PM Discipline Integration in the Federal Government
PM Point of View
Dive into the future of project management within the U.S. government in this engaging and insightful interview with key players from the USDA and NOAA. Hear from Jason Traquair, Kellie Cenzano, Daryl Frazier, and Joe Giraldi as they unveil their pioneering efforts and collaborations aimed at enhancing program and project management disciplines across their respective organizations. Discover the innovative strategies, such as building vibrant communities of practice and leveraging integrated value networks, that are set to redefine how government agencies achieve mission success and tackle...
info_outline
Risk and Resilience at the UMD PM Symposium (Revised)
PM Point of View
Risk-- again! This episode with guests from the upcoming UMD Project Management Center for Excellence symposium is a thought-provoking discussion that takes a closer look at a crucial aspect of project management – risk management. We've gathered a dynamic trio of experts from diverse backgrounds to share their insights, experiences, and groundbreaking strategies on tackling risks head-on, making your projects more resilient and successful. Joining us from the realms of technology, clinical research, and literary scholarship, our speakers, Lakshmi Sowjanya Uppala from Amazon, clinical...
info_outline
People in Projects at the UMD PM Symposium 2024
PM Point of View
Heralding the annual arrival of the flagship UMD Project Management Center for Excellence symposium, this episode has 3 of the presenters in the People and Projects track: Kevin Coleman, a visionary leader and the founder and CEO of KMC Empowerment, John Eskandar, a seasoned professional in project controls at Exelon and graduate of the UMD PM program, who brings a wealth of experience managing large-scale construction projects and Abbigail Meah-Ali, a manager of construction services at the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago. From Trinidad to Maryland to Virginia, our guests span a...
info_outline
Program Value Management
PM Point of View
Challenged by the hosts, Kendall Lott and Mike Hannan, returning guest Steven Devaux takes his value break down structure (the "Golden Triangle") to a new level, looking at quantifying value of project within programs. That’s the obvious, the less obvious is looking at the need for this view point in critical areas such as public health, emergency response and national security. He emphasizes the need to prioritize or sequence projects within a program to optimize the schedule for maximum impact, where the focus is on delivering outcomes rather than just producing products. What might...
info_outline
Asteroids
PM Point of View
In this podcast episode, co-hosts Kendall and Mike are joined by guest Roy Mazel, a retired NASA project leader and guest lecturer. They discuss the Project Management complexities of asteroid missions, specifically, the OSIRIS-REx Psyche missions. As you might guess, the successful implementation of risk management strategies and the importance of technical integrity in the face of schedule pressure is the litmus test of getting these missions completed on time, on budget, and without failure. And what you might not expect, Roy highlights the importance of a strong organizational...
info_outline
Let it Flow, Success without Force
PM Point of View
In this episode, Kendall, Mike, and Wolfram Mueller discuss strategies to improve business workflows using the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Critical Chain Project Management, focused on two things: underloading system constraints and buffer management (having a signal that our flow is or isn't working). One thing that pops out is the importance of calculating business cases and recognizing growth potential--that becomes the compelling case to get middle management on board with the change needed. Getting a team to underload (reduce the non-critical work) of key resources, while having other...
info_outline
Getting Out of Our Own Way
PM Point of View
The crux of any success? It isn't the plan, it isn't the desire, not even the WIIFM, its EXECUTION. And organizational change is no different. Today's episode discusses the difficulties that organizations face when it comes to executing change. Once again guest and change management author and guru April Mills comes to us on the topic of change…but this time it isn't how to do it, but how she has seen managers institutionally throw up their own barriers to change even as they try to change…starting with outsourcing on the thinking to…professionals. It may be that we are so good at PM...
info_outline
PM Faceoff: Process vs Principles
PM Point of View
So there we were at the 10th annual UMD PM Symposium, having the Great Debate of Process vs principles. Facing off were Crystal Richards, CEO of MindsparQ and Laura Barnard, CEO of PMO Strategies. One hour of back and forth and audience questions. In sum: From the debate between Laura and Crystal,It's clear that project managers should grab the handle.Be a business leader and ask good questions,Embrace risk and change with no exceptions.
info_outline
Listener Questions Revealed!
PM Point of View
Elevating the Conversation about Project Management, with a twist. In this episode cohosts Mike Hannan and Kendall Lott take on some Listener Feedback. A running theme in the show is the actual and delineation of project manager, product manager, and program manager--so we jump on that! Of course, our main theme of its all about value, adding value and understanding projects as investments is once again threaded through the answers. But new things lurk--how do you agile on a fixed-price contract? What's the danger and opportunity in cross-functional teams and accountability when managing...
info_outline
UMD PM 4.0 AI & Future for Project Managers
PM Point of View
No Luddites here! Episode 3 of the UMD PM Symposium prequal and guests Al Zeiton, Marissa Brienza and Bill Brantley chat about the role of AI in Project Management and the potential risks and benefits of using it as PMs. We discover the logic and importance of maintaining human interaction—turns out its not fear that makes us think “it will never replace us” but rather AI’s limitations in the larger PM discipline. Ah! But what potential magic AI may bring if we use it as augmenting project management, driving improved risk assessment, and being our outsourced memory! All in service of...
info_outlineAlmost every project involves some sort of procurement, whether it's goods, or teams of contractors. In fact, Procurement is one of the ten Knowledge Areas of the PMBOK® Guide, and merits almost a complete column in the index of the Sixth Edition. Yet how well versed are PM’s in the best practices, the methods and approaches of the procurement process? In this episode, thought leaders and procurement experts discuss Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, and Cooperative Purchasing, as well as transparency and ethics, and other factors that are crucial to public- and private-sector acquisition.
Listen, learn, and get a free PDU!
An educational podcast with PM Guests discussing key technical project management techniques in new ways.
About the Speakers
David Yarkin is a recognized expert on strategic sourcing in the public sector. As Deputy Secretary for Procurement of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services, David led what has been called “the most sweeping transformation of state procurement in decades.” During his tenure, Pennsylvania saved $140 million (now $360 million) annually through strategic sourcing and established a procurement shared services center, centralizing all state contracting under DGS.
He is currently the president of Government Sourcing Solutions.
Gordon Wade is a recognized thought leader in the consumer-packaged goods industry. He was one of the creators of “Category Management.” In 2017 he led a 17-company industry consortium in updating CatMan by incorporating all the contemporary data and analytics engendered by the new digitally driven marketplace.
At the request of the Association of National Advertisers, he wrote the protocol for “marketing accountability”. He has written several widely read white papers on e-com, “big data “(machine learning) as well as optimal retail space and assortment approaches. He is currently focusing on machine learning and transparency as emerging developments in CPG marketing.
Rick Grimm CPPO, CPPB, FCIPS was appointed NIGP’s 5th Executive Vice President/CEO in January 1998 and has served the NIGP membership for more than 20 years. Prior to his appointment, he was employed in county government and a public school district for 23 years including 12 years in public procurement management. As a NIGP member, he chartered the Greater Miami Chapter and was a prominent leader of the Rocky Mountain Governmental Purchasing Association Chapter where he was co-chair for NIGP’s 50th Forum in Denver. He served on multiple NIGP committees and on the NIGP Board of Directors until his appointment as CEO. Rick earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (University of Miami) and a Master’s in Public Administration (Florida International University). He holds a Certified Public Procurement Officer Certification (CPPO) and a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) designation from the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council.