Welcome to the asapm February 2008 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/unsubscribe information is at the end of this Newsletter. This Newsletter is in html, with links to the asapm website. Enjoy!
In This Issue
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1. PrezSez: Communications—The Key to Leadership Effectiveness
2. asapm and Business Development Institute Sign Alliance Agreement
3. Rome Congress Call For Papers Extended: Abstracts Due 15 March 2008
4. Measuring and Managing Project Quality, by Stacy Goff
5. A Wealth of PM Events on the Calendar
6. Latest Issues, IPMA Newsletter and PM Practice Magazines Online
7. Sponsor Sought For Roma Congress Paper Presenter
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1.PrezSez: Communications—The Key to Leadership Effectiveness, by Lew Ireland
Communicating to everyone is not an easy task. Often, there are disagreements on style that serve to effectively block communication. For example, distrust of a leader can cause the listener to question directions and seek to validate the information before performing a task. It reminds me of the manager who was a notorious liar – and he was good at it. When one of his subordinates recalled that he told the truth once, it was called an “honest mistake.”
This is from the introduction to asapm President Lew Ireland's latest PrezSez. To see Lew's article, click here.
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2. asapm and Business Development Institute Sign Alliance Agreement
On February 5, 2008 Lew Ireland, President of the American Society for the Advancement of Project Management (asapm), and Howard Nutt, Executive Director of the Business Development Institute International (BD-Institute), announced the two organizations’ signing of an Alliance Partnership Agreement.
In announcing the agreement, Mr. Ireland noted that, “As the USA’s premier competence-based credentialing organization for project and program managers, we are a strong advocate of effective project management practice and believe that part of that effectiveness must include the competences needed to fulfill the project manager's role in winning new business. This makes the partnership with the BD-Institute a strategic step toward the future of program and project management in the USA and the World.” Click here to see the rest of the Press Release.
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3. Rome Congress Call For Papers Extended: Abstracts Due 15 March 2008
We already have more asapm member papers for the IPMA World Congress in Rome, Italy November 9-11 than the last two IPMA World Congresses combined, but we are trying to get more; and, there are several of us who have said they would submit who have not, yet.
Why submit a paper? First of all, our asapm members and friends have done more to advance the state of Program and Project Management than any comparable group of people. Thus we have many valuable insights to share with other practitioners, based on our well-earned competences.
Secondly, paper presenters receive a discounted Congress admission fee.
Third, if you have not experienced the rapport and IPMA family spirit of the World Congress, you have really missed a key opportunity. While there are some great USA PM-related conferences (the ones we promote because of their great value), an IPMA World Congress stands out among all others.
Fourth, whether your next career growth opportunity will come from perfecting your communication skills in front of large groups, or by networking with people who have similar program and project management experiences, we all know that continually improving project performance competence is the key to success.
For those who submit a paper, here are some suggestions. First, the link at http://www.ipmaroma2008.it/call_for_papers.php gives you the details.
Next, here are some tips for formatting of your abstract, courtesy of our good friend Vladimir Voropaev, SOVNET President. He was commenting on a paper he reviewed:
"In my opinion, a theme interesting. But it is not an abstract, simply an application for the paper. In the abstract the problem should be designated. The purpose of the paper stated. Brief basic contents. Then conclusions formulated."
Vladimir's English is far better than my Russian; and, his insights are an excellent reminder.
So, for those of you who use an "Early as Possible" scheduling approach, you should submit your paper now. That will give the Congress Advisory Committee more time to review the Abstracts. Don't forget to select your preferred Stream, or topic area.
For those who are "As Late as Possible" schedulers, you now have an extra 5 weeks or so for the impending March 15th deadline to juice up your creativity. I know, because that approach works well for me, too!
Finally, as I've requested before, please let us know if you are submitting a paper; We are tracking our submissions to make sure they get the attention of the appropriate Stream Chairs.
So, whether you plan to present or to attend, mark your calendar for November 9-11 2008 in Rome, Italy!
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4. Measuring and Managing Project Quality, by Stacy Goff
While Teaching a Project Management workshop in the UK in the late 1980s, we posed the question, “What is Project Quality?” One participant responded, “Quality is meeting or exceeding the customer’s project needs.” We recorded that insight on the whiteboard, spelling Qualitty with two t’s. Then we spoke of the need to be close to the Customers, to spend time to understand needs, and so on.
After a while, one embarrassed participant pointed out that we had misspelled Quality. To which we responded, "Au Contraire, we have merely exceeded the Customer’s needs." This was an insightful moment for all of us.
All too often, project teams exceed the customer needs in areas where they feel they have control, as if this can make up for those many occurrences where they have no control. Why? Because it is so difficult to know all the needs, and even then, teams seldom know how to measure the quality of the project delivery until it is too late.
This is from the introduction to Stacy's latest article, this time on Project Quality. Click here to read his article.
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5. A Wealth of PM Events on the 2008 Calendar
The Project Management-Related Events calendar is filling up for this year. Check these events, and plan to attend those that interest you.
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6. IPMA Pubs: Project Perspectives, IPMA Newsletter and PM Practice Magazines Online
IPMA Journal Subscription Update: We have sent in the 2008 subscriptions for those who paid by the end-of-January due date. Those who have not yet renewed their subscription can be added to the list that we will send in Quarterly, or for new members. The IPMA 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. The site also points you to the Journal Order Form, and offers multiple alternative ways to pay. If you have any questions, please contact us.
IPMA News
The Annual 2007-8 Project Perspectives magazine is now available on the asapm website. Published by the Project Management Association Finland, in cooperation with International Project Management Association, this is one of the best PM-related publications available. Once again, IPMA Quarterly Newsletter Q4 (2mb) and PM Practice Magazine/Winter (2.1mb) are available on the asapm website.
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7. Sponsor Sought For Roma Congress Paper Presenter
Related to item 3 above, the IPMA World Congress, scheduled for November 9-11, we have an asapm member from the Commonwealth of Dominica, who would like to present a paper, but cannot fund the trip, lodging and Congress fees. Her proposed topic is Risk Management of Projects in the Public Sector, and she is looking for a Sponsor who would help fund some of the expenses. Her organization cannot fund her trip, but in addition to this request for sponsorship from our readers, she will also attempt to find additional funding locally. If you are interested in Sponsoring this paper and presentation at the IPMA World Congress in Rome, Italy, please contact us, and we will pass the information along. Thanks!
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Stacy Goff, PMP
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