allPM Today November 2009, Issue 114, Frank P. Saladis, Editor

November 2009, Issue 114, Frank P. Saladis, Editor

President and Chief Executive Officer
of IIL
E. LaVerne Johnson

Senior Executive
Director of IIL
Dr. Harold Kerzner

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In this Issue:

*allPM's Letter from the Editor, Frank P. Saladis, PMP

*allPM October Poll Results and New Poll Question

*The Future of Project Management
By Dr. Harold Kerzner

*An Historical Approach to Project Management of the Future
By Steve Blais, PMP

*Getting Your Project in On-Time and within Budget
By Christine Petersen, PMP

*The Art of Thanks
By Laura Moore, PMP

*Positive Leadership in Project Management - What Leaders Do.
By Frank P. Saladis, PMP

*Variation is the Enemy
By Harry Rever, PMP – Director of Six Sigma, IIL

*Negotiating Realistic Estimates and Schedules: Maximizing Your Power to Reach Win-Win Results
By George Pitagorsky, PMP

*Risk Doctor: Problems with Probability
By Dr. David Hillson, PMP, FAPM

*PM Crossword Connections™: Future Thinking
By Frank P. Saladis, PMP

Past Issues- Archives

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From the Editor's Desk— Frank P. Saladis, PMP

This month we focus on a theme and a topic that many project managers think about nearly every day- The Future of Project Management. There is no doubt that, at least from my perspective, project managers are somewhat concerned about their role within their organizations, how their organizations perceive the value of project management, and the future of project management as a component of the strategic planning process for their organizations.

Read more >>

October Poll Results

What is the most important success driver for your projects?

a) Supplying organization's mgmt. objectives are met - 6.02 % (5)
b) Client requirements are fully satisfied - 44.58 % (37)
c) Triple constraint project objectives are achieved - 15.66 % (13)
d) Client and supplying org. feel sense of value - 33.73 % (28)
The November poll question is:

To stay competitive, which knowledge area is essential for a Project Manager?

a) Program Management
b) Business Analysts Skills or Business Management
c) Business Processes
d) Managing Complex Projects
e) Six Sigma
f) Risk Management

If you have not already done so, please stop by allPM.com and add your opinion today.
Test your PM knowledge. allPM will be posting sample PMP test questions and answers daily. Don’t miss out - visit allPM today.

The Future of Project Management
Dr. Harold Kerzner

For more than fifty years, project management has been in use but perhaps not on a world-wide basis. What differentiated companies in the early years was whether or not they used project management, not how well they used it. Today, almost every company uses project management and the differentiation is whether they are simply good at project management or whether they truly excel at project management.

An Historical Approach to Project Management of the Future
By Steve Blais, PMP

There are those who say that future can be predicted by history, that study of history tells us trends and reactions to events that will determine where we are going in the future. Of course those who say that tend to be historians who are angling for jobs as news forecasters on CNN.

Getting Your Project in On-Time and within Budget
By Christine Petersen, PMP

One of the biggest problems commonly found in projects is in getting the projects in on time and/or within budget. Let’s take these two issues one at a time. How can we ensure that our projects are on time?

The Art of Thanks
By Laura Moore, PMP

As I write this I am sitting at my daughters’ dance studio watching my youngest, Layla Blue and her friend Bailey, open the door for everyone who walks through. I would make a high estimate that maybe 55% of the people for whom they opens the door actually say “thank you.” Moreover, I notice that the “thank you’s” are more free flowing from the kids and more reserved (if even in existence) from the adults.

Positive Leadership in Project Management - What Leaders Do.
By Frank P. Saladis, PMP

When the question is asked: “What is leadership?” the response is generally based on the characteristics of a leader. Most people describe the external manifestations that are frequently associated with a person in a leadership position. These characteristics include charisma, intelligence, knowledge, commitment, communications skills, the ability to influence people, assertiveness, and so on.

Variation is the Enemy
By Harry Rever, PMP – Director of Six Sigma, IIL

Variation is the enemy. It’s the enemy to quality. It’s the enemy to improvement. It’s the enemy to management. There is perhaps no more misunderstood concept in business today than the concept of variation. This misunderstanding is the root cause of knee-jerk reactions, over control, micromanagement, and tampering with results.

Negotiating Realistic Estimates and Schedules: Maximizing Your Power to Reach Win-Win Results
By George Pitagorsky, PMP

Have you ever been in a project that had time and cost constraints that were never going to be met? If you have, you know the pain that everyone suffers when they try to do the impossible.

Risk Doctor: Problems with Probability
By Dr. David Hillson, PMP, FAPM

Risk is defined in two dimensions: uncertainty and effect on objectives. It is common to use the terms “probability” and “impact” to describe these two dimensions, and assessing the significance of any given risk means considering both.

PM Crossword Connections™: Future Thinking
By Frank P. Saladis, PMP

(Click here or the image above for a crossword in a new window.)

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