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11/26/2008I am a big fan of the hit TV show Heroes. Last season, there was a theme and slogan, "save the cheerleader, save the world".
Hayden Panettiere plays Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader who learns she has 'powers'; essentially she can heal herself. This invincibility allows her to be exposed to fatal situations and remain alive. Last season, this character became the focal point of a web of characters and complicated paths that determined the fate of mankind. Now, I know this is Hollywood at its best, but the current economic events seem as if they are coming from the same wicked, psycho-thriller material that only Hollywood's brightest can conjure up.
Save the Project Management Scheduler, save the world!
If you haven't figured it out by now, I am a strong advocate of the concepts of scheduling. In simplest terms, I believe all things are boiled down to:
- Activity (tasks) that need to be completed
- Resources (enablers) to complete the activity
Armed with this information, problems can be solved, products can be developed, and yes, even companies and economies can 'heal'.
I live in the Detroit area, Motor City! Trust me, there are casualties abound! The heads of the Automotive Big 3 were recently grilled by the US Congress, and there was definitely a theme, being saved! The grey area is who's doing the saving? The companies themselves (self healing) or us – the Taxpayers? I also heard extended discussions about having a 'plan'. Again, the word and interpretation of 'plan' and 'planning' is very wide and creative, indeed. However, I have learned one thing from my efforts to be a productive Project Management Practitioner, and that is always have an answer to the following questions:
Save the Project Management Scheduler, save the world!
The first step is always answering those two questions. Sure, we need vision, strategic goals and objectives, and so on. When the dust settles, the complicated web boils down to simple scheduling as the first step - - - the way forward.
I may be a bit of a simpleton here, but let me and some of my Project Management Scheduling colleagues sit with those three leaders of the US Auto companies. Armed with Project Scheduling tools, we will absolutely uncover what and how the path to closure will be done.
Save the Project Management Scheduler, save the world!
2/6/2008Greetings fellow professional practitioners. Recently, I was traveling across the United States, and attended face to face meetings with colleagues. The purpose of the meetings were to get to know one another, and discuss plans and actions for 2008. You see, I joined a great organization last month, and this was my first interaction with my new team. As the 'new-be' to this growing organization, I felt compelled to try and communicate the value I bring to the organization, while remaining completely open by listening and absorbing as much information about the business and those in the business as feasible. It was an exciting and exhausting period, and below are some of my thoughts following the period:
- I found myself immersed in reviewing technologically driven project/business management tools
- I was exposed to and offered my suggestions on ideas which elevates the impact pm technology provides
- We evaluated key customers, the success and challenges they faced embracing methodology, technology and how it impacted their business
- Review of industry trends, and where there are gaps that will naturally embrace enhancements
- I had deep discussions and exposure to the pm industry with a Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional (MVP)
- I had professional and personal dialogue with a seasoned pm practitioner who is also a PhD candidate with Harvard University
- I participated in brainstorming conversations with people who have developed databases and technology tools for governments, global retailers, etc. These people have created tools that we use today and we don't even know it
- I learned about embedded technology, optimizing technology for practitioner value, etc
- I review demonstrations related to add-on software, outsourced and hosted technologies and other variables that enables professionals to touch and leverage technology
As I was mulling over my experience during the lengthy plane ride home, it occurred to me that the common denominator was where people and technology intersected; with the skills, competencies and ingenuity of the practitioner to bring the technology, processes, and procedures together to deliver the results. Thus, as practitioners, we are human beings (carbon-based entity) and technology is hardware, software (silicon-based entity); that the true integration that matters is the integration of carbon and silicon.
So, fellow practitioners, I call on you to contemplate your value and how you wield the power of being the only resource that can touch and change the industry and culture based upon living in the integration between carbon and silicon. For it is this intersection and output that is driving the entire industry!
1/23/2008Greetings friends. As the old cliché goes, it has been awhile since my last post. Therefore, here is a quick update for those of you who value networking and active learning. I remain very involved with 'community' activities. The professional network community in my opinion holds the future, including:
- Innovation
- Solutions
- Resolutions
- Evolutions
For those of you who are inspired by knowledge and insight, please read on.
In May of this year, the PMI College of Scheduling will be hosting their 5th annual conference (www.pmicos.org). I am bias and a Scheduler by trade, so I think this is a must-see event. However, perhaps I can entice some of you to consider joining me? I will assume you will visit the website and event details at your leisure. However, this is my opinion regarding the value. There will be senior professional practitioners speaking and sharing; and let's face it, they will not be as public in the next 10-15 years. Scheduling has roots going back decades, including processes such as (Just to name a few):
- Critical Path
- PERT
- Monte Carlo
This event is executed by the volunteer efforts of our colleagues. Some of who carry credentials such as being PMI member #4 and #25, as well as leaders whose careers' extend back to early 1960's. Recently, I was an observer (simply because to weigh in on the discussion would be insulting); where PMI COS leaders were discussing the status of PERT and how it should be presented in a standards environment. The exchange of information was breath-taking and comprehensive. As an observer, two main visions were crystallized in my mind:
- Other professionals HAVE to be part of these discussions
- In a few years, this information and insight will be lost forever
Therefore, I call on the next generation of professional practitioners, my colleagues, to TAKE ACTION. I would strongly recommend attending the upcoming PMI College of Scheduling conference, and capture history before it evaporates. Rub shoulders with the original innovators of PM Scheduling concepts and become one of the few in the world to carry the legacy that is the core of project management.
I will be planning Webcasts regarding Scheduling 2.0 – the next generation of the principles which serves as the foundation for project management. These Webcasts will be contributed towards the PMI COS event so I can accelerate spreading the word that time is slipping through our hands of creating the link / transition from legacy to future.
Please join me in my venture, and I would love to hear from you!
Cheers, Tim. 12/19/2007
Greetings! Welcome to my inaugural post of this new blog. This blog is designed to focus on the professional practitioner. As with technical applications such as software and methodologies, practitioner is a broad interpretation of the specialists in a projectized environment. My intent is to integrate many facets of the industry globally, and bring visibility to various issues as an interpretation of the situations from a professional practitioner perspective.
I have had the distinguished pleasure of spending time with many practitioners face to face on a worldwide basis, and it is my opinion that there are three core principles to success for each practitioner linked to the project/business industry:
- Registration: This is a tactical, tacit form of recognition. Official connection to the industry.
- Accreditation: Métier competencies, aptitude and strength of professional judgment.
- Lifework: Progression of skills, responsibility and industry impact as well as contributions to the industry.
Future posts will have a dynamic mix of iterative thoughts (with limited examples) as well as fresh views that will initiate a new thread of ideas. The goal is to create an open source environment of the community of professional practitioners, grounded into the three principles mentioned above that nets group innovation and industry inflection points correlated directly to the actions and delivery of the professional practitioner.
Please join me in a journey where the only quantifiable element we know today is where we are at today. The future is predictable but predicated on our actions today. Let's evolve, change and shape the future together! |
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