Welcome to the asapm March-April 2006 email Newsletter!
This is an Opt-in Newsletter. Subscribe/unsubscribe information is at the end of this Newsletter. This Newsletter is in html, with links to the asapm website. Enjoy!
In This Issue
----------------------
1. PrezSays: Lew Writes about Executive Management's Role in PM
2. PMCert Status Update from Bill Duncan
3. asapm Volunteer Opportunities Updated
4. asapm 2006 Elections: Committee Members, Candidates Needed
5. Marketing Director Morgan Henrie, PhD, Asks, "What To Do in 2006?"
6. China IPMA World Congress 2006: Call for Papers, Special Member Pricing
7. Even More Recommended PM Events
8. Breaking News: asapm Stumbles Upon Secret Trinary Chip!
9. Tidbits: Job Openings
======================================
1. PrezSays: Lew writes about Executive Management's Role in PM
The role of Executive Management in the field of project management has been cussed and discussed over the years and is again receiving attention in the project management community. It appears that few have found an agreeable description of the Executive Management’s project role and in some fashion successfully conveyed that role description to their Executive Managers.
That is the lead-in for asapm President Lew Ireland's latest observations, where he goes into the multiple roles Executive Managers play in effective Project-Oriented Enterprises. Are you assuring all these roles are filled in your Enterprise? To find out, click here.
======================================
2. PMCert Status Update from Bill Duncan
PMCert Board of Directors Established
PMCert, asapm's semi-autonomous certification body, has begun operations with a Board of Directors comprised of three asapm-affiliated members and one independent member to represent the project management profession and the general public. The Board members are:
— Tom Carter. Tom is currently Director of Consulting at R3D Information and Technology Corporation. He also serves as director of the Masters Degree in Project and Program Management at Brandeis University's Rabb School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Previously, Tom was Vice President of Project Management Practices at Fidelity Investments.
— Bill Duncan. asapm's former Director of Standards, Bill chairs the PMCert group. In addition to heading Project Management Partners in Lexington, MA, his business card says that he is "Leading Expert" for another company, PSM Consulting in Moscow, Russia.
— Paul Leonard. Paul is PMCert's public member. He is a registered Professional Engineer doing part-time consulting after retiring from the Army as a Colonel. He is also a Chaplain, so we expect him to keep the other Board members on the straight and narrow.
— Vinatha Swaminathan. Vinatha is a program manager for Eaton Corporation, a Fortune 500 company. She is responsible for the IT aspects of Eaton's extensive mergers and acquisitions program.
First Assessors Appointed
IPMA's Certification Validation Management Board (CVMB) approved all four of PMCert's nominees as First Assessors for the Level B, Senior Project Manager, program. The First Assessors are:
— Kevin Aguanno. Kevin is an IBM Certified Senior Project Manager. He specializes in managing complex application development and systems integration projects.
— Dennis Ballow. Dennis is currently an independent project management consultant. He spent the bulk of his career in project management with Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies.
— Ron McCandless. Ron is a Senior Project Manager for McGinley and Associates. He is currently working on a major project for the US Federal Court System.
— Ron Waller. Ron is semi-retired from a long career at Johnson Controls where he was project manager for numerous projects including several in the $25-50 million range.
Trainer Advsory Committee Being Formed
PMCert is in the process of contacting project management trainers to serve on an advisory board for the Level D exam. One of the important aspects of PMCert's approach to Level D is to keep the exam independent of any specific project management approach or lexicon. In this way, there should be no need for special exam preparation courses thus saving huge amounts of time and money for both certificants and their employers. Anyone who is interested in becoming a member of the Level D Advisory Board (LDAB) should contact Bill Duncan at PMCert.
GAPPS Framework Released
The Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (GAPPS) has just released its first official framework after an extended public review. The document is entitled "A Framework for Performance Based Competence Standards for Global Level 1 and 2 Project Managers." Quite a mouthful, no? asapm is a subscriber to the GAPPS initiative and Bill Duncan has been an active participant. PMCert is investigating the use of the GAPPS framework with the Level B Certification.
Level B Program Available Soon
Bill Duncan assures us that the Level B program is still on track to do its first assessments during Q2 of 2006. The application process is being updated and simplified in parallel with development of the details of the assessment process. The PMCert Board recently approved a "special, one-time, introductory kick-off offer" that will provide an estimated 50% discount for an organization that is willing to put a minimum of 6 people through the Level B assessment. For details and conditions, contact PMCert.
======================================
3. asapm Volunteer Opportunities Updated
We have had several takers on our broadcast for volunteers last issue. But there is still plenty of work to go around for everyone else. Those who have stepped up to help advance the practice of PM include:
Morley Selver, an Engineering Project Manager from Canada who now lives in Washington, has volunteered to take on the role of Competence Enabler PM. The Competence Enabler program is asapm's way for savvy PM Vendors to let our target audiences know they understand how to develop individual and organizational Competences. Morley has come up with some initial thoughts, and the asapm Board will work with Morley to produce a Project Charter to kick off his Competence Enabler Improvement project. Of course, one of the first orders of business will be to establish a suitable acronym for the project. Watch the Competence Enabler section of the asapm website for more information.
Alex Brown, a popular speaker who also has a real job as Project Manager in an insurance company in the NorthEast, has taken the role of Speaker's Bureau Project Manager. The result we are after is a website to help qualified speakers get more placements in organizations needing great speakers. Alex has formed some preliminary thoughts for the basis of a Project Charter. Among the open questions, in addition to format and structure of the contents, is whether the Speaker's Bureau is only open to asapm members (both to register and to review), or open to all for review.
Alex adds, "Please encourage speakers and people who organize events that involve speakers to contact me with their needs. We want to develop something that meets our members' needs, whether they are a speaker or they are looking for speakers. The more people we have to bounce ideas off of, the better we will be. Also, this group could help create the first listings to go into the bureau's list of speakers and events."
By the way, Alex has a great personal website, loaded with great PM-related articles, at www.alexsbrown.com.
Open Positions: We still need Team Members and/or Project Managers for:
• asapm Newsletter Editor
• Assistant Webmasters for Departments of the asapm site
• Marketing team for Media Relations Outreach
• Marketing team for University Outreach, instilling the USA NCB in curricula
• Marketing team for 4-Level-Certification candidates and Sponsors
• Membership Fulfillment team, to welcome new members and prepare packets
• PMR3, Project Management Ready Reference Resource, a bibliography to support the NCB and Certification
Note that most of these positions are eligible for asapm and other organizations' certification renewal credits, another great reason to get involved. See the asapm Volunteers page for more information about the opportunities available.
======================================
4. asapm 2006 Elections: Committee Members, Candidates Needed
We have a Chair for our 2006 Elections Committee, and still need several more members to serve on the committee. The Elections Committee effort will require 20-30 hours of effort from March through June.
Speaking of the Elections Committee, we still need candidates for these offices; each term is for 3 years:
• President of asapm
• Education Director
Bill Duncan stepped down as Director of Standards to assume the role of PMCert Chair, and the asapm Board will appoint a member to complete Bill's term, through June 2007. Contact us if you are interested in serving. By the way, some people are timid about becoming an asapm Board Member. A great way to "try it on" is to work on one of the projects in the areas in which you have interest. Then you are ready to step up to one of the asapm Leadership roles.
You can view the responsibilities of each asapm office from this page.
======================================
5
. Marketing Director Morgan Henrie, PhD, Asks, "What To Do in 2006?"
While the calendar says Spring is here, parts of the United States definitely are enjoying a Spring look and feel but some of us are still wondering how long Winter will be around. Yet the year is 25% consumed and what are your plans for the rest of the year to advance yourself personally and professionally?
As you contemplate the answer here are some ideas for you to consider. Your organization, asapm, has joint agreements with several organizations, making it possible for you to experience different locales. All while expanding your project management knowledge, and enhancing and extending your personal contacts and technical capabilities.
How about visiting Houston, Texas May 22-25 and attending the Project Risk Symposium. Check out the web site at www.iirusa.com/projectrisk.
June 19-22, Arlington, VA, Project Summit & BusinessAnalystWorld provides you the opportunity to not only attend this fine function but also spend some time in our Nation’s capital, www.projectsummit.com. asapm members receive a discount off the lowest current registration price (excludes group and corporate pricing and can not be applied with any other discount). Be sure to use or mention the asapm source code: ASAPM to receive your discount.
Raffle For Free 2-day ProjectSummit Symposium Pass
We will raffle off one pass for an asapm member who can use it. If you are interested in a free pass for the 2-day ProjectSummit Symposium in Washington, DC (Arlington), June 19-20, send email to us, with PSBAW in the subject. You have just 6 weeks to sign up: On May 14th we'll draw from the entries we receive, notify you, and announce the winner.
If May and June are approaching too fast, then look to October 30 – November 2, Boston, MA. The ProjectSummit & BusinessAnalystWorld is holding a great opportunity there. Obtain further information from www.projectsummit.com/bos. While attending this activity, look up asapm member Bill Duncan, who plans to make a presentation there. You can talk with him on how the Certification IPMA Level D® exams are proceeding and how PMCert, in general, is growing.
There are two great events occurring in November available for your consideration. There is an opportunity in Orlando, Fl., November 6-9, to attend ProjectWorld, www.iirusa.com/projectworld. If Florida isn’t possible, how about the northern side of the country at Chicago, IL. From November 13-16 a ProjectSummit & BusinessAnalystWorld function is occurring, visit www.projectsummit.com/chi to see what is on the agenda.
======================================
6. China IPMA World Congress 2006: Special Pricing For Members, and Call for Papers
For those who want some International fun while extending their project management knowledge, building new or extending existing international contacts and friendship, don’t forget IPMA’s 20th Annual World Congress in Shanghai, China. This event is planned for October 15-17, 2006 and is a great chance to see what is new in the global world of project management.
The World Congress Call For Papers deadline is May 8. asapm and the USA had a great turnout at the last two World Congresses, in Budapest and India, and we urge you to consider presenting a paper or attending. See the Congress website here, and the details for the call for papers here.
The first round of "Early Bird" rates, with a 20% discount, expired March 31. There is still time to get the 15% discount , if you register by June 30. The general Congress fee is $800 per person. We all know about the special pricing for asapm and IPMA members. Those Early Bird discounts are on top of the special Member price, which is already a significant discount of $600.
And, we have just received word of a special alternative discount rate, based on the number of members we send. If we prepay for more than 10 members, the registration price is $500/person. If you are interested in this program, please Contact asapm. Of course, whether you are interested in the group rate or not, we'd like to know if you plan to attend. Many of us have already submitted our paper abstracts.
======================================
7. Even More Recommended PM Events
If you have interest in effective Program and Project Management, this is a list of even more events that you need to know about.
a. Slovenia, 23-26 April, 2006. Click this linked pdf for a reminder of the forthcoming ICEC-IPMA World Congress on Cost Engineering, Project Management and Quantity Surveying & Global Project Management Congress to be held in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Or, you can go directly to the event's website: http://www.icec-ipma2006.org. It looks like asapm will be well-represented at this Congress, and we hope for a trip report from Edward Logan and Bob Youker.
b. Vienna, Austria: 22 -23 June, 2006. The PM Days´06 Conference will feature Speakers from well-known national and international organizations and universities. They will deliver presentations, case studies, workshops, panel discussions and round tables about this year’s topic “PROJECTS & MANAGEMENT PARADIGMS” Sign up for the PM Days Newsletter or download the cool brochure here.
c. Beverly Hills, CA, 25-27 June 2006. Gartner Project & Portfolio Management; Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. IT Executives join PPM Technology and Service Providers, Gartner Analysts and their peers to examine PPM market trends, hold in-depth business discussions, and evaluate the latest products and services for strategic project and portfolio management. IPMA is a Global Event partner for this event, and IPMA President Adesh Jain will present a Keynote speech. A special element of this event: qualified executives receive free admission. See the event website for details.
.======================================
8. Breaking News: asapm Stumbles Upon Secret Trinary Chip!
During a recent Project Management Competence Assessment with a major high-tech company, we were shown (without the usual request to sign a nondisclosure), a new computer chip design that promises to solve many current problems of computer system heat, power requirements, and speed.
Coined the “Trinary Chip”, this new chip has bits that can reflect three states, instead of two, adding to the traditional “yes” and “no” states a “maybe” state (so the bits are now called trits). This maybe state much more closely approximates the way people actually think. And, it finally opens the door to computers that can go beyond artificial intelligence.
The Trinary Chip adds energy efficiency, because instead of dispensing as heat the value of “yes” bits turned to “no”, the value is temporarily stored in a nearby “maybe” trit. This clearly reduces heat, and air conditioning requirements. It also saves energy when a new “yes” bit must be turned on. The needy “yes” bit merely borrows the value from the nearest “maybe” trit. Formerly, needy bits that were far away from power supplies were very slow to get their “yes” power, and much of that power dissipated (again, as heat) across distances of more than 1 centimeter.
For more details, see the full article and Editor's disclaimer at the asapm website, www.asapm.org/asapmag/aprfool.asp.
.======================================
9. Tidbits: Job Openings
The Job Market for competent Project Managers seems to be heating up, with several new openings posted on the asapm Jobs Board. Check them out!
======================================
SUBSCRIBING/UNSUBSCRIBING
This is the asapm semi-monthly newsletter. You received this email because you are a member of asapm, a friend of asapm, or because someone has forwarded this to you.
To subscribe, send email to us and put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
To unsubscribe send email to us and put UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
To Unsubscribe by mail: asapm, 6547 N. Academy Blvd. #404, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
asapm: American Society for the Advancement of Project Management.
We are a non-profit organization, staffed solely with volunteers who are dedicated to improving the practice of Project Management. asapm is a registered trademark, and PMCert is a service mark of the American Society for the Advancement of Project Management.
__________________________
Stacy Goff, PMP
asapm Vice President 2001-2007