Live Webinar October 16th, 2013 – 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT
Duration: 1 hour webinar Credits: 1 PDU Category A – Free PDU
Sponsored by: PMI International Development CoP (REP #S034)

This webinar discusses International Development (ID) projects and project management problems within ID.

First …. while many reasons may explain the poor showing of ID projects, this webinar suggests that project management problems in ID fall into three main categories:

1. Structural/contextual problems;
2. Institutional/sustainability problems, and
3. Managerial/organizational problems.

Thus, it illustrates why two World Bank funded projects – the Chad-Cameroon pipeline project (US $ 4 billion) and the South Africa Medupi Coal Plant Project (US $3 billion) – fail and the three categories of problem they faced.

Second ….. the webinar goes on to submit that ID projects are too complex and the task ahead too challenging to address all of these problems together.

Consequently, it argues, pragmatically, that there are project management traps that deserve the attention of ID project decision makers and practitioners and that breaking free of these traps would help ID succeed.

Thus, ID projects may fall into one or more of four main traps:

• The “one-size-fits-all” technical trap;
• The accountability-for-results trap;
• The lack-of- project management capacity trap; and
• The cultural trap.

These four traps have received little attention in project management in the ID industry sector.

Third and lastly …. the webinar looks at how to address each of the four traps and thus suggests moving away from the prevailing one-size-fits-all project management approach in ID; refocusing project management for ID on managing objectives for long-term development results; increasing aid agencies’ supervision efforts notably in failing countries; and tailoring project management to indigenous cultures.

Note: You do have to be a PMI® member to register for this opportunity.

Presenter: Lavagnon Ika (LinkedIn profile) is Assistant Professor of Project Management at the Telfer School of Management of the University of Ottawa. He holds a M.Sc. in Project Management from UQO and a PhD in business administration with specialization in International Development.

Click to register for Why Do Development Projects Fail? Zeroing In 4 Traps And Fixes

Live Webinar October 17th, 2013 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT
Duration: 1 Hour Credits: 1 PDU/CDU Category A – Free PDU/CDU
By: TheVersatile Project Management Company (REP 1524)

Learn about the great new features found in Project 2013!

See the features that are designed to improve a project manager’s ability to analyze a project and how project teams will have better ways to communicate.

Specific topics will include:

• Trace Tasks Paths
• New set of reports
• Communicate with your team in real time
• New ways to share your project plans
• Improved timeline

Speaker : Sam Huffman (LinkedIn profile) is a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Project Management Professional, and Project MVP

Click to register for What’s New in Project 2013!

This webinar has been recorded:
Now An Online Webinar

Live Webinar – October 16th 2013, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT
Offered by ASPE (REP 2161) 1 Category A PDU – Free PDU

IT Organizations have been using Agile methodologies for years to deliver more value to their customers in less time.

While frameworks such as Scrum, Kanban and Extreme Programming enable frequent communication from individual teams to their customers, we often find organizations will still rely on Waterfall relics such as Status Reports, Change Control Boards and multiple meetings to enable this communication beyond the scope of the team and those local goals.

The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), developed by Dean Leffingwell (LinkedIn profile), outlines an approach to help organizations harness the power of Agile throughout the enterprise and then provides a framework to ensure a consistent cadence and alignment between teams, projects, portfolios and programs moving the entire organization in a shared, positive direction.

SAFe seeks to keep everyone informed, engaged and involved while focusing on delivering the maximum amount of enterprise value.

This free one-hour web seminar defines what SAFe is, how it is being used by today’s leading development innovators and how to useSAFe to lead the adoption of Lean and Agile methods across your enterprise.

PDU Category C (PMBOK 5) documentation details:

Process Groups: Executing

Knowledge Areas: 4- Integration 6 – Time 8 – Quality 9 – Human Resources

• 4.1 Develop Project Charter
• 4.2 Develop Project Management Plan
• 4.3 Direct and Manage Project Work
• 5.3 Define Scope
• 6.2 Define Activities
• 8.1 Plan Quality Management
• 9.3 Develop Project Team

As a Category C ‘Self Directed Learning Activity’ remember to document your learning experience and its relationship to project management for your ‘PDU Audit Trail Folder’

Click to register & view the recording of  Scaled Agile Framework

Live Webinar – October 15th, 2013 2:00 pm EDT
Presented by: Eclipse Project Portfolio Management
Duration: 1 hour 1 PDUs Credits: Category C 1 PDU- Free PDU

Project Portfolio Management (PPM) is a strategic decision making approach aimed at maximizing overall returns on project investments. By focusing on the “right” projects, it is expected that there will be improved organization alignment to strategic plans as well as optimized utilization of financial and human resources.

Unfortunately, there is a significant amount of misinformation in the marketplace about PPM and many organizations that have attempted to implement these practices have failed. Of course, vendors stand ready to “help” unsuspecting executives with snake oil claims of “silver bullet” process or tool purchases to achieve PPM nirvana.

This webinar will provide you with a solid grounding of PPM principles – costs, benefits, critical success factors and lessons learned. These will help you decide whether pursuing PPM improvement is a valuable and realistic goal for your organization. This presentation will also improve your knowledge of the PPM lifecycle and provide you with the key decisions and approaches necessary to launch a successful PPM initiative.

Who should attend this webinar?
C-Level Management, IT Directors and Managers or Directors of PMOs

NOTE: You may have to hit the MORE… link to register for this session on the registration page.

PDU Category C (PMBOK 5) documentation details:

Process Groups: Planning, Monitoring & Controlling

Knowledge Areas: 4 – Integration

• 4.1 Develop Project Charter
• 4.2 Develop Project Management Plan

As a Category C ‘Self Directed Learning Activity’ remember to document your learning experience and its relationship to project management for your ‘PDU Audit Trail Folder’

Click to register for Project Portfolio Management Simplified