PMP training program will continue in Ramdan also, but after the Iftar in the evening. “We are thinking to announce a second PMP course in parallel” Says Mr. Adam Radwan, Training Coordinator at Amideast. Mr. Mostafa El-Bakry, Chairman of Promastar (www.promastar.com) confirmed that Primavera training courses and, eventually, PMP courses shall continue unaffected in Ramadan. The PMI-MENA chapter announced also a PMP training course during Ramdan. PMI-MENA chapter, Promastar and Amideast are three of the 8 PMI’e Registered Education Providers (R.E.P) in the Egyptian market.
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Ahmed Mokhtar
PM World Today International Correspondent
Ahmed Saleh Mokhtar, PMP is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today in Egypt. Mr. Mokhtar is also the Consultancy Director for Promastar, a Cairo-based project management advisory and training firm (since 1999). Ahmed has a BS in Engineering 1983 from Assuit University in Egypt and a Master degree in Construction Project Management 1991 from Hochschule Hidesheim/Holzminden University in Germany. With 23 years experience throughout the Middle East, he is a Charter member of the Egyptian Project Management Society (EPMS), a current member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and a Member of the Management Engineering Society (MES). Additional information about Ahmed Mokhtar can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm. Ahmed is based in Cairo and can be contacted at asalelh@promaster.com.
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Results from Latin American
Global Congress
Project Management Institute
By Ana Maria Rodriguez, PMP and
Pablo Lledó (MBA, PMP)
A new PMI Latin American Global Congress just ended at Sao Paulo (August 11th to 13th ) over passing all expectations. More than 1000 professionals attended
the event. With this number, PMI reached a new record with this Global Congress the largest ever outside North America.
THE BEST OF THE CONGRESS:
After the three-days meeting at the Sao Paulo Grand Hyatt, the following aspects highlighted:
The possibility of exchanging experiences
As always, PMI’s Global Congresses are an excellent opportunity for exchanging experiences and meeting new contacts. This congress was not the exception and the possibility to meet assistants from more than 10 countries and a broad variety of industries it was probably the best earning for all of us. The Latin American friendly spirit was visible at all moments, where there was a constant exchange of ideas.
Read complete report in English | Spanish
Ana Maria Rodriguez, PMP
PM World Today Correspondent
Ana Maria Rodriguez, PMP is an International Correspondent for PMForum in Argentina. Ms. Rodriguez is also a Project Management Consultant to the Engineering and Construction Industry in Rosario, Argentina, and an adjunct professor of project management at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Colombian by birth, Ms. Rodriguez graduated with a Civil Engineering Degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota and from the University of Texas at Austin, USA with a Masters Degree in Construction Engineering and Project Management (MSE). Ms Rodriguez has implemented project management best practices and managed projects both in the government sector and in the engineering and construction private sector. Ms. Rodriguez is an active member of PMI in Argentina. Additional information about Ms. Rodriguez can be found at www.pmforum.org/pm forum team
Ms. Rodriguez can be contacted at
arodriguez@netcds.com.ar
 
Pablo Lledo
PM World Today Correspondent
Pablo Lledó is the Director of MasConsulting, www.masconsulting.com.ar, one of the Argentinean’s project management Consulting Companies and he is a distinguished international professor in the field of professional project management. His professional experience includes a wide variety of projects and his academic experience includes two project management books published by Pearson Prentice Hall. During the last 10 years, Pablo has been training and advising world’s leading companies located all around Latin America. Pablo can be reached via email at: pablolledo@masconsulting.com.ar
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