Chapter Luncheon Presentations 2010

The rates for projects being at risk are in the 60-70% range, and a quarter of all project's problems are so bad they are simply canceled prior completion. Preferably, all projects will run according to plan. However, moving from a 60% failure rate to 0% is unrealistic.

Before they can succeed at reducing the failure rate, organizations must understand what it is that makes their projects fail. Reasons range from methodology to human failure to poorly understood concepts to scope creep. Analyzing projects as systems uncovers all the factors that can contribute to failure.

View the presentation from this luncheon (.pdf - 400K).

For our June luncheon presentation the chapter is bringing together different perspectives on today's job and career market. Our panelists include:

Mary Cosgrove - from 'What Works Well'
Dave Steveson - from HirePointe Management Group
Spencer Shaffer - formerly of Consultnet
Eric Anderson - Chapter Member and architect of a recently successful job search

The panel will field questions on the state of the current job market, the value of project management experience and certification, and what methods work in a successful job or career search. The discussion promises to be both lively and informative.

Speaker:  Scott Cussimano
- VP and Microsoft EPM Technology Specialist, UMT

Learn how a global Medical Technology company implemented a Project and Portfolio Management solution to: gain visibility of their global R&D, financial, and resources demands, resulting in improved effectiveness and agility to changing market pressures, and to maximization of portfolio value while reducing execution risk.

View the presentation from this luncheon (.pdf - 3.4 MB).

Speaker:  Dr. Denis R. Petersen, PMP - Milestone Management Consultants, LLC

Organizations don't change. People change. And in the intense dedication of trying to make organizational changes succeed, it is easy to forget that until the people change, nothing does

Effective change leaders are able to make organization changes faster, with greater employee commitment, less disruption and less resistance.

Speaker:  Ken Sardoni, Chair - Colleges of Graduate Business and Information Systems and Technology, University of Phoenix Utah Campus

Nothing is more frustrating for a project manager than to be given ultimate project responsibility, but not enough authority to effectively manage the project.

This session will focus on specific strategies and techniques a project manager can use to establish authority within the project management environment.

View the presentation from this luncheon (2 MB).

Speaker:  Darrell Harmon, Master Trainer

Ouch! You mean, I'm actually designing my projects to struggle?

Actually, it's not all your doing. The context (your organization) has a lot to do with it, as well as everyone involved in the project—executives, managers, team members. But you're the one responsible for project success, right?