What to Expect in Argentina 2009 for the Project Management Profession?
By Ana Maria Rodriguez, PMP
Although 2008 was a complicated year for Argentina´s government , the country’s economy kept growing for the sixth consecutive year. According to the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean – ECLAC, the country registered a growth of 6,8% on its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), overcoming the 6% forecast of the same institution and also the average growth of the Latin American region (4.4%) and its main neighbour Brazil (4.6%). Nevertheless, the last months of the country showed a deceleration of the economy, a growth on unemployment, and uncertainty aroused due to the international crisis but also to some unclear announcements of the President, Ms. Cristina Fernandez. 2009 is seen by many economical analysts as a year of continuous economical growth, although lower forecasts are made than for 2008. Is this possible? And how does this data translate in terms of projects? What could we expect for the Project Management Profession in Argentina 2009?
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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
arodriguezdev@gmail.com
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PM Certification Boom in Slovenia
By Prof. Andrej Skarabot
Introduction
The world biggest associations for project management certification are IPMA (International Project Management Association( and PMI (Project Management Institute). In Slovenia there are representatives of both associations. Besides these two associations there is also the Ministry of Labour which offers a PM certification.
In Slovenia the first certificates were issued in 1998. From the beginning up to the end of 2008, 191 certified managers were nominated by IPMA certification system, about 20 by PMI and 97 by the Ministry of Labour.
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Andrej Skarabot, PhD
PM World Today Correspondent
Andrej Skarabot, PhD, is an international correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today in Slovenia. He has a diploma in Chemical Engineering (1963) from Ljubljana University in Slovenia and a Masters of Science (M.Sc.) in Business Administration (1975) and Ph.D. in Business Administration (1985) from Zagreb University in Croatia. Dr. Skarabot was a professor at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia from 1980, retiring in 2007. During 1989 – 2006, he was also a partner in d.o.o., a management consulting firm based in Ljubljana. Beginning in 1965, Andrej was the first to write articles and teach seminars about network analysis and project management. Since then, he has extensive experience in the construction, pharmaceutical, electro, mechanical engineering and governmental sectors. He is currently President and First Assessor of the Slovenian Certification Body (SloCert) for the International Project Management Association (IPMA) and an assessor for IPMA’s international awards. Dr. Skarabot has taught more than 300 seminars and published over 190 articles and papers in the management field. Andrej lives in Ljubljana, Slovenia and can be contacted at andrej.skarabot@guest.arnes.si.
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Project Management
in Spain
Reported by
Alfonso Bucero, DEA, PMP
“Seminar: Project Management Leadership and Diversity”
We are dealing with a more and more global world, and we have a challenge to incorporate and integrate succesfully a growing number of people from other countries, cultures and beliefs, or sometimes training and professional careers only; projects and project management are presented as key tools for managers in organizations to be integrated effectively on the different cultures. Yan Bello, PMP, delivered a two hour Seminar in Barcelona where he remarked the leadership skills as a core competence for every project management professional.
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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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Report on Projects & Project Management in Nigeria
By O. Chima Okereke, PhD
World Bank Loans of $1.17 billion for
Privatisation
and Development Projects
Nigeria, like most developing countries, accepts loans from the World Bank, African Development Bank, and other international organisations with terms considered acceptable to the country. This report summarises information on some World Bank loans and their beneficiaries. It further reviews the loan for the Fadama Development Project which is targeted at poverty reduction. It concludes with a comment that judicious and disciplined implementation of the project and others like it, should lead to the achievement of sustainably enhanced living standards and the elimination of poverty from the recipients of the loans.
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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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UK Project Management
Round Up for 2008
By Miles Shepherd
Introduction
The year has been dominated by the world wide credit crunch and this has had an impact on how and what projects have been conducted. Some projects have been curtailed, others have been abandoned before feasibility has been completed, and others never even got off the drawing board. Some, like the UK Carrier Replacement Programme, have been severely delayed. Despite this picture of doom and disaster, there have been a number of resounding project successes as well as the usual share of project disasters, so I intend to look back over 2008 and see what stands out for me here in the United Kingdom and then to look forward to 2009 – perhaps to draw some lessons and perhaps to forecast some prospects
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Miles Shepherd
PM World Today International Correspondent
Based in London, UK
Mr. Miles Shepherd is an International Correspondent for www.pmforum.org based near London, England, UK. Miles has over 30 years experience on a variety of projects in UK, Eastern Europe and Russia. His PM experience includes defence, major IT projects, decommissioning of nuclear reactors, rail and business projects for the EU. Past Chairman of the Association for Project Management (APM), Miles is also past president and chair of the International Project Management Association (IPMA). Additional information about Mr. Shepherd can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/pm forum team. Miles Shepherd can be reached at miles.shepherd@msp-ltd.co.uk.
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A Critical Retrospective
Over the
PMI Romanian Chapter 2008 Performance
By Florin Gheorghiu, PMP
Another year gone with the PMI Romanian Chapter, members and the Board, those who were close to the Project Management and assisted with the Chapter’s session are all notified that elections are to be held in January. With the exception of the Chapter’s President, the entire Board is due to be re-elected soon and reminders started flying electronically to mobilize the voters as well as to encourage individual initiative to run for one of the 5 eligible positions within the Board’s panel of Vice-presidents.
But how was the current panel’s performance in 2008 and how well did they serve the PMI’s interest and local PM community?
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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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Project Management in Australia
By Brenda Treasure
An Invitation to Attend
PMGlobal invites the project management community to Canberra for PMOZ 2009 - the 6th Annual Project Management Australia Conference, combining and applying all principles of project management as a business tool to shape the future.
The call for papers has been issued for high quality presentations focusing on a sustainable future and the role of project management in creating this, as well as the sustainability of the project management profession during this time of rapid change. PMOZ 2009 will provide a valuable opportunity for project management practitioners, researchers and academics to share and explore their ideas and approaches with their peers.
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Brenda Treasure
PM World Today Correspondent
Brenda Treasure, PMP, is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today in Melbourne, Australia. Brenda is also Director & Professional Services Manager for BSE Services Pty Ltd, currently serving as a Senior Project Manager for Telstra Corporation on a National IT Transformation Project. Brendahas over 15 years of Project Management experience in private organisations, government agencies and in the IT & Telecommunications arena. She has previously served as Senior Project Manager for Ericsson Australia; Business Services Manager for Toll Logistics; Technology Implementation Manager for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne; and IT project manager or technical lead for several other major companies. Very active within the Project Management Institute (PMI®), Brenda has been Professional Development Director & President of the PMI Melbourne Chapter and Communications Director for PMI’s Women in Project Management Specific Interest Group (WiPM SIG). She is currently Asia/Pacific Representative for PMI’s Component Services Member Advisory Group and on the Core Team of PMI’s 2nd Edition of the Program Standard. A graduate of PMI’s Leadership Institute Masters Class, Brenda also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Canberra and is certified by PMI as a Project Management Professional (PMP®). Brendacan be contacted at brenda.treasure@bheservices.com.au.
PMI® and PMP® are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute.
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Report on Projects &
Project Management
in the UAE
By Mounir Ajam
PM Profession News
Global Project & Process Management Association (GPPMA)
Just over a year ago, a team of volunteers in the United Arab Emirates came together with the support of Dubai Knowledge Village to form a professional association advocating professional practices in the area of Project and Process Management.
Activities and events started on 1 September 2007 with three graduates of the PMI® Leadership Institute Master Class (Mr. Theofanis Giotis - Greece, Mr. Alexander Matthey - Switzerland, and Mr. Mounir Ajam – Lebanon/U.A.E.) speaking for an audience of over 100 professionals and managers. At that event, the Executive Director of Dubai Knowledge Village, Dr. Ayoub Kazim, announced the intention of forming a professional association and a steering committee of volunteers was formed.
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Monir Ajam
PM World Today International Correspondent
Mounir A. Ajam, MS, PMP, is an International Correspondent for www.pmforum.org in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is also chief executive officer of SUKAD FZ-LLC, an Innovation Centre based in Dubai Knowledge Village and with services provided across the Middle East.Mr. Ajam is a PM expert with 20 years of experience in the engineering, construction, oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, and on both large and small projects in various locations in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, UK and USA. Mr. Ajam has an MS in Engineering & Construction Management from the University of California at Berkeley (USA) and a BS (honors) in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston (USA). He received his PMP® certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI®) in 1998 and graduated from PMI’s Leadership Institute Masters Class in 2007. He is a past director for the PMI-Arabian Gulf Chapter and lead advocate for a new PMI chapter in the UAE. Mounir lives in Dubai and can be contacted at mounir.ajam@sukad.com
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Project Management News
from Portugal
Alexandre Rodrigues
PM Ambassador Mr. Wayne Abba presents at the 1st Earned Value Management Conference in Portugal – pioneering event has gathered the presence of major
national organizations
The 1st Earned Value Management Conference in Portugal took place on the 7th of November 2008. The event was a major success being the first time that a conference dedicated exclusively to Earned Value Management has taken place in Portugal. This is clearly a landmark that recognizes and celebrates the de facto adoption of this core Project Management technique and best practice in Portuguese organizations.
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Alexandre Rodrigues, CEng, PhD, PMP
PM World Today Correspondent
Alexandre Rodrigues is an International Correspondent for PMForum.org in Portugal. Dr. Rodrigues is also Executive Partner of PMO Consulting and a Senior Consultant with the Cutter Consortium. Alexandre holds a degree in Systems and Informatics Engineering from the University of Minho (Portugal) and a Ph.D. from the University of Strathclyde (UK). He is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), a Chartered Member of the Portuguese Association of Engineering (CEng), and a member of the British Association for Project Management (APM). Alexandre was founding president of the PMI Portugal Chapter and is currently a PMI Component Mentor for Central and Northern Europe. Additional information about Dr. Rodrigues can be found at (http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm#5).
Alex can be contacted at Alexandre.Rodrigues@PMO-Consulting.pt.
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Project Management News from Jordan
By Ammar Mango, PMP
PMI Chapter Celebrates Project Management Day
The Jordan Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI Jordan) held its first Project Management Day event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Amman in late November. Distinguished guests included Mr. Michael Hogan CEO of Arab potash company and Mr. Andrew Cobb, Chief Projects Officer at Arab Bank.
The event included a keynote speech by Mr. Ammar Mango, followed by a panel discussion on the global financial crisis. Guests of honor participated in the panel discussion. The event also included two free educational sessions on the subjects of the Logical Framework as a project management tool, delivered by Mr. Ayman Jarwan from Method Corp., and a presentation on project management organizational maturity by Ms. Maram Makhamreh.
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Ammar Mango
Author
Ammar W. Mango, PMP, CSSBB, is an International Correspondent for PMForum in Jordan. He is also principal consultant for Method Corporation, a project management consulting, product and services company based in Amman, Jordan. With over seventeen years of global experience in Project Management & Leadership consulting and training, he is considered an international expert on the subjects and enjoys a superb reputation as an inspirational trainer and consultant. Mr. Mango has provided his services in the United States and the Middle East to global organizations like Visteon Systems (USA), Ford Motor (USA), Detroit Edison (USA), Fermi II Nuclear Plant (USA), Qatar Petroleum (Qatar), Saudi Telecom Company (KSA), Al Fotaim Group (UAE) and many others. Mr. Mango is a published author and columnist on organizational leadership and project management. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Jordan University and a Master's Degree in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. He has been certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute (PMI) since 1991, and as a Six Sigma Black Belt by the American Society for Quality. He served as Vice President, Education, PMI Great Lakes Chapter in 1993, and is the founder and currently active member of the PMI Jordanian Chapter. He has been a guest speaker at a number of international Project Management seminars and symposiums around the world. Information about Method Corporation can be found at www.methodcorp.com. Ammar can be contacted at amango@methodcorp.com.
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