Upcoming Verzuh Webinars – Seven Project Estimating Success Factors and Unlock Innovation
Eric Verzuh, a local Project Management Guru and author of one of our textbooks, The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, has 2 free upcoming webinars that you won’t want to miss. His webinars are always good and meaty with helpful hints for Project Management in the real world. I have listed the 2 webinars below. Clicking on the webinar titles will take you to full information about the webinars. For those who are certified, these webinars are worth 1 PDU each. Enjoy!
7 Project Estimating Success Factors
May 23, 2013
11am PST / 2pm EST
June 11, 2013, 11am PST / 2pm EST
Beware The Meeting Troll
Came across a post by Seth Godin, A field guide to the Meeting Troll. Referred to it in class last week and promised to post a link to the post.
As Project and Program Managers, we spend a significant amount of time in meetings; we lead, facilitate and attend meetings. A well-run, organized meeting is an effective Project Management tool. By setting meeting objectives, creating and adhering to agendas while keeping our eye on the clock, we help our teams stay focused and productive. Personally, there is no greater hell than the “never-ending” or unfocused meeting.
The meeting troll is a risk to the team cohesiveness. Watch how the team shuts down when the meeting troll spreads their negativity. Teams do not do their best work when the environment is unsafe. Meeting trolls undermine team trust and make team members reluctant to share their ideas and opinions.
For more meeting related resources, see the following:
How Effective Are Your Meetings? Tips to Improve Meeting Effectiveness
Unlock Innovation! Free Webinar from Eric Verzuh
Anytime there is a free webinar from Eric Verzuh, you must attend. His webinars are focused nuggets of goodness. His next webinar, Unlock Innovation, will be presented on March 13, 2013 2PM EST / 11AM PST. For more information, follow this link: http://www.versatilecompany.com/webinar-innovation-1-title.aspx. If you are certified, you can receive 1 Free PDU for attending.
Project Risk Management Double Puzzle
A Project Risk Management Double Puzzle. I will publish the answers tomorrow.
The Ethics of Project Management
Merriam-Webster defines ethic(s) as:
1 plural but sing or plural in constr : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation2 a : a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values <the present-day materialistic ethic> <an old-fashioned work ethic> —often used in plural but singular or plural in construction <an elaborate ethics> <Christianethics>b plural but sing or plural in constr : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group ethics>
c : a guiding philosophy
d : a consciousness of moral importance <forge a conservation ethic>
3 plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness)<debated the ethics of human cloning>
PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is based on the values that the global project management defined as most important: responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty. The Code has been revised several times since its adoption in 1983 in response to continuous change and new ethical challenges in the workplace and in our world. (PMI, 2006) The Code consists of mandatory and aspirational standards.
The PMI created the Ethical Decision-Making Framework (EDMF) in 2012 to assist individuals through the decision making process of dealing with an ethical dilemma. (PMI, 2012)
Both of these documents are essential tools. All PMI members and certified Project Managers are expected to be familiar with and adhere to PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
Additional Resources
Badaracco, J.L. (1998). Building Character. http://cte.rockhurst.edu/s/945/images/editor_documents/BADARACCO%20Building%20Character.pdf
Badaracco, J.L. (1998). Defining Moments. http://www.strategy-business.com/article/9523?gko=3e58d
PMI (2012) Ethics in Project Management Community of Practice. http://ethics.vc.pmi.org/Public/Home.aspx
PMI (2012) Ethics in Project Management. Why Ethics Matter (video) http://www.pmi.org/about-us/ethics.aspx
Schweriner, J.H (2007) Ethical Considerations for the Project Manager in Professional Services. http://www.schweriner.com/writing/EthicsConsiderationsfortheProjectManagerinProfessionalServices.pdf
As we enter the 4th week of class, it is time to review our class objectives and determine if you have achieved the objectives that we have covered so far. A couple of questions to help you wrap your head around what you have learned so far.
Can you…
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Identify clear objectives using the SMART/ER format?
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Describe the purpose & benefits of key project processes & outputs?
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Define Scope using a Work Breakdown Structure?
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Use a Responsibility Assignment Matrix to identify roles & responsibilities?
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Use a communication matrix to identify communication & reporting needs?
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List critical scheduling & budget estimating steps & techniques?
If you answered no to any of the questions above, review the slides, re-read the related chapters in PMBOK* and Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, review the templates in the back of your binder and practice the skills.
** “PMI”, “PMBOK”, “CAPM” and “PMP” are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
Using the Search Function to Find Topics of Interest
Current Students and interested parties, you can search for topics of interest on the blog using the search box under the PMP and Certified Scrum Master logos in the top left of each page. For current Project Management Essentials students, I have many posts about Work Breakdown Structures (WBS). I have listed a few below to get you started.
If you search for a topic and cannot find any related posts, let me know and I will remedy the situation. Thanks!
Search. (Photo credit: Jeffrey Beall)
