According to the press release received by PMForum, the joint venture will bring together Sama Dubai's existing project management team of over 200 staff with EC Harris' 90 years of experience with delivering value through the application of knowledge, professional skills and technology to clients' projects.
'The successful growth and magnitude of our Project Management team puts it in a position to be reshaped successfully into a stand-alone profit-making business,” he added. “Partnering with a leading international project management firm will tremendously accelerate the professional development of the new entity and ensure it operates to the highest international standards.”
The unique value proposition created by the joint venture attracted many of the world's leading project management firms. EC Harris was apparently selected for its proven best practices, track record, extensive professional skills, and cultural fit with Sama Dubai. The joint venture supports Sama Dubai's vision of becoming the leading real estate developer in the MENA region and one of the top five players globally. Sama Dubai is currently developing projects in the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Turkey and Morocco.
Headquartered in London, EC Harris was established in 1911. Since then it has developed world class processes and systems to support consistency of delivery and robust management and change controls. EC Harris has extensive civil engineering and infrastructure expertise. With 43 offices around the world employing over 3,000 people, EC Harris has developed a cultural awareness as well as professional knowledge and expertise. Some of its landmark projects include BAA's Terminal 5 at Heathrow, Emirates Stadium UK, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tower and Dubai Marina, UAE.
eMalaya Project Management & Project Governance
Web-based Service Launched in Montreal
The eMalaya website, an all-Web Project Management software solution which capitalizes on Project Intelligence, has been launched in Canada. From estimates to invoicing and by way of costs, time and resource management, eMalaya is intended to provide business and project leaders with critical information and better control of their projects. Most importantly, eMalaya will help ensure alignment of Project Management with Business Rules of Governance
eMalaya empowers project managers and business leaders of the Service industry with better decision-making at the appropriate time, ensuring real-time improvement of project control, end-product quality and profitability of the company.
eMalaya was developed and produced by Analystik, an IT consulting firm developing Business Process Management and Optimization software solutions, based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. eMalaya is in fact the major evolution of a time management application developed by Analystik in the mid-90s. Recently, the framework of this application has widened to encapsulate the simplification and automation of Business Process Management and Project Governance of a typical Service company.
For more information, please visit www.emalaya.ca/default_en.aspx or contact Michel Martel, President of Analystik inc. #201.
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New Robert Half Survey Highlights Need for
Project Management by CIOs
IT Staff Could Benefit from Enhanced Technical and Project Management Skills, Survey Shows. According to the survey and press release issued by Robert Half Associates in Canada on June 5, 2007, As technology changes, so do the job requirements for a company's information technology staff. In a new survey, chief information officers (CIOs) ranked technical ability and project management skills equally at 24 per cent, as areas in which their IT staff could most use improvement. Organizational abilities were third with 19 per cent of the response.
The poll includes responses from more than 270 CIOs from a stratified random sample of Canadian companies with 100 or more employees. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis.
CIOs were asked, "In which of the following areas do you think your IT staff could most use improvement?"
Technical abilities.......................................................... 24%
Project management skills.............................................. 24%
Organizational skills....................................................... 19%
Verbal and written communication abilities........................ 14%
Interpersonal skills.......................................................... 7%
None/no improvements needed......................................... 1%
Other/don't know........................................................... 11%
Total........................................................................ 100%
"Technology changes rapidly, making it crucial for IT staff to constantly learn new skills to keep pace with industry advancements," said Katherine
Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology. "While it's ultimately up to the individual to keep his or her technical abilities current, the best employers invest in ongoing professional development for employees at all levels."
Lee continued, "Professional development programs can also aid a company's recruitment and retention efforts. In today's competitive IT hiring market, employees want to work for firms that encourage them to build new skills and assume more challenging responsibilities."
With more than 100 locations in North America, Europe and Asia, Robert
Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network engineering and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at www.rht.com .
The news release about the survey can be seen at http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2007/05/c8757.html.
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Australian Project Management Software Player
Expands into North America
Bijingo Pty Ltd announced on June 5, 2007 that it has opened offices in Ottawa and New York. According to the company’s press release, demand has been growing for its industrial strength project management tool. With these new offices, the company expects to be able to better respond to and support clients across the North American continent.
According to Craig Pope, managing director of Bijingo, “We have significant market penetration in many parts of the world because our solution is simple to use and quick to deploy, without the prohibitive cost that many other solutions currently provide.”
Mike Nelles, managing partner for Bijingo added, “The Bijingo solution has been able to rapidly win business over key players because the Bijingo solution provides a scalable, simple, effective, and results driven option that no one else provides. With Bijingo, anyone can manage a project successfully. The Bijingo software suite fills the gap that other players do not.”
Bijingo Pty Ltd is an Australian company. For more information, visit www.bijingo.com. For information in Canada, contact or for the USA,
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TSI Acquires PM ATLAS Business Group in Texas
Dallas-based True Solutions Inc. (TSI), a global provider of project management consulting services, announced on June 6, 2007 that it has acquired PM ATLAS Business Group, LLC.
According to their press release, TSI was founded in 1999 and provides high-quality project management services to global Fortune 100 companies. The acquisition of PM ATLAS, a customized project management services company, extends TSI’s market presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth economy. The acquisition is part of TSI’s growth strategy, and is expected to allow the company to take advantage of PM ATLAS’ WBE, NCTRCA and HUB status as a woman-owned corporation. PM ATLAS Business Group, LLC will continue to service their certification customer segment, and will transition non-certification customers by extending TSI’s expanded product and services.
According to TSI’s Chief Executive Officer, Wes Balakian (pictured at right), “When we approached PM Atlas, the synergy between the two companies – and their CEO’s – was immediately apparent. Our existing and future client’s are the real beneficiaries of this merger.”
Lorie Gibbons, founder and CEO of PM ATLAS, explained, “Our customer-centric philosophy has been the keystone of PM ATLAS’ success. From my first conversation with TSI, it was clear that we shared our sense of customer value and integrity in how we conduct business – not only with customers, but also with vendors and suppliers. We know that these relationships will be enhanced by our acquisition, and that TSI brings much broader, global experience to our clientele.”
Ms. Gibbons will become Chief Operating Officer at TSI, and will be responsible for articulating and directing the company's overall vision. She will also oversee the firm's financial status, including securing and managing investor relationships and strategic partnerships in support of long-term growth. For more information regarding the acquisition or TSI’s products and services, go to www.true-solution.com or call 866.770.0903.
TSI is a global supplier of expert project management consulting, and education for PMI PMP and CAPM certification and accreditation. As a PMI Global Registered Education Provider, (R.E.P.) TSI serves professional organizations and individuals in many industries such as telecommunications, finance, manufacturing, and information technology. Visit www.true-solution.com for more information. PMI® is a registered trademark of the Project Management Institute.
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Microsoft Announces New Project Server 2007
to Team Foundation Server Connector
Microsoft has announced the availability of the Visual Studio Team Foundation Server - Project Server 2007 Connector (PS-TFS Connector). The PS-TFS Connector provides a deeper level of integration between Team Foundation Server (TFS) and Microsoft Office EPM 2007 by streamlining the flow of data between TFS and Project Server 2007.
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This connector builds on the Project desktop integration and is another step Microsoft has taken to help customers bridge the gap between project management and development organizations in order to eliminate inefficiencies between the two groups. At most organizations, information-sharing across project management and development organizations has typically been through meetings, manual reporting and other time-consuming and error-prone processes. For businesses concerned with productivity, predictability and quality – and for CIOs that want insight into their entire project portfolio – this is approach is no longer acceptable.
By improving the flow of data between TFS and Project Server 2007, the PS-TFS Connector gives customers a holistic view and more up to date information. This can help more effectively manage software development projects across organizations. It is also an example of how Microsoft is executing on its Dynamic IT vision, delivering the technical innovations necessary to make IT and development organizations more strategic to the business.
For more information or to download the PS-TFS Connector, please visit http://www.codeplex.com/pstfsconnector.
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Scottish Alliance to Tackle Project Management Competence
Reported by PMF Correspondent Miles Shepherd in London, UK
According to a news release on June 14, 2007, the Scottish Building Federation, the Civil Engineering Contractor Association (CECA) and the Project Management Training Specialist Monitor have built an alliance to address research that shows that the Scottish construction industry needs to improve the project management skills of its managers. Contributing more than 8% of the UK’s GDP and employing 2.1 million people (or 1 in 14 of the total UK workforce), the construction industry is the UK’s largest employer. Members of the Scottish Building Federation and CECA (Scotland) are now intending to benefit from a special initiative to tackle project management competence.
Monitor, who already provide project training and software solutions in the UK and abroad, will deliver programmes across the country at times and venues to suit managers attending. This dedicated training programme has been customised to suit the needs of the sector. Construction and civil engineering company managers attend competence based Project Management training courses leading to the internationally recognised awards of The Association for Project Management (APM).
ConstructionSkills, which helps the industry in all aspects of recruiting, training and qualifying the construction workforce, has provided substantial financial support through its Management & Supervisory Development for this initiative to increase the competency of managers in the sector.
Vaughan Hart, Employment Affairs Manager, Scottish Building Federation said, “We are delighted to offer our members this exciting opportunity to develop their management teams’ competency in project management. Standing still is not an option and we need to continue to develop our people to allow us to compete effectively internationally”.
The pilot course in the premises of the Scottish Building Federation took place on 5th to 6th June 2007 and feedback from attendees was excellent. Further information can be accessed at the newly launched project website www.scottishproject.com or contact: Lynsey Anderson at .
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CH2M HILL Acquires VECO Corporation,
Creating Giant Construction, Engineering
& Project Management Firm in USA
According to a press release issued on June 16, 2007, CH2M HILL and VECO corporations have announced agreement on the terms of the acquisition of VECO by CH2M HILL. The deal places a value of $463 million on VECO.
"We are delighted with this agreement," said Ralph Peterson, Chairman and CEO of CH2M HILL. "We believe the CH2M HILL family will be a perfect home for VECO's tremendous workforce. Together, we will offer a unique range of value-creating services for our clients and incredible opportunities for our employee-shareholders."
"This is a wonderful outcome for VECO. When we look at CH2M HILL's clients, their strong financial and global industry position, and their employee ownership model, it clearly is a natural fit for our business and workforce," said Tammy Kerrigan, Chairwoman of VECO.
The two companies signed a Letter of Intent for exclusive negotiations on May 15, 2007. UBS represents CH2M HILL as lead financial advisor and Morrison & Foerster LLP serves as CH2M HILL's legal counsel. Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP served as VECO's legal counsel for the transaction. Deloitte & Touche serves as VECO's financial advisor. CH2M HILL and VECO are expected to finalize the details of the acquisition and a transition and integration plan by the end of August.
Headquartered in Denver, Colo., employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in engineering, construction, and operations for public and private clients. With $4.5 billion in revenue, CH2M HILL is an industry-leading program management, construction management for fee, and design firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record (2006). The firm's work is concentrated in the areas of transportation, water, energy, environment, communications, construction, and industrial facilities. The firm has long been recognized as a most-admired company and leading employer by business media and professional associations worldwide. CH2M HILL has more than 19,000 employees in regional offices around the world.
Serving oil and gas clients since 1968, VECO provides engineering, construction and field support services with over 4000 employees and major operations in Alaska, western Canada, the United States, Russia and the Middle East. VECO currently provides services to the energy, resource and process industries and to the public sector throughout the world. Incorporating more than 30 years of experience, extensive resources and top-notch personnel, VECO uses a solution-oriented and cost-conscious approach to expertly manage projects of all sizes.
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New Low Cost Certificate in Project Management (CIPM)
Launched from India - Projects 100,000 Certifications
Worldwide in three Years
India based Center for Excellence in Project Management has announced the launch of a unique, path-breaking and future-oriented Certificate in Project Management (CIPM). The new certificate was introduced along with three new course offerings for its global clientele. The new Project Management courses are PMStep1, IntroCIPM and CIPM.
While launching the three new PM Programs, CEO and a global Project Management visionary Mr. Adesh Jain said “Today Project Management is the key to economic growth and global competitiveness”.
“CIPM has been a runaway success since its launch and many globally respected clients have already signed up thousands. CEPM aims to train at least 100,000 participants on this novel Project Management Learning suite so that they can acquire CIPM certification” added Mr. Jain.
CIPM certification helps participants to acquire the latest skills and knowledge in the field of Project Management and helps participants work more efficiently and effectively. It is beneficial to both the experienced as well as entry level persons and cuts across all the sectors.
The course duration is 35 hours which can be conducted in a classroom setup or through the most modern e-Learning site (www.pmGURUonline.com) where participants can login and study 24x7, at their convenience. After the 35 hours of study an examination is conducted by PMA in India and PM GURU Inc. (USA) for participants outside India. After they pass the examination, the Certificate is given to successful participants.
The CIPM course consists of eight Project Life cycle phases including Conceptualize, Plan, Organize, Implement, Control, Integrate, Deliver, and Closeout and Knowledge leverage. The phases in turn consist of 29 Knowledge Areas such as Stakeholders, Planning Management, Success Criteria, Scope Definition, Time Management, Roles and Responsibilities, Quality, Control and Procurement, etc. The 29 Knowledge areas are then sub-divided in 85 PM concepts such as Investment Appraisal, Scope Planning, WBS, Project Network Diagram, Cost of Quality, Statistical Quality Control, Internal and External Interfaces, Team building, Issue Log Management, etc.
Priced at US$ 45 - $225 (depending on quantity discounts), the new CIPM learning suite is much less expensive than other project management courses. The certification exam is then priced at US$50 or $60, depending on affiliation. This should make it attractive to organizations with many project managers and project team members who need to be educated and certified in project management. The quality is comparable to other leading certifications.
The pmGURUonline.com elearning website is very user friendly and contains about 600 practice questions. It is one of the most admired websites for various project management certification schemes such as CIPM, IPMA Level D, PMP® and Advanced PM Concepts (APMC) for 60 PDUs. For more information contact: or .
Centre for Excellence in Project Management (CEPM) Pvt. Ltd. formed in 1992 is one of the leading training and consulting organisations in India in the field of modern Project Management. CEPM Pvt. Ltd. was established to address its Director Incharge, Adesh Jain's vision of providing an effective platform to manage business changes and transition processes. He was confident that more companies will orient their operations using project management methodologies and that project management will become a high growth field in the 21st century. CEPM Pvt. Ltd. provides project management training via in-company and public seminars and supports both critical path and critical chain based enterprise-wide project management solutions. CEPM Pvt. Ltd. is a leader in training professionals in the effective use of PM tools such as Sciforma's Project Scheduler and Communicator and Microsoft's MS Project. For more information, visit http://www.cepm.com/.
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Free Web-based Project Management Solution Offered by WhoDoes
GotThingsDone.com has released WhoDoes, a new intuitive web-based project management software developed with Ruby on Rails. WhoDoes is suitable both for firms and professionals that have to plan and manage various projects of diverse complexity, where a lot of people, united or distributed anywhere, have to be coordinated and have to collaborate with tracking the advancement of the developed activities.
WhoDoes is designed to assist Project Managers and team members in the planning and management of projects with varying complexities. It makes managing of complex projects easy, and facilitates the convenient planning of short-term small activities.
The major hitch in project management is making all the team members aware of what they have to do daily, so a successful project management tool must first of all answer the following question: What do I have to do today? WhoDoes is designed to manage activities and share real time information with all the team members, whether they are in the same office or distributed all over the World.
Among its key features:
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Web-based: WhoDoes is usable from every computer connected to the Internet. No installation is required, it's totally cross-platform and cross-browser.
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Easy to use: A simple and easy web application helps to reduce the time spent on project planning.
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Team co-ordination: WhoDoes has a control panel to communicate and collaborate with all team members anywhere, filling the communication gap between who plans and who works.
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Roles division: Roles and permissions are divided for each project user.
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Easy time tracking: Gives detailed real-time informations and time control on tasks, project times and delays, allowing project managers to manage delays at the right moment.
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Repository: A shared archive for project documentation, a common space where all the team members could share materials and find the last official version of the project documents.
WhoDoes is completely free to use. All the features included in this version will remain free even when chargeable versions come out in the future. Information in this article is from their press release and website. For more information, visit http://whodo.es/home.
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Indian government to Establish National Power Project Management Board
Reported by PMF Correspondent Raju Rao in India
According to the Times of India on 20 June 2007, the Indian government in New Delhi announced the formation of a National Power Project Management Board (NPPMB) to speed up execution of new power generation projects in the country. The Indian government has set a colossal target of augmenting power generation capacity by 76,000 MW in the next five years.
"The APDRP (Accelerated Power Development Reforms Development Programme) scheme is being revised and a National Power Project Management Board will be set up to assist state and central utilities to ensure timely completion of all power projects," said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (pictured at right).
Since the country had failed to achieve the capacity addition target for the 10th Plan period (2002-07), such a board assumes added importance. As against the targeted 41,000 MW, only 22,000 MW was added during the five years till 2007.
After dedicating the high-capacity link East-North Tala Transmission System to the country, Mr. Singh said that states should set up special courts to try cases of power theft. "We had agreed that as losses come down to agreed levels, we will reward performing states appropriately," he said, also pointing out that his government would provide required financial assistance for upgrading transmission and distribution systems.
"The time has come for us to address the challenge on the energy front on a war footing. The complacency of the past, be it with respect to conventional or non-conventional sources of power, or indeed nuclear power, must end. The people of our country are not going to wait endlessly for us to sort out our administrative, political and theological problems," he said.
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Invitation to Vendors - Project Management Vendor Exhibition Planned for August UTD PM Symposium in Texas
A project management vendor exhibition and showcase is being planned for the 1st UTD Project Management Symposium, to be held on Monday 6 August 2007 in Plano, Texas, USA. The conference is being sponsored by the Graduate Program in Project Management in the School of Management’s Executive Education Center at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), in cooperation with the Dallas Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) and PMForum, Inc. PM vendors interested in participating should contact or visit http://som.utdallas.edu/project/project-symp.htm.
Suppliers and vendors of program and project management products, services, software and technology are invited to participate in this first major project management conference to be sponsored by UTD.
The 1 Day Project Management Symposium will focus on topics important to organizations, industries and the economy of North Texas. Keynote speeches, professional presentations and discussions in the following tracks are planned:
Track 1 – Program & Portfolio Management
Track 2 – Project Management: Critical Organization Success Factor
Track 3 – Software Development & Agile Project Management
Track 4 – PM for Product Development, including small projects
Track 5 – The Role of Project Management in Corporate Governance
Track 6 – Project Management in the Global Economy
Other Conference Features will include an Opening Ceremony with Keynote Speakers, book signings, all breaks and lunch in the vendors’ exhibition area, and a closing keynote speech.
Venue & Facilities
The Symposium will be held at the Plano Centre, a beautiful full service, multi-purpose facility located in one of the most vibrant communities in the North Dallas Metroplex. It is conveniently located near a variety of hotels and restaurants, shopping malls, historic downtown Plano, numerous golf courses (public & private), and the world famous Southfork Ranch. The beautifully landscaped Plano Centre is an 86,400 square foot facility with a variety of meeting and breakout rooms. Offering the most modern audio-visual equipment and state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, the Plano Centre was designed with today as well as future convention and meeting technology in mind. Plano Centre is located at 2000 East Spring Creek Parkway in Plano, Texas.
The Vendor Exhibition area at the conference will include booth and table space for exhibitors in a traditional setting (similar to PMI congresses). The symposium schedule is being planned to maximize the exposure of participants to the vendor showcase, with all breaks, meals and social events to be conducted in the exhibition hall. Exhibitions and sponsorships are being offered at the following rates: exhibition space $600; bronze level sponsors $1,500; silver level sponsors $2,500; gold level sponsors $5,000. Conference registration and vendor participation information can be found at http://som.utdallas.edu/project/project-symp.htm.
Both the PMI Dallas Chapter and the UTD’s executive education program in the school of management are registered education providers with PMI, so up to 5 Professional Development Units (PDUs) will be available for attendees plus another five for presenters.
Founded in 1984, the Dallas Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) is one of the oldest PMI chapters in the world. With nearly 4,000 members, it is also one of the largest. Monthly dinner meetings feature a wide variety of project management experts and topics, and typically attract over 200 attendees. The chapter sponsors workshops, PMP development opportunities, an annual Vendor exhibition, a school outreach program, corporate interaction and other activities. The president of the Dallas Chapter in 2007 is Mr. Dwaraka Iyengar. For additional information, visit .
UTD’s Project Management Program provides application-oriented education for professionals with significant project, program or general management responsibilities. Established in the Executive Education center in UTD’s School of Management, students have the option of earning a Certificate in Project Management, a Master of Science degree with an emphasis in project management, or a Master of Business Administration degree with project management emphasis. The UTD PM program, originally developed in 1997, is accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI®) and is a PMI Registered Education Provider (PMI R.E.P.). The program is taught by world-class faculty with a blend of industrial project management, consulting and teaching experience. UTD’s PM Program in delivered both on campus and online, and attracts students from across the United States and around the world. For more information, visit http://som.utdallas.edu/project/.
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"PM Ambassadors" - Global Project Management Speakers Bureau Launched by PMForum
For more information on this program contact
PMForum, Inc. announced on Monday, June 25, 2007 the launch of a major new service for project management leaders and meeting planners worldwide. To be called The PM AmbassadorsTM Speakers Bureau, the program will offer and promote leading project management authorities and professional leaders who are available to speak at conferences, meetings and seminars worldwide.
Beginning with its stable of global advisors, PMForum has announced the immediate availability of the following globally-recognized project management leaders:
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Gilles Caupin, honorary Fellow, past president & chair of the International Project Management Association (IPMA), founder & past president of the French PM Association AFITEP, past chair & honorary international Fellow of the International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC), globally recognized PM expert & authority on PM certifications, based in France.
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Paul Dinsmore, globally well-known and popular speaker, Fellow of the Project Management Institute (PMI®), PM expert, author of best selling PM textbooks, and CEO of Dinsmore Associates, based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Adesh Jain, Honorary Fellow and current Chair of the IPMA, founder & honorary president of Project Management Associates PMA (India), president of the Centre for Excellence in PM (India) and PM GURU (USA), based in New Delhi, India.
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Harvey Levine, Fellow and former president & Chair of the board of directors of PMI, widely-recognized expert in project, program and portfolio management, author of PM textbooks, based in the USA.
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Miles Shepherd, Honorary Fellow and former Chair of APM (UK), former President and Chair of IPMA, 40 years experience in government & private industry, Managing Director for MS Projects Ltd., based near London, UK.
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According to David Pells, President of PMForum, Inc., “Our global advisors include some of the world’s leading project management authorities. Many of our advisors and associates are available to speak at project management events around the world, if travel arrangements are taken care of and a reasonable stipend is provided. As project management grows in popularity and visibility, more events are being organized for which globally-recognized project management experts and speakers are needed. This new program provides a service for both speakers and meeting organizers.”
PM Ambassadors (TM) speakers will include globally-recognized project management professional experts; authors of PM textbooks; former presidents and chairs of PM professional societies; experienced project managers and PM professionals; and retired executives of project and program-oriented organizations. PM Ambassadors (TM) will be available to speak at project management conferences, meetings, seminars and workshops. They can also speak at corporate events. Interested meeting organizers and planners can contact for more information.
Additional project management experts and leaders will be added to the list of available speakers in the near future. Background information about individual speakers, availability and potential presentations topics can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/ambassadors/ambassadors.htm.
Established in 1995, www.pmforum.org was the world’s first website devoted to professional project management and continues to be one of the world’s most popular sources of project management news and information. PMForum is a company formed to operate and administer the pmforum.org website. PMForum also produces the monthly online PM World Today eJournal where articles, case studies, papers and viewpoints by leading PM authorities from around the world can be found; free subscriptions are available at pmworldtoday.net.
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John Cleese to Keynote Primavera Conference in October
Primavera, one of the world's leading project management software and technology companies, has announced that John Cleese will be the keynote speaker at the the 24th Annual Primavera Conference on Monday, October 22nd. John Cleese, one of the world’s most influential comic writers and actors of the past 40 years, will show you how an element of creativity in the business world can reap untold dividends, from recruitment, training and retaining employees, to better and more enjoyable customer service, to helping businesses innovate and accommodate change.
John Cleese was born in Weston-super-Mare. He eventually recovered from this and won a place to study science at Cambridge. After sampling the conversation in the Chemistry laboratories, he switched to Law. However, the success of the 1963 Footlights Review saved him from a solicitor’s career.
After appearing in a Broadway musical, in which he was forbidden to sing, he became a writer-performer in The Frost Report, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, the Monty Python films, Fawlty Towers and A Fish called Wanda. In 1972 Sir Tony Jay invited him to co-found Video Arts. This company became the largest producer of business training videos outside the U.S. He also helped psychiatrist, Dr Robin Skynner, to write two best sellers, Families and How to Survive Them and Life and how to Survive It. He also started the Secret Policeman’s Ball concerts for Amnesty, and has continued to do a lot of charity work, much of it for the BBC.
In his twilight years he passes his time writing film scripts, making speeches to business audiences, doing seminars on creativity, teaching at Cornell and UCSB, playing “Q” in the Bond movies, constructing a virtual reality on his website, www.thejohncleese.com, podcasting on www.johncleesepodcast.co.uk and, of course, trying to grow a decent tomato.
The Primavera 24th Annual Conference will take place October 21 - 24, 2007 at the Walt Disney World Dolphin in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA. The Primavera Annual Conference is an annual educational forum for our software users to update their product knowledge, network with their project management peers and meet Primavera employees. Conference highlights will include hands-on learning, project profiles and a multitude of educational and technical tracks.
Primavera is a US-based software company whose sole focus is project management. The company helps organizations identify which projects are most important, and makes it easy for people to work collaboratively on those projects and deliver them successfully. Primavera solutions are industry-specific and role-based, with the power to support global enterprises. Primavera solutions have ensured the success of projects collectively worth more than $5.5 trillion, including the management of the Pentagon reconstruction after 9/11, ongoing multi-billion dollar oil discovery projects, space exploration, the efficient use of personnel at professional services organizations, and IT projects that span the globe. For more information, visit http://www.primavera.com.
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Edinburgh Rail-Air Project Management Under Fire
Reported by PMF Correspondent Miles Shepherd in the UK
As reported by Alan Shipman on FinanceWeek.co.uk on 21 June 2007, Edinburgh’s Rail-Air project management is under fire. A financial review by Scotland’s new administration finds merits in the capital city’s tram plans, but questions the design and implementation of its airport railway link. The new Scottish government elected in May ordered an assessment of the main capital projects approved by its predecessor. The Scottish auditor general’s findings on two of the biggest projects have now been published.
Plans for an Edinburgh tram system are generally on track, with the first phase fully funded by national and city council contributions, and a clear governance structure already in place. With procurement striking the right balance between low cost and acceptably low risk, a risk management strategy in place and well defined reporting procedures, the report implies that Phase 1 can be completed within its £594m budget by 2011. The auditor general also noted that £79m would be lost if the project were now discontinued, most incurred in drawing up plans and getting parliament to approve them.
The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL) gets a less enthusiastic write-up, with the auditor finding holes in the funding plan and misalignments in tåhe governance structure. His report warns of a likely overrun by at least a year (to 2012), and a risk that costs will exceed the £650m upper range of estimates. It also notes that the government has not yet chosen between financing the project internally and seeking external funding, from the EU, airport operator BAA or rail track owner Network Rail.
Armed with these reports, Scottish secretary for finance and sustainable growth John Swinney has said he will decide by 27 June whether to proceed with the schemes. Given that the projects’ benefits are designed to be external – reduced pollution and congestion, increased mobility for those without cars – he is unlikely to quote chapter and verse on ROIs or payback periods. The review suggests that Edinburgh’s trams will be judged to be value for money, but the EARL’s survival is less clear, especially as its doubts about its arithmetic extend beyond the purely financial.
Environmentally, a fast train to the airport will be seen as ‘green’ if it substitutes existing car journeys, but not if it raises air passenger traffic. Extra airport business might justify a BAA contribution, but this would be attacked on competition grounds if seen to steer passengers from planes onto trains at the expense of other airport links. If Swinney wants to demonstrate his prudence and shame his predecessors by axing a failing project – and prove his party’s lack of deference to the old political aristocracy - he may choose to do so by swinging the axe over this Scottish EARL.
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Former PMI Chair Rebecca Winston Named PM Ambassador(TM) - Announces Global Availability for PM Events
Rebecca Winston, J.D., Fellow and former chair of the Board of Directors of the Project Management Institute (PMI®), has joined the PM AmbassadorsTM Speakers Bureau recently created by PMForum. She is one of the most respected and best known project management leaders in the United States and an experienced project management expert in the fields of energy, environmental remediation, national defense, research & development, and security.
Rebecca (Becky) Winston, Esq., JD, PMI Fellow, is well known throughout the United States and globally as a leader in the PM professional world. Rebecca has over 25 years of experience in program and project management, primarily on programs funded by the US government. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska’s College of Law, Juris Doctorate (1980), in Lincoln, Nebraska and has a Bachelor’s of Science (BS) degree in Education from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master’s Degree in Biology from Idaho State University in the USA.
Becky is a licensed attorney in the states of Iowa and Nebraska, USA. Active in PMI since 1993, Rebecca Winston helped pioneer PMI's Specific Interest Groups (SIGs) in the nineties, including the Project Earth and Government SIGs, and was a founder and first co-chair of the Women in Project Management SIG. She served two terms on the PMI board of directors as director at large, Secretary Treasurer, Vice Chair (for two years), and Chair (2002). She was elected a PMI Fellow in 2005. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and the Association of Female Executives in the United States.
As Business Relationship Manager for National Security at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), she established and provided strategic and business planning related to the national security sector in the USA. Ms. Winston previously managed Defense Programs at Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies, Inc., reporting to the General Manager. During that period, she interfaced on a regular basis with the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Congressional staff in Washington, U.S. DoD staff at the Pentagon, and laboratory and production sites throughout the United States. She has had oversight and technical management responsibilities for projects in information software, networking, network security, independent validation and verification, and environmental technologies, including site installations.
She has managed pollution prevention R&D projects, and designed an integrated product team (IPT) solution for pollution prevention activity consolidation. She is the past Environmental and Industrial Ecology Liaison with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the INEEL. Becky has also had oversight responsibilities for the development of software programs and industrial process simulations and modeling projects. She has led new business development efforts, and has significant experience interfacing with Congressional staff in Washington, DC, related to US Department of Defense (DoD) base realignment and closures, defense environmental restoration, and urban and industrial ecology.
Rebecca Winston has served on numerous company-wide project teams and national teams for activities related to national defense and security, including oversight or direct preparation of technical documentation, reports, presentations, and demonstrations. She has established and maintained Program and Project Offices, and served on various Steering Committees, including the International Solvent Substitution Conference, Institute of Environmental Solutions, the State of California, USA.
Ms. Winston currently serves as a consultant to organizations such as the National Nuclear Security Administration (USA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on topics ranging from Program and Project Management to project reviews, risk management and vulnerability assessments. She has extensive recent PM experience in the areas of national defense and security, and has worked closely with local, regional and national officials, including Congress and the Pentagon.
On 26 June 2007, PMForum announced the formation of the PM Ambassadors(TM) Speakers Bureau, a new global service for project management leaders and meeting planners worldwide. The program offers and promotes leading project management authorities, experts and professional leaders who are available to speak at conferences, meetings and seminars worldwide. PM AmbassadorsTM include globally-recognized project management professional experts; authors of PM textbooks; former presidents and chairs of PM professional societies; experienced project managers and PM professionals; and retired executives of project and program-oriented organizations.
PM Ambassadors(TM) are available to speak at project management conferences, meetings, seminars and workshops, and at corporate events. Interested meeting organizers and planners can contact for more information. Background information about individual speakers, availability and potential presentation topics can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/ambassadors/ambassadors.htm.
Established in 1995, www.pmforum.org was the world’s first website devoted to professional project management and continues to be one of the world’s most popular sources of project management news and information. PMForum is a company formed to operate and administer the pmforum.org website. PMForum also produces the monthly online PM World Today eJournal where articles, case studies, papers and viewpoints by leading PM authorities from around the world can be found; free subscriptions are available at pmworldtoday.net.
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Former AIPM National President Brian Kooyman Named
PM Ambassador(TM) - Announces Global Availability
for PM Events
Mr. Brian R. Kooyman, Fellow and former president and chairman of the board of the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM), has joined the PM AmbassadorsTM Speakers Bureau recently created by PMForum. Brian is one of the most respected and best known project management authorities in all of Australia and worldwide.
Brian Kooyman, B. Arch, R.A.I.A., F.A.I.P.M., M.A.I.C.D., M.P.D, is Managing Director, and CEO of The Tracey, Brunstrom & Hammond Group, based in Sydney, Australia. Brian is also Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School of Business at Curtin University in Western Australia, Adjunct Professor of Project Management at the University of Technology Sydney in New South Wales, and Honorary Associate in the Graduate School of Government at the University of Sydney.
Brian is the past National President of AIPM and was Chairman of the Global Council of the Project Management Institute (PMI®). A Fellow of AIPM (F.A.I.P.M.), Brian was the NSW Chapter President during 1989 – 1991, National Vice President & Chair of the Professional Affairs Committee during 1992 & 1993, National President for 1994 & 1995, Immediate National Past President for 1996 & 1997, Inaugural Chair of both the NSW Chapter and the National Project Management Awards for Excellence in Australian Project Management in 2000, and Panel judge on the 2003 NSW Project Management Award for Excellence. Most recently Brian served as the chair of the organizing committee for the ProMAC 2006 International Project Management Conference, concluded in Sydney on 29 September 2006. A member of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) for many years, Brian was Chairman of PMI’s Global Council, was Chair of PMI’s Nominating Committee for 2001 and 2002, and is currently Chair of PMI’s Ethics Review Committee.
Brian is an Associate of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (R.A.I.A.); a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (M.A.I.C.D.); a Master Project Director (MPD), workplace assessment to National Level 6 AQF, Competency Assessment against the Australian National Project Management Competency Standards; and a Founding Director of the Project Management Recognition Council of Australia, 1998 to 2000. He was awarded an International Fellowship in 2002 from the Centre of Excellence for Project Management in India, the only Australian awarded such a Fellowship, and awarded the Inaugural Distinguished Contribution to Project Management by the Australian Council of PMI Chapters in 2003. Brian has been a keynote speaker at project management conferences in Australia, India, South Africa, and the U.S.A.
Brian has over 35 years experience on a wide variety of projects and programs, and has been directly involved in several famous Australian projects, including The Sydney 2000 Olympics, The Sydney Harbour Casino (NSW), The National Biological Standards Laboratory (ACT), The Darling Harbour Redevelopment (NSW), and Federation Square (Vic). Brian also has extensive experience as an Expert Witness for such International projects as The Australian Embassy in Beijing, The Australian High Commission in Geneva, The Australian Embassy in Hanoi, Mt Worsley Aluminium Refinery (WA), and The Roi Namur Sewerage Treatment Plant (Marshall Islands). Brian has achieved workplace assessment against the Australian Project Management Competency Standards, at Master Project Director Level.
Tracey, Brunstrom & Hammond (TBH) is one of the largest independent and privately owned project and strategic management companies in Australia, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth. The organization specializes in strategic and project management services for the Construction, IT and Telecommunications industries. Brian has a Bachelors Degree in Architecture from the University of New South Wales (1972), and was named Managing Director of TBH in 1995.
On 26 June 2007, PMForum announced the formation of the PM Ambassadors(TM) Speakers Bureau, a new global service for project management leaders and meeting planners worldwide. The program offers and promotes leading project management authorities, experts and professional leaders who are available to speak at conferences, meetings and seminars worldwide. PM AmbassadorsTM include globally-recognized project management professional experts; authors of PM textbooks; former presidents and chairs of PM professional societies; experienced project managers and PM professionals; and retired executives of project and program-oriented organizations.
PM Ambassadors(TM) are available to speak at project management conferences, meetings, seminars and workshops, and at corporate events. Interested meeting organizers and planners can contact for more information. Background information about individual speakers, availability and potential presentation topics can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/ambassadors/ambassadors.htm.
Established in 1995, www.pmforum.org was the world’s first website devoted to professional project management and continues to be one of the world’s most popular sources of project management news and information. PMForum is a company formed to operate and administer the pmforum.org website. PMForum also produces the monthly online PM World Today eJournal where articles, case studies, papers and viewpoints by leading PM authorities from around the world can be found; free subscriptions are available at pmworldtoday.net.
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