Message from the Chair

Last month, I posed a question about how to handle the growing amount of data and information that we have to process in order to stay knowledgeable about current and emerging trends that could impact our profession as Project Management Consultants. The specific question was "So, what suggestions do you have regarding how to wade through the increasing amount of information available to us?" CSIG Member Jerry Ball offered several suggestions. I'll mention a couple of them here:

First, Jerry suggested we stop wading, and find faster ways to process the right information. He advised to change the rules or even change the game, as far as information processing goes. As I reviewed his suggestions again, I recognized that's what we do as Project Management Consultants. We typically utilize a variety of tools and techniques to assist our clients. We try to not limit ourselves to one way to solve a problem. In essence, we reframe situations so that our clients can see things from a different perspective, and not solve the wrong problem. Or, put another way, to ensure they realize all their options - and pros and cons for each -- for solving the issue at hand.

Second, Jerry noted that new tools can help. The three categories of tools he mentioned are physical, software, and mental. I had glossed over that last category the first time I read Jerry's response. Mental tools weren't in my paradigm for tool categories, so I filtered it out as I processed what I was reading. My realization that I had missed it during my first reading led to two insights. The first insight is that our effectiveness in the processing of the increasing quantity of information requires using all three categories of tools - handling physical documents, using software to assist us, and our mental attitudes about what and how we approach the task.

The second insight is more far reaching - for me personally. It involves how I missed the first insight because of my paradigms. It was an unexpected piece of data that didn't fit what I was expecting … so I unconsciously missed (or ignored) it. The lesson for me is to make the dismissal of data a conscious decision. This requires critical listening, reading, and observation skills - all necessary for effective Project Management Consultants.

Now, on to this month's questions: several months ago, we had an ongoing dialogue about the virtues of achieving better than planned (promised) project schedules and budgets. There were several different perspectives expressed. In addition to these two variables, the third leg of the triple constraint is scope or specification (depending on your view). For this month's questions, I go back to an earlier observation by CSIG member Steve McIntyre. Steve was responding to my request for questions that members would like to ask our members in a monthly issue of Connections. He commented about the importance of successful delivery in your current engagement, and that we all encounter project challenges beyond our control. His specific question dealt with how to leverage these challenging project environments to position oneself for the next opportunity.

Project success is an area I am keenly interested in, and I'd like to get your input. Specifically, what additional variables should be used to assess project success from a Project Management Consultant's perspective, in addition to the triple constraint? Does this list of additional project success variables change from other perspectives (e.g., Program Manager, Business Sponsor, End User, et al.)?

Also, if you have insights regarding Steve's question above, please share those as well. As before, I will include direct quotes only with the advance permission of the responding CSIG member.

I always appreciate your responses to these monthly questions. I hope they are of benefit for you also.

Bill Craddock, PMP
Chair, Consulting SIG
chair@pmiconsultingsig.org

The CSIG's Annual Membership Meeting will be held at the PMI® Global Congress North America 2007 from
1-3 PM on Saturday, 6 October 2007, at the Hyatt Regency's Room Hanover B. The Annual Membership Meeting is a great way to meet the board, learn about what's been accomplished in the past year and what's on tap for 2008! It is the one opportunity members have each year to provide feedback to the board as a whole. For those who won't be in Atlanta, a toll-free dial-in number will be available for members who would like to participate by telephone.

CSIG Annual Membership Meeting When: Saturday, 6 October 2007 Time: 1 - 3 PM Location: Hyatt Regency, Room Hanover B

Interested in helping shape the future of our organization and making a difference to metrics project managers? Consider running for one of these positions on the Board of Directors:

Co-Chair
VP Communication
VP Finance
VP Membership
Director-at-Large

Officers will be elected to these board positions for a two (2) year term. All elected officer positions are open to any members of the CSIG, who are also members in good standing of PMI®.

You may nominate yourself or another member for a position. Should you wish to nominate another member, please first confirm that that member is willing to stand for the position and copy the nominee on the e-mail. A confirming e-mail will be sent to each nominee to verify his or her agreement with the nomination. Candidates are urged to include a brief biography (no more than 200 words) with their nomination. The bios will be posted to the web site during the election period.

Learn more

Greetings, this is Steve Rollins, Chair of the PMI®
Metrics SIG with an update to our status.

First, the bad news. On or about July 25, 2007, the MetSIG web site vendor's server web site crashed. Our vendor, in their attempt to bring us back online, transferred our MetSIG web site to another hosting service that can not support our web site from a software license perspective. As a result, our web site back-end will not function for webinars. Thus we are pursuing our own recovery plans to allow you to join webinars.

Now, the good news. We are on plan for our web site to be online in October. Given that the MetSIG web site is complex because of its rich feature set, this will take time. We hope to have all archived webinars back online and available for your use at that time. Furthermore, because of our outage, you will not lose anytime to your subscription as the time lost will be added on to your access for free.

The Metrics SIG is in the business to grow the value proposition of metrics for everyone and every business. If you thought the 2007 MetSIG Congress was high-value, you have not seen anything. The 2008 MetSIG scheduled for April 2008 will be a project management event unlike ever witnessed before and all of it will be online and available to you during April 2008.

Our fees will be nominal as they have been in the past and we can assure you that your patience will be rewarded with webinars soon.

The MetSIG Board of Directors are all volunteers and are deeply saddened by the continuing delays. As Chair, I can assure you that everyone is doing their best effort to bring the value we promised. While we deal with this sadness we are also assured of the future by our recent accomplishments from the Inaugural 2007 MetSIG Online Congress. The MetSIG future has never been so bright.

As you consider this information, I leave you with these questions to consider. How often have you wondered about the value and worth of belonging to PMI and any related component? Are you ready to put this insecurity behind you? Consider this one small benefit that the MetSIG provides today. We will bring you more than 40 free PDUs per year just through our webinar program. This is an average savings to our members of $3,400.00 USD per year given that today the average cost of an earned PDU is $85.00 USD.

My Kindest Regards!

Steven C. Rollins, MBA, PMP, PMOC
Chair, PMI Metrics SIG
chair@metsig.org

The annual PMI

A link to the secure election site was delivered electronically to all eligible members on Monday, 6 August. A printer-friendly format is provided for those who would like to print the material and return to the secure election site at a later time to submit their vote. Paper ballots were mailed through the postal service to the members that had requested them. The delivery time for paper ballots is subject to local postal services. If you did not receive a ballot, contact Paul Nentwig of Intelliscan, Inc. at pnentwig@intelliscaninc.com.

To logon and vote via the Internet, eligible members will need to enter their election validation number, along with their PMI identification number. Note that the PMI ID number is not the same as the Project Management Professional (PMP®) number. If you need to verify your PMI identification number, contact customercare@pmi.org.

The PMINZ National Conference is slated for 17-19 October in Te Papa, Wellington for a full three days of seminars, keynote sessions and site visits. Register now.

Meanwhile, there is still time to take advantage of advanced registration prices for the PMI North American Global Conference in Atlanta, 6-9 October. That offer expires on 21 September. Register now.

The PMI® Melbourne Australia Chapter will be supporting the 4th annual World Project Management Week to be held from 12-16 November 2007 in Singapore. This year's theme is Project Management: Driving Growth; Creating Equality.

Keynote speakers will lead a program of over 40 session presenters. The conference will also features a 25 trade exhibits, a quality pre-conference workshop program and a number of interactive networking opportunities that are not to be missed.

Register online

PMI® Charleston Chapter to Host a Day With
Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt on 13 November 2007

Still relying on CPM or PERT to manage your projects? Have you ever wondered why we are using 50 year old processes to manage today’s complex projects? Join PMI® Charleston for a day with Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt where he will talk about innovative, yet proven, approaches to managing projects!

View the brochure and register online

Studies have shown that we learn:

* 10% of what we READ

* 20% of what we HEAR

* 30% of what we SEE

* 50% of what we SEE and HEAR

* 70% of what is DISCUSSED with OTHERS

* 80% of what is EXPERIENCED PERSONALLY

* 95% of what we TEACH TO SOMEONE ELSE