PMcrunch

There are many great places for project managers to network, keep up with developments in the profession, tune in to new opportunities, and find opportunities for career growth. On a more immediate basis, networking today is also full of helpful opportunities to solve current problems with the assistance of colleagues in the profession. So, in this era of social networking, I thought I would put together a post of where some of the best project management networks can be found.

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How does the emergence of Web 2.0 collaborative capabilities and networks effect the organizational landscape, and how does that effect project and program managers? I think the key to answering this question is to look at what is happening to interpersonal relationships, power centers, and influence within organizations to see how this is changing as a result of this emerging development. I find that we can gain insights into this by observing from the following point of view: a. Organization charts are the way the organization is “supposed” to be, and b. Web 2.0 collaboration reveals relationships, and hence organization structure, as it really is. Let’s explore…

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As leaders and professionals, we are called upon to be at our best all of the time! Not only to we need to maintain and improve personal performance, but we as project managers and program managers are frequently responsible for the performance of others. One challenge is how we manage the plethora of positive and negative feelings that inevitably come our way in the course of our professional endeavors. I have been thinking about how we can be more aware of what happens inside of us emotionally that needs to be managed in order to achieve top performance consistently.

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Determining project requirements has many challenges, but one of the most common that I have encountered is what I call the “Solution Trap”. I have usually identified this when someone states something like “What I need is a …” This is usually a hint that there is an underlying problem that needs to be surfaced and further investigated.

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There has been a tremendous amount of buzz more recently about PMOs, otherwise known as Project Management Offices. Here is what a select group of experts are saying about PMOs today.

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PRINCE2 – PRojects IN Controlled Environments – is a major worldwide project management framework, or methodology. It takes a different approach than the PMI’s PMBOK, but the goal of both is to improve project performance. While PMBOK is generally well-accepted worldwide, it is by far the leading approach in North America. PRINCE2 on the other hand is strongest in the United Kingdom, with a strong presence in Europe, Australia, and other typically English-speaking countries outside North America. But both are expanding there reach on a constant basis as the world gradually “projectizes.”

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There are 3 basic types of Project Management Office (PMO) organizations. They vary in the degree of control and influence they have on projects within the organization.

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We as Project Managers are often in situations that put us in leadership roles, directly leading teams of individuals. In such roles, there is sometimes a tendency to ‘detach’ ones self from the collegiality that might exist on – and be beneficial to – the team.

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Is management as a profession? What about project management? Elite business schools today are at a crossroads, especially since the rise of business education in China and India. How will this impact project management as a profession and a creer choice?

Is management a profession? What makes something a profession – a specialty?

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There are a number of project management certifications available worldwide. Here is a quick summary of what they are about, and links to learn more.

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