Welcome to the asapm December 2008-January 2009 email Newsletter!
This is an Opt-in Newsletter from asapm, the American Society for the Advancement of Project Management. We produce it in the even-numbered months: February, April, June, and so on. Subscribe information is on the www.asapm.org website, and Unsubscribe information is below. This Newsletter has links to the asapm website. Enjoy!
In This Issue
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1. asapm's Edward Logan Wins IPMA's 2008 International Young Project Manager!
2. PrezSez: Projects in a Weak Economy
3. IPMA World Congress Roma 2008 Trip Report
4. Myths of Project Management Training, an article adapted by William Duncan
5. asapm Pilots Curriculum and Certification For Undergraduate Students
6. 2009 IPMA World Congress Helsinki: Call For Presentations Due December 31
7. Why I Applied for asapm's Extra Credit™ Program, by Stacy Goff
8. IPMA News, including Expert Seminar, Award Assessor Training ...
9. Resources: Squires Boosts Collaboration; Change Agents; Millstones Update
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1. asapm's Edward Logan Wins IPMA's 2008 International Young Project Manager!
12 November, 2008: International Project Management Association (IPMA), the World’s first, and the World’s leading non-profit Project Manager's professional organization, has announced that Edward Logan is the winner of the 2008 IPMA International Young Project Manager Award.
Edward Logan, Deputy Program Manager for ManTech International, a US government contractor located in Virginia, USA was selected for this prestigious award in recognition of his superior work performance in the application of project management principles and techniques at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), a US federal government agency under the Department of Commerce. Edward, an active member of the American Society for the Advancement of Project Management (asapm), is co-leading the establishment of the IPMA Young Crew – USA. He has also served as a president of the project management student association at the George Washington University School of Business.
The award was presented during the 22nd IPMA World Congress taking place in Rome, Italy in November 2008. His accomplishments were recognized at the IPMA Young Project Manager's award ceremony taking place on 7 November 2008, as part of the Young Crew Workshops in Rome. Those workshops included some 30 nationalities and over 100 participants. Edward presented details about his winning project to the attentive young project management student and practitioner participants. This year, the IPMA Young Crew workshop curriculum had the special title “Project Management Improvement by Human Skills, Risk Management and Control.” The second-prize winner was Andrey Belozerov from Russia.
Click here to read the rest of the press release for Edward's outstanding achievement!
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2. PrezSez: Projects in a Weak Economy
Here in December 2008, the news is gloomy with broad statements of a failed economy in the United States that is rippling around the world. Stocks are losing value at a significant rate and many saving plans have lost nearly 40 percent of their value. Some companies are filing for bankruptcy while major automobile companies request a 25 billion dollar bailout – whether the request is for a loan, grant, or investment by the American taxpayer in failed management structures in not clear. Predictions are that the economy will get worse before it gets better.
There is no obvious single solution to the complex interrelated workings that trigger other activities to give a lack of confidence in the market place. Suggestions, such as starting infrastructure projects to infuse money into the economy, could be a solution to part of the problem. Infrastructure projects were used in Germany in the early 1930s to stimulate the economy while getting people working again. This is not a bad idea because it builds on the nation’s roads and government buildings that resulted in something of value for the people.
Some infrastructure projects, such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike – a very successful project, were initiated in the United States in the late 1930s to promote jobs and organizational change. Efficient projects are one means of moving from a sluggish economic situation to a healthier one. New projects, however, must be the most efficient means of delivering products or services. Competent project management is the key to that efficiency.
This is the introduction from asapm President Lew Ireland's latest PrezSays. Read his article on the asapm website.
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3. IPMA World Congress Roma 2008 Trip Report; by Stacy Goff
Arrivederci Roma! The USA scored our largest attendence in four years of World Congresses, with speakers and participants who enjoyed a well-managed, splendidly hosted (by ANIMP, the Italy Member Association of IPMA) 22nd IPMA World Congress in Rome, Italy, November 9-11. Not since the Budapest Congress, when asapm showed up en masse in our denim asapm shirts, have we seen so many of our people!
The packed agenda included a stellar Young Crew event, a meeting of Nations-To-Nations Forum (N2N), great pre- and post-Congress sessions and events (more in Topic 8, below, on that), plus dozens of IPMA committee and group meetings. In all, a masterful job organizing and coordinating this complex project. Our thanks and congratulations go to Congress Chair Luigi Iperti, Project Manager PierMarco Romagnoli, President of the Scientific Committee Roberto Mori, our transportation hero and friend Ugo Forghieri, and many many other volunteers. Thanks! And, Luigi promises a list of Lessons Llearned, so future IPMA Congresses can leverage Roma's successes.
World Congress highlights include a packed schedule of streams, each with compelling topics and speakers, plus the opportunity to network with old and new friends between sessions. My Judgement: Rome matched the elegance of Shanghai, and the spirit of Delhi.
Stacy's full IPMA/Roma Trip Report, including commentary on Sessions, Evening Events, Exhibitors, and a bit of fun with arriveaderci, is on the asapm website.
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4. Myths of Project Management Training, adapted by William Duncan
Certification Chair William Duncan (Our PM Performance Competence guru) adapted this article from one written by Dave Stein entitled “The 13 Myths of Sales Training.” The subject matter may be different, but it seems that the myths are similar!
Myth #1: Even bad training is better than none. Wrong! Experience shows that the vast majority of project management training does not produce any change in the participants’ behavior. Spending time and money on ineffective training is worse than no training at all, since it provides management with a false sense that they have done the right thing.
Here's the Rest:
Myth #2: The top training firms are a safe bet.
Myth #3: Project management training will help our organization improve its project management.
Myth #4: Traditional project management training is now obsolete.
Myth #5: My best people don’t need training.
Myth #6: Managers and executives need not attend.
Myth #7: You can’t measure training ROI.
Myth #8: Learning is mostly in the classroom.
Myth #9: I can train the mediocre to excel.
Myth #10: Classroom training is the best medium.
Myth #11: Providing “tips” is as good as training.
Myth #12: “Off the shelf” training works.
Myth #13: I can skimp on the “extras”.
Click here to see the "report card" on all thirteen Myths, courtesy of William Duncan.
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5. asapm Pilots Curriculum and Certification For Undergraduate Students
New hires can be an important part of your project. However, hiring fresh University graduates can be a risky proposition in terms of their preparedness to participate meaningfully. So, how can you be assured that new hires are conversant in project management to the point that they can be active contributors to the project team?
This question led asapm to develop a new program for certifying student members in basic project management knowledge. As part of our research, we explored the benefits of not only targeting relevant and useful knowledge, but also the opportunities for progression into Performance Competence using the USA NCB (National Competence Baseline).
Beginning in the Spring of 2009, a pilot program will be launched at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. Students taking project management classes will be able to sit for an optional exam that tests knowledge outlined in the National Competence Baseline essential not only for project managers, but for productive project team members. The exam will be used in conjunction with performance in the classroom to determine qualification.
This level of certification, to be branded as SCiPM™ (and pronounced Skip 'em), Student Certificate in Project Management, is targeted to student members of asapm. Students meeting performance requirements in the classroom and on the standard exam will be awarded a certificate and be able to place this accomplishment on job applications. The program will help students secure positions in project organizations and help recruiters identify candidates conversant in project management knowledge to the level of effective project team membership. Experience in projects or project management is not a component of this certification; advanced students with project experience are encouraged to pursue asapm Certified Project Associate, our IPMA Level-D certification.
Should you have any questions about this program, or wish to promote this opportunity at other universities, please contact asapm Director of Education, Dr. Neeraj Parolia, via the asapm web site (Director of Education).
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6. 23rd IPMA Helsinki World Congress Call For Presentations Due January 31, 2009
One of the outcomes of attending a World Congress as great as the just-completed Roma Congress is the realization, by many participants, that we also have a story worth telling. Here is your chance: The 23rd IPMA World Congress will be held in Helsinki, Finland, June 15-17 2009. The Call For Presentations for topics of a practical nature is due January 31, 2009. That means you have a little time to put together your brief notes, and fill in your presentation abstract. The bonus: Responding to popular demand, presenters get a great discount on their Congress fees!
Guidelines from the site about the main points to consider while preparing your presentation:
The organization of the presentations for the 2009 Refresh Congress is very unique. There are two types of presentations, Scientific Research Papers, and Practice-based Refresh Presentations.
Scientific Research Papers
The Scientific Stream of the Congress will group scientific and academic papers and presentations into four related seminars. The abstracts for these papers are due December 31 2008; the theme is the Human Side of Projects in Modern Business. From the Congress website, examples of topics and key words of interest include:
The objective of these published presentations is to portray current understanding and new knowledge arising from research and development concerning human aspects in modern projects. The best paper will receive a 100 Euro prize and a free subscription to the International Journal of Managing Projects in Business.
Practice-based Refresh Presentations
This refreshing new approach will help the 23rd IPMA World Congress achieve its Mission:
The Practice-based presentations cover topics of practical nature as well as case studies. Four main streams each have four groups of Seminars, in which the related presentations will be coordinated; one consequence of this approach is that participants will require fewer switches between sessions to pursue their presentations of greatest interest. The four Streams of the Practice-based presentations are:
See more information about the Streams and Seminars at the Congress website. The Call for Refresh Presentations ends 31 January 31, 2008 so you have time to plan and submit your presentation abstract.
Not interested in speaking? The Early Bird Registration discounts for IPMA (asapm) members who plan ahead expire December 31, so sign up now! Note that the Avec fee is for your Accompanying person. Recall too, that the Roma hotels filled up quickly, and the Helsinki Congress expects even more participants, to act now! You can watch the Congress Program evolve here as papers and presentations are accepted.
To see the well-done video Promo (or trailer) for the IPMA 23rd Helsinki World Congress, click here. For a video of the Refresh 2009 IPMA World Congress venue, the Helsinki Fair Center, click here. We hope to see you in Helsinki, oh, and it looks like you'd better bring your robe!
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7. Why I Applied for asapm's Extra Credit™ Program, by Stacy Goff
asapm's Extra Credit program has been available for just over two months now, and it is driving record downloads of our USA National Competence Baseline for PM. Not wanting to miss out on the excitement, I decided to join the rush. But first, some background. Extra Credit allows PM Practitioners who meet certain criteria to conveniently achieve IPMA-D, asapm's Certified Project Associate designation.
Normally earned by passing a knowledge-based exam that includes multiple-choice and essay questions (that help to probe true grasp), qualified Extra Credit applicants pay a nominal fee, and then submit a critique of one element in the USA-NCB. That critique can praise an NCB topic that is too-often ignored in other documents, identify inaccuracies or missing items, or offer other suggestions for improvement. asapm's semi-autonomous Certification organization will review those critiques and make suggested improvements in the next update of the NCB.
So why did I apply for Extra Credit, especially when I already have another certification in Project Management? These are my reasons:
a. A Foundation for Further Competence Development
b. International Recognition
c. Soft Skills and Context Recognition
d. Market Differentiation
See the full article, with explanation for these reasons, on the asapm website.
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8. IPMA News, including Expert Seminar, Award Assessor Training ...
As part of asapm members' two memberships in one, here is the latest in IPMA news.
IPMA Expert Seminar, 12-13 February 2009, Zurich
IPMA's Expert Seminars are a bit different than any other learning event; first, they are highly participatory. And, all the participants collaborate in developing the learning. Each event produces a set of papers that present some of the PM Industry's leading thoughts. This year's event, Behavioral and Contextual Competences for Project Management Success, is focused on improving competences in the most-difficult-to-develop (and to assess) elements of the NCB/ICB. Combining paper presentations with interactive discussions and teamwork, the Seminar will publish its results for the benefit of participants and others.
The Four Expert Seminar Streams Include:
1. Technical, behavioural and contextual competences (how the competences blend in successful projects)
2. Assessment methods (do the methods differ for the three ranges of competence?)
3. Experience with the ICB Version 3.0 and NCBs derived from it.
4. Training for developing behavioural and contextual competence.
The target audience for this IPMA Expert Seminar includes Learning Managers, Functional Managers who wish to improve the PM Performance of their Project Teams, Certification Assessors, Consultants who understand the difference between basic knowledge development and PM Performance Competence. asapm members William Duncan and Stacy Goff are planning to participate; will you? See the brochure and registration information on the IPMA website.
Project Perspectives
The 2009 issue of Project Perspectives, a stellar annual magazine produced by the Finland Member Association and IPMA, is now available on the asapm website. This magazine is one of three publications available to members and friends who are interested in advancing their practice of Project and Program Management.
Frank Anbari Wins Research Award
In addition to Edward Logan's selection as Young Project Manager of the Year (as mentioned above), another of asapm's favorites was also recognized at the IPMA World Congress Roma, as Frank T. Anbari and Young Hoon Kwak won an award for IPMA Outstanding Research Contribution 2008. Young Hoon Kwak, Frank T. Anbari, and their team at The George Washington University’s School of Business are honoured for their research on the Impact on Project Management of Allied Disciplines. Watch the asapm website, as we are trying to get permission to post their research findings.
Project Excellence Award Assessor Training
IPMA has extended an invitation for interested persons to participate in IPMA Award Assessors Training 2009. There is an especially iinteresting aspect of this training, which is primarily oriented towards training Member Association and IPMA Assessors in the details of assessing National and International Project Excellence Award candidates. The secret: many companies have sent their staff to be trained in these special assessment processes, then used the training to evaluate internal Project Management competence and performance improvement opportunities.
While this is now a recognized opportunity, the primary purpose of the training is to provide Project Excellence Assessors. You can take part in one of the training sessions and get to know the IPMA Project Excellence Model, practice how to use it, and learn how to objectively assess projects on the basis of an award application.
This Award Assessor Training is free (you pay travel expenses) for those who are willing to serve as IPMA Award Assessors. Training participants have the opportunity to discuss and exchange views with experienced colleagues during the training. To become an IPMA International Award Assessor, begin by attending one of the trainings; the next trainings are scheduled for:
* Frankfurt (Germany): 9-11 January 2009
* Beijing (China): 16-18 January 2009
* Helsinki (Finland): 23-25 January 2009
Invited to participate in these IPMA Excellence Assessors training are:
* Newcomers: Assessors who come for the first time to the IPMA Award Assessor Training.
* Experienced Award Assessors: People who attended previous IPMA Award Assessor Trainings.
* Potential Applicants: People/Organizations who are interested in the Project Excellence Model and are potential candidates for participation in the IPMA Award Process.
For further details, see the IPMA Project Excellence Award Brochure, and the Award Assessors Training Application Form; for answers to your questions,
please contact the IPMA Award Office: award@ipma.ch
IPMA Journal Subscription
We are now in the Annual Subscription Period for the 2009 IPMA Journal. The way this works, the publisher, Elsevier, lets us know each December what the new year's subscription rate will be. We have sent a request inquiring about the rates for 2009, but have not yet received a reply. Current subscribers and new ones should watch the website to see the rates; the subscription period ends January 31.
For those not familiar, the IPMA Journal is a juried Project Management magazine, published 8 times a year, with some very interesting articles. The subscription is not included in your member dues, because not all members wish to receive it. It is especially useful for those who are involved with Universities, plus those PM Practitioners who wish to stay on the leading edge of the practice. You should review the samples online to see how useful it would be for you.
The Journal section of the asapm website has instructions for the steps you take to see samples of the IPMA Journal. It walks you through several different ways to find it on the Elsevier website. asapm members receive a significant discount from normal rates; this subscription rate is available for current members only. If you have any questions, contact us!
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9. Resources: Squires Boosts Collaboration; Change Agents; Millstones Update
This section includes additional resources for asapm members and friends.
Les Squires Boosts IPMA Collaboration
asapm member and friend Les Squires is the inspiration, mentor and coach for our collaborative Members Only section. This year he has "kicked it up a notch". In addition to serving our asapm site and the increasingly popular one we established for the IPMA Family, he has now extended the collaboration to the 45+ other Member Associations of IPMA. He and Brane Semolic, IPMA Research Chair, have established a linked network of collaborative sites, based on Ning's technology. They hosted a workshop at the IPMA Roma Congress where dozens of new national networking sites were set up, updated, linked, and populated.
asapm members have access to the asapm Members Only collaborative site and to the IPMA Family site; the links to the IPMA site are available at the asapm site. If you have not yet joined the asapm Members Only site, contact us and we'll send you the initial set-up information. Early next year we hope to have yet another collaborative opportunity, involving the Helsinki Congress, so now is the time to get linked!
Change Agents Site
Speaking of Collaborative Networks, as part of the joint paper presented by Business Development Institute and asapm at the Roma Congress, we have set up yet another collaborative site. This one is open to all interested parties. It is still very new, but its purpose is to explore the common competences that should be shared and appreciated between all the related change agents in today's enterprise. These include contract managers, project and program managers, business development managers, change management specialists, and others. Check out ChgAgents.ning.com, sign up, and collaborate with us; answer the questions; post your opinions!
Project Millstones
Project Millstones, asapm's website humor page, has several new entries. William Duncan, in a spare moment (hah!), has updated an old collection of favorites to relate to Project Managers. See Understanding Project Managers. Especially fun is the Project Manager and the frog. Another Millstones entry adds insight to the otherwise impossible. After all, competent Project Managers are great at completing the impossible. Almost anyone can remove a cork from the top of a bottle, but how many can remove one from inside the bottle, without breaking it? This should be part of IPMA-B Performance Competence Assessment! Click the picture on the Millstones page to see the 4mb (Windows wmv format) video that shows the secret.
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asapm is the American Society for the Advancement of Project Management. We are a non-profit organization, staffed with volunteers who are dedicated to improving the practice of competent Project Management. asapm is a registered trademark of the American Society for the Advancement of Project Management. Please see the asapm.org website for subscribe information. Thanks!
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Stacy Goff, PMP
asapm Member Services