Speaking Topics
Author and Director of Project Management explains why it makes good business sense to:
"Serve vanilla. In spite of all the flavors offered, it's still the most popular."
Fight for the CAUSE: How to Establish Calm During Chaos and Get Results
All organizations seek profitability, success and customer loyalty. A healthy organization must also manage the disruption of change. However, when it comes time for organizations to execute on their business plan, too often we hear about delays, budget constraints, and cancellations associated with their efforts. How can an organization get better at delivering on its goals and objectives? One way is to establish a strategic, enterprise-wide Project Management Office (EPMO) model. In fact, if properly managed, an EPMO can successfully support tactical execution of a strategic vision - and a whole lot more.
Learn how to establish an EPMO by fighting for the CAUSE. The CAUSE contains five fundamental components: Communicate, Advocate, Understand, Systemize and Effect.
Project Leadership: What Separates Great Organizations from Mediocre Ones
Over time, corporate success is driven by two things - your ability to complete day-to-day in serving your customers, and your ability to change with the market, to meet new needs and expectations of your customers. Strong project management is critical to delivering on both of these objectives, and it's especially important to the second one. Executive sponsorship has been identified as one of the greatest contributors to success when managing change, while the lack of that sponsorship is probably one of the greatest reasons for failure. Hear how senior leaders play a critical role in the introduction and acceptance of project management in any organization. Senior executives will also learn how to be visible and active, both in their ongoing actions in support of project management as an organizational practice and in supporting specific projects.
A Case Study: How Project Management Supported Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's Journey from Near Collapse to #1
Project management does not need to be complex or complicated to offer value to an organization's success. In fact, keeping it simple allows companies to develop a project management competency that, over time, becomes part of the organizational culture. Hear how project management supported Havard Pilgrim Health Care's journey from near collapse to national acclaim. The story itself is compelling and a true account of project management in a real setting, with real results.
Project Portfolio Management: You Can't Manage the Plan Until You Have a Plan
In an environment of increasing demands and stagnant resources, businesses must be precise in evaluating their priorities and setting the "right" agenda. Learn how to engage the decision-makers and implement an efficient portfolio development process that maintains the right balance between clear criteria for prioritization and selection on the one hand, and the need for simplicity and results on the other.
Project Team Dynamics: Enhanced Performance, Improve Results
No project can succeed without a project team. More likely than not, your project will require a number of participants from different areas within your organization. In today's environment, it is also highly likely you will need to involve parties from external agencies, whether they are consultants or vendors. Regardless of who and how many you have on your team, you cannot succeed in meeting your deliverables and deadlines unless you act as a high-functioning team. Lern how to introduce a set of TEAM Behaviors to enhance team dynamics and improve project results. Learn how small efforts creates awareness and instills accountability across your team resulting in improved decisions, efficiency, and business results.
Lessons Learned: We Won't Be Fooled Again
Measuring project success goes beyond hitting project end dates. It requires an honest post-mortem on the project portfolio as a whole. Assessing portfolio results allows organizations to identify what went well and what missed the mark. If done correctly, Lessons Learned prevents organizations from repeating the same mistakes over and over again. In this session, you'll learn process tips on how to effectively conduct a retrospective review, so you will never be fooled again.
The two key areas of focus to be successful include answering a set of questions:
- Did we launch the "right" set of projects? Did the project best support our goals? Did we meet our business outcomes? How does this information help inform us for next year's planning?
- Did we manage projects "right"? Did we manage each project successfully? Did projects end on time? Can we improve in our project management practices to manage project more efficiently?
What Makes a Good Project Manager?
Project management has received increased recognition over recent years, as more and more businesses appreciate the benefits provided through project management skills and practice. Yet, in spite of a growing project management presence, "accidental" project managers are still the norm, not the exception. Organizations must be prepared and willing to invest in project managers to fully realize the benefits of project management. There is no point in instituting a project management methodology without introducing a project management career path. Having one without the other will limit success. Learn how to establish a project management career path in your organization in six easy steps. Recognize the Four E's - the four primary characteristics every project manager must exhibit to be successful. Learn how to select the "right" project manager to fit your organization's project needs.
Release Your Creative BIRD: Soar to New Project Heights!
Innovation is about doing things differently and doing different things. It's critical for companies that want to remain competitive in the long term. Yet, most companies are cutting back on innovation and creativity, focusing on cost cutting, people cutting and reducing the number of priority projects. This presentation is designed to provoke thought about the extent to which creativity supports project success. It challenges participants to adopt BIRD behaviors: bravery, inquisitiveness, receptiveness and drive. Not intended as a ‘test' of creativity, this program helps individuals identify some of their personal barriers to creativity and learn how to adopt creative practices to enhance project outcomes.