|  Project Management Practices: Changing the World, Lew Ireland, PhD (web Nov 2003)
Project management, in some form, has been around for centuries. It was not until the middle of the 20th century that the practice was codified in literature and a definite focus made on how to make a good thing better. Documenting these concepts and practices has permitted wider distribution and improvement when the former concepts and practices were not maintaining pace with a rapidly growing technological world.
This article by asapm president Lew Ireland, traces the lasting impact of large-scale projects, from ancient times to today. If only our project results today had the expected life that Lew’s examples have enjoyed.
Inoculate Yourself Against Offshore Outsourcing Stacy Goff, PMP (pdf Nov 2003)
When you inoculate yourself against a disease, you take a small portion of it to prompt your immune system to fight that disease. In an era of rampant O-Os —Offshore Outsourcing of professional careers — you can inoculate yourself to fend off or recover from the effects of this raging disease.
This article by Stacy Goff explores how Project Managers, Team Members and Managers can package and position ourselves to prevent or cure outsourcing fever by focusing on specific skills. By doing so, you should be able to show at least the 3x improvement that your competition does, and more. To download an Adobe Acrobat version, click here.
Project Planning: Assumptions versus Facts (web Sept 2003)
The difference between an assumption and a fact is often subtle and confusing. Planning a project using the wrong term can convey a different meaning to fact or assumption with catastrophic results.
With this article, asapm President Lew Ireland not only artfully illustrates the difference, he demonstrates that he's learned how to fit right in with the folks near his new home in Tennessee)
Actors and Factors, Bob Youker (web)
This presentation from the World Bank Institute describes one type of risk analysis for those risks in the external environment. Presentations such as these are used to promote a better understanding of project management and all aspects of the discipline. Project management, as a rapidly maturing discipline, includes many more facets than Time, Cost, and Performance/Quality. Every reader will gain professionally from the information presented here.
"Actors and Factors" is an interesting title to describe stakeholders and their interests in projects. Bob Youker, a long-time promoter of project management with more years of experience than he will admit to makes this valuable contribution to our education.
Six Steps To The Future: How Mass Customization Is Changing Our World, Edward J. Fern, MS, PMP (pdf)
asapm member Edward J. Fern shares his article that he presented for the June IPMA conference in Moscow. The article is an extract of his new book, Six Steps to the Future, to be published in English and Russian.
Find out how six core Competences distinguish the leaders in Mass Customization and New Product Development!
Project Planning: Assumptions versus Facts, Bill Duncan (web)
The difference between an assumption and a fact is often subtle and confusing.Planning a project using the wrong term can convey a different meaning to fact or assumption with catastrophic results.
With this article, asapm President Lew Ireland not only artfully illustrates the difference, he demonstrates that he's learned how to fit right in with the folks near his new home in Tennessee)
The Value of PM Certification, Lew Ireland, PhD (web)
asapm President Lew Ireland's goal with this paper is to assert the value of project management certification by considering who benefits from it, who provides it, and the standard upon which it is based.
Anyone giving even slight attention to project management knows that certification is a “big thing”. Between 1996 and 2000, as PM certification became popular (and companies had money to spend), few people seemed to question its cost, ROI, or the basis for evaluating competence.
Today, companies are rightfully challenging these and other value factors, as are individuals, professional societies, and others who might benefit from properly certified project managers.
Once Is Not Enough, Bill Duncan (web)
Bill Duncan Speaks out: For those of you old enough to remember, Once Is Not Enough was a trashy 1970s novel by Jacqueline Susann. What is this racy novel (well, it was racy for its time) doing as the title of an article on project management?
Because too many projects do a “lessons learned” session only once: at the end of the project. Once is not enough. Lessons learned should be captured as described in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge:
• As part of the ongoing change management process.
• At the end of each project phase.
See Bill's latest article to learn more.
Playing the Live Jazz of Project Management, Pat Morgan (Adobe Acrobat pdf)
This paper discusses the similarities between project management and the playing of improvisational jazz. General characteristics for projects and jazz are compared and the five most important linkages between projects and jazz are discussed. The paper also explains why disorder is not chaotic and projects can be successfully managed. Jazz might show us one way of looking at the structure of disorder.
Why Manage Projects?, André B. Barcaui, PMP (Adobe Acrobat pdf)
Why Managers and Companies in the know manage projects (as opposed to just doing them), from our Brasilian correspondent, André B. Barcaui, PMP. Mr. Barcaui is with ESI International, and is also a College Professor in Brasil. Mr. Barcaui joined asapm at our grand web opening, and we welcome his perspective.
Professional Volunteer Organizations: Today's Movers and Shakers, Lew Ireland, PhD (web page)
How to get the maximum benefit from your participation in a volunteer organization, by Lew Ireland for asapm
Project Kick-off Exercise using Project Vital Signs, Stacy Goff, PMP (web page)
This exercise is a great way to kick off any project. Get Sponsors, Resource Managers and Team Members to agree on rank-ordered priority of the project's Vital Signs. By Stacy Goff, ProjectExperts®.
Defining the Hierarchy of Project Objectives, Bob Youker (Adobe Acrobat pdf)
Linking Strategy and Projects: originally presented at an IPMA Conference in Slovenia, 1998 by Robert Youker (retired), The World Bank U.S.A., and Jerry Brown; revised 2001
What CEOs Must Demand To Compete and Collaborate in 2005, Russ Archibald (pdf)
by Russ Archibald, PMP, PMI Fellow; presented at the PM Institute Orange County Chapter
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