Skills to Archive

List of skills that should be archived from your / our minds. ...

Obsolete Skills

Software Innovation Time

Software engineer discusses Google's concept of twenty percent time. ...

CIO Skill List Deemphasize Technology

Aspiring CIOs need to develop many skills and competencies beyond the realm of technology. ...

... "Kost sees the CIO role as encompassing jobs such as venture capitalist, economist and political visionary. Leadership, relationships and business are the pillars of the role ... " ...

Via ZDNet UK: CIO 2.0

Project Goal Alignment

Aligning your project to goals is necessary to properly position the project for success. Sharing that understanding of the alignment across your team provides insights that otherwise may not be clear to IT staffers - helping them to improve their strategic perspective of the business. ...

... "Whenever you're uncertain about the bottom-line why of an IT project, refresh your knowledge of the company's priorities and goals by talking to your manager. A big-picture perspective is a prerequisite to making meaningful contributions to your firm. " ...

Via Computerworld Australia: Differentiate Yourself in IT

Project Manager Versatility

Ahhh, the versatility of project managers ...

... "My sister recently went from being an IT project manager at a major North American company to selling ladies underwear for lingerie manufacturers. " ...

Via edmontonsun: Peace of mind

IT Talent: Business Career Path

The conventional IT career path ladder has faded away to a zig-zag path across business and IT roles. Careers will be much more exciting and business acumen will be natural. ...

... "What really matters, then, is knowing how to apply technology to improve business performance. " ...

Via Computerworld: Link

Business Results: IT Strategy

Today's IT career path requires evolving your role into a challenging place - the potential to impact business results - which comes with its set of risks. However, standing still increases the risk of outsourcing, or worse yet, irrelevance. ...

... "If they're not in the decision-making stream, playing some role that's accountable for real results from IT strategy, even on a very local, project level, they're at greater risk both to outsourcing and stalling wages. They need to work themselves into a position that's closer to business results and end customers. " ...

Via InformationWeek Weblog: Read

CIO Focus: Replenish Talent, Plan Succession

With the perfect storm of aging demographics heading toward us, CIO's need to assess their talent, plan for career development of their staff, and create a map for succession. ...

... "Top of the list is the need to address the imminent loss of senior members of IT departments. With many CIOs due to retire in the next few years there will be a huge loss of knowledge and wisdom ... " ...

Via Silicon.com: Link

Right Brain Project Management

I recently re-read Daniel Pink's book, A Whole New Mind. I noticed now that it's out on paperback, the subtitle changed from "Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age" to "Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future."

The latter is probably more accessible and gets to the heart of the book. The premise is that with more technical jobs being eliminated due to automation and offshore outsourcing, we're left clinging to the one thing that computers and offshore resources can't replace---the soft skills. It's not that offshore people don't have the capacity to do this, it's just not effective from a remote location.

The books specifically outlines Six Senses that are now required to compete in today's market (I'd add that these were always needed for effectiveness, but now it's a necessity for career survival). The Six Senses we need to build are:

1) Not just function, but DESIGN (the WOW factor)
2) Not just argument, but STORY (i.e. we need to be storytellers to make a good case)
3) Not just focus, but SYMPHONY (i.e. synthesis of complex relationships vs. heads-down analysis)
4) Not just logic, but EMPATHY (incidentally, the key trait in Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence)
5) Not just seriousness, buy PLAY (fun leads to employee satisfaction, which leads to customer satisfaction and profits. Therefore, Fun=$ !)
6) Not just accumulation, but MEANING

FACT (not from the book, but relevant nonetheless): Per a recent management forum of 70 business schools, many of them are requiring less quantitative courses and more leadership courses. Also, a number of organizations are now recruiting design students instead of MBAs.

The key is that the logical, sequential left-brain stuff is still necessary, but we need to compliment it with the more contextual and feeling right-brain skills. With communication being 90% of a project manager's job, I'd say this directly applies to project managers as well.

Below is a link to Pink's book on Amazon...

Amazon.com: A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future: Books: Daniel Pink

IT Management Career Evolution: Flexibility ...

Flexiblity, coordinating, bridging, IT-savvy are all descriptions of the new (project) manager position in the information technology field. The "computer guy" career path is evolving. SIM finds these as requisite skills: planning, budgeting, scheduling, leadership, and risk management ...

... "But it's even more about IT-savvy project managers pegged to coordinate initiatives that bridge departments, where the dotted lines on the org chart are every bit as important as the boxes. " ...

Via Information Week: IT Manager Jobs Are Up 44% In 5 Years ...

Talent Strategy: Workplace Flexibility ...

Article discusses forms of workplace flexibility that range from flexible working hours to career flexibility, such as sabbaticals or special assignments, which when implemented well can be a significant boost to an organization's talent managment business strategy. ...

... "Workplace flexibility is no longer just an employee accommodation; it is a key management strategy that can positively affect employee performance and can improve an organization's financial performance. " ...

Via CCH: Workplace flexibility is more than just an accommodation; it’s a business strategy

Sage Advice for New Project Managers

Mark Mullaly has a great editorial in Projects@Work, titled "What I Wish I'd Known." It's an honest, heartfelt answer to an inquiry from a reader asking what he wished he'd known before entering project management.

Mullaly makes some great points, especially around the importance of asking questions. A career project manager, he learned the ropes the hard way, through trial and error, and discovered what worked and what didn't.

As Albert Einstein said, "The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education."

I recommend that those new to project management read the article, if for no other reason than to understand what the real paths to success are, such as communication, business acumen, and a true understanding of people and what makes them tick.

http://www.projectsatwork.com/content/Articles/232486.cfm

Microsoft Gates Retirement: Fast Follower ...

Bill announces his transition to full-time philanthropy, leaving a successful business career, punctuated with fast-follower strategies in the marketplace. ...

... "The IBM deal also highlighted another aspect of Mr Gates's success: his opportunistic use of breakthroughs made by others to seize the initiative in a new technology market. " ...

Microsoft Gates Retirement: Fast Follower: Via Financial Times Business News: Innovator, motivator and canny businessman ...

Project Management Office PMO: Collaborative Environment ...

An interesting view of the PMO: an environment for IT and business collaboration where contribution is proven. ...

... "The project management office (PMO) was used in a number of cases to provide a collaborative environment for IT staff and business representatives. This environment provided contribution proof, mainly along the lines of time, cost and quality. " ...

Project Management Office PMO: Collaborative Environment: Via ITworld: Keeping score ...

Project Management Goes to the Movies; Or Vice-Versa

OK, I think I just died and went to heaven. Here is an organization that is near and dear to my heart.

As a movie fanatic and home theater buff, not to mention somewhat involved in the project management field, I've always felt that the best lessons come from movies.

Let's face it, people remember stories more so than "instructions" because stories trigger emotions. And film has a unique and extremely effective way of reaching the senses (visual, aural, etc.) like no other format.

Movies Teach Project Management is an organization run by people with top project management and film critique credentials, not to mention educational and psychological background. They use clips from well-known films to teach project management, offering several inexpensive (~$300) one-day classes, where you can earn 8 PDUs in the process.

For anyone looking to really make a difference in their career, this looks like the most effective way I've seen yet. Long after you've forgotten all the dry memorization of other courses, this one's likely to stick with you forever.

Check out their website, examine their "What We Believe" and "Who We Are" sections, and I'm sure you'll agree...

Movies Teach Project Management

CIO Role: Innovate or Perish ...

Much of the information technology (IT) organization is becoming a commodity, and, like many in the IT profession, CIO's know that they must innovate or perish in the capabilities and services that they as leaders deliver to an enterprise. The CIO role is evolving and there is a trend underway to expand the role into shared services leadership, chief process improvement officer, and other job variants. United Airlines CIO expands his horizons and, hopefully, the career paths of the IT organization. ...

... "Garry Kelly, who is currently serving as United's chief information officer, will assume additional responsibilities. Kelly will assume oversight for enterprise-wide strategic sourcing and continuous improvement, in addition to his information technology responsibilities. He oversees all aspects of information technology functions at United, including corporate IT strategy, applications development, technical operations, information security and infrastructure planning. In addition, he is also responsible for industrial/process engineering and the operations research functions at United. Kelly will report directly to Glenn Tilton, United's president, chairman and chief executive officer. He is replacing Rick Poulton, who has elected to leave the company. " ...

CIO Role: Innovate or Perish: Via United Airlines: United Airlines Expands Chief Information Officer Garry Kelly's Role ...

IT Strategy: Corporate Interests Can Influence Architecture and Career Path ...

Ancedotal evidence illustrates the impact of external forces when enterprise architecture transformation is being considered. Those forces can impact the architecture and the career path of those involved. Who said enterprise architecture wasn't risky business? Ethan Butterfield reports on the status of Massachusetts' Enterprise Technical Reference Model. ...

... "Without mentioning Microsoft by name, John Weathersby, executive director of the Open Source Software Institute of Oxford, Miss., said powerful corporate interests used their leverage to aggressively fight the state’s initiative. It demonstrates the lengths to which some will go to try to slow the adoption of open standards within public-sector IT environments, he said. " ...

IT Strategy: Corporate Interests Can Influence Architecture and Career Path: Via GCN: Loss of advocate Quinn doesn’t slow down state’s effort ...

IT Career Path for Women: Project Management ...

Female IT leader discusses her IT career path and challenges along the way ...

... "I found that I naturally enjoyed managing teams and I really loved getting the opportunity to manage projects from start to finish instead of being involved only in a phase or two of the work. I think I was hooked on project management from that point forward! " ...

Via ITworld: Women in IT: Yvonne Parle ...

Common Sense for Project Managers

I've often said that people tend to look for complex answers to achieving success, when straightforward solutions are usually best. I guess that's the utilitarian in me talking.

Well, author and executive coach Bud Bilanich, otherwise known as "The Common Sense Guy" has the same idea, and he offers loads of common sense advice on his blog site.

Check out his blogs that cover "101 Common Sense Tips for Building a Great Career," among other topics. They seem like --- well---common sense, but as we all know, common sense is not so common.

Bud Bilanich The Common Sense Guy

Keeping Projects Positive; Watch Out for Those Seagulls

From the Wall Street Journal Executive Career site comes some good advice for managers leading organizations (or project managers leading projects) through dark times. And dark times are the norm these days, with offshore outsourcing, cutbacks, and short-term focus an epidemic in America.

Three bits of advice are:

1) Avoid Seagull Management: Don't focus on the negative by swooping down, crapping all over everything, making a lot of noise, and then flying off. Avoid negative judgment and try to "catch people doing something right" Positive reinforcement is key.

2) Embrace Conflict: Conflict isn't a bad thing if it's managed. On the contrary, it can lead to true progress. If everyone agrees all the time, things can get stagnant. The main thing is to encourage a collaborative atmosphere and work to solve the problem instead of assigning blame.

3) Good Comes Out of Bad: Look to make lemonade out of lemons. If there are problems or issues, look at it as an oppportunity for improvement.

I would say that these rules should apply in any circumstance, whether amid economic strife or not. They're also very much aligned with Peter Senge's "learning organization" approach. For more, read on...

CareerJournal Management -- Career Advice for Managers

Project Manager Certification: PM3 Level

Alcatel advocates PM3 level and beyond for project manager certification for complex project engagements. Alcatel plans to sustain project management training and to certify 30 project directors per year and 200 project managers. The company is committed to develop project management as a core competency. ...

... "During an official award ceremony at Alcatel's headquarters in Paris recently, the 2005 certified top project directors of Alcatel have been welcomed by the board of directors. Two years ago, Alcatel launched an innovative accreditation program for its project managers. This program, which includes the Project Management Institute (PMI) certification, enables the project managers of the Group to continuously improve their skills in complex project management. At the end of the program, the candidate receives Alcatel's accreditation.

Beyond the PMI certification, Alcatel proposes the PM3 and PM4 levels. Four levels of competence along a career path are clearly defined: project leader (PM1), project manager (PM2 or PMI equivalent), project director (PM3) and executive project directors (PM4). The PM3 accreditation allows Alcatel to identify a key competence and to ensure that all the project directors within the Group have the same language and share the same strategy. In front of the customer, the business skills of the project managers are today a key criteria in the selection process of a vendor. The PM3 accreditation permits the customer to assess the competences of the project director, which will be its interface in a complex project. " ...

Project Manager Certification: PM3 Level: Via Alcatel: Alcatel launches an accreditation program for its employees awarding the management of complex projects ...

IT Governance: Management Business Model ...

GM CIO, Ralph Szygenda, is advancing the state of IT governance through an aggressive information technology business model that drives competition and cooperation across a group of core outsourcing vendors. Stan Gibson explores the outsourcing plan at General Motors through interview with Ralph Szygenda. ...

IT Governance: Management Business Model: Via eWeek: GM Takes Wraps Off Outsourcing Model ...

... "Szygenda said he believes he and his team have developed an IT management business model that will be used widely in the decades ahead, one that will not only make IT governance more effective but also enable IT providers to streamline their own operations in becoming more standardized. " ...

Project Management: A Global Career Opportunity ...

It's clear that all around the world, the project management career path is seen as a growth opportunity for the future. Valerie Khoo explores the project management career. ...

Project Management: A Global Career Opportunity: Via The Age: The perfect job for organised people ...

... "Markus Meier-Lindner, corporate services manager for the Australian Institute of Project Management, says project management is a growth area. Dedicated project offices are already established at many organisations as they seek to manage whole portfolios of projects simultaneously, he says. " ...

Project Management Jobs

Looking for a job in project management?

Post your resume for free on the Project Management Institute (PMI)'s website.
Browse jobs by state, province, or industry without logging in!
The site has about 3,700 resumes, 200 job openings and over 4,000 registered employers that search the site.
There are also career links, tips and tools.

Happy hunting!
Go to Link

Source: Nov 2005 edition of PM Network (PMI's mag)

Can Leadership Be Taught?

This is an age old question, which I'll attempt to address. The short answer is yes, but with some caveats.

First, leadership is a combination of soft skills, self-awareness, and situational awareness. The soft skills and self-awareness can be taught, but it requires desire and effort on the part of the student to study diligently and practice (like the man who once asked how to get to Carnegie Hall ---- Practice, baby, Practice!). Scenario training is especially useful, and the next best thing to experience (albeit no substitute).

The remaining element of leadership--situational awareness--is a little trickier. Studies have shown that some people seem to have an inate ability to see both the forest and the trees. Yet we can come close to achieving this rare trait through:

• Avid research of our project's subject
• Constantly reading up on relevent internal and external events
• Being well connected to people in the organization (i.e. the grapevine)
• Better visibility (through EPM software)
• Critical thinking skills to be able to interpret what it is we're seeing
• Plenty of experience

This last one is critical. Without experience, it's truly difficult to gain situational awareness unless you are one of the few born with this gift (and even then, it takes study and knowledge). Thus, we can deduce that it's difficult to be an effective leader without experience. But we must start somewhere. So, to make our early leadership career successful, training is key--especially situational training. So are the other items on our list, as they can help get us by as we build experience.

So, yes. Leadership can be taught. But it's dependent on the following: "Are organizations ready to invest in leadership training for their managers and not expect overnight success?" and "Are managers ready to invest the time and effort to become good leaders?"

The key point is that putting someone in a management position does not make them a leader. And if they're not a leader, they're not fit for management. But that doesn't stop the majority of organizations from doing just that. For the minority of enlightened organizations that "get it," a wealth of rewards await.

Increase IT Career Opportunities with Certifications & Education

This July 2005 article titled, "IT Certification: Increasing Women’s Career Opportunities" really could apply to anyone who may feel they aren't being taken as seriously as they should be. Some key points:

• For whatever reasons, there are STILL few women in senior IT and business roles
• Respected and relevant certifications/education can help to establish credibility and increase leadership opportunities (the key words are respected and relevant - if your company doesn't respect a Master's in Liberal Arts from City College, it probably isn't going to get you the corner office at THAT firm, but it may help you find your next job at a firm that values education in general; perhaps a Master's in Comp Sci or a certificate in Project Management from PMI (yes I am biased) would be more respected by your firm and relevant to your job, for example, and hey, it doesn't take as much time to achieve either)
• Most respected certification programs demand continual education and training for retaining the designation (PMI's Project Management Professional (PMP) is no exception)
• IT security and governance programs are reaching the top levels of organizations today - who are they going to choose to lead these important efforts? Someone with a string of respected and relevant certifications or not?

The answer is clear. Eat your alphabet soup - but pick out only the respected and relevant letters.

CertMag.com IT Certification: Increasing Women�s Career Opportunities

Management UpSkilling: Project Manager Event ...

Management UpSkilling: Project Manager Event: Via NE Ohio PMI: Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Project Management Institute Announces Professional Seminar, Management Skills: More Than Just Bringing Donuts ...

... "The Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Project Management Institute, announces its Fall Professional Development event Management Skills: More Than Just Bringing Donuts. Internationally acclaimed speakers Peter de Jager, Lee R. Lambert, and Rick Brenner engage you with their expertise and humor on how to harness the dynamics of change, create an inspired workplace, and effectively communicate to transform your organization, your project teams, and your career. The seminar takes place on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm ... " ...

ITSecurity Professional: Project Career Path

ITSecurity Professional: Project Career Path: Via Musings on Information Security :: Who gets to manage security?

Discussion on career path progression for IT security professionals and how business experience gained from project management may be a catalyst for future success ...

... "In a company to manage risks it requires business sense which many security techies may not have - business sense involves communication skills, project management skills and political skills. " ...

5 Tips to becoming a Great Project Manager

1) Create a sense of urgency
2) Don't under- or overestimate
3) Stay on top of things
4) Keep internal and external dates a secret
5) Be persistent

This is not a job for people with thin skin. (I couldn't agree more!)

For more see: Webgrrls International

Project Management a Dream Job

So says Salary.com. See, all you project managers have been working in a dream job and didn't even know it! In all seriousness, where else can you find a job that's in such demand, brings value to a wide variety of organizations and industries, is a vital life-skill to boot.

Salary.com says:

"Project managers are key employees in every industry and all types of companies, all over the world. Project Management itself is rapidly becoming one of the most important processes within a company."

Whether you're looking to get into project management, or are already a project manager and want to feel good about your career choice, you'll find this writeup at Salary.com interesting. It explores the ideal traits and skills for a project manager, as well as typical salary levels.

Dream Jobs Project Manager: "Project Management itself is rapidly becoming one of the most important processes within a company."