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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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...
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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_outline“Turning Knowledge Into Practice” was the title of the 2018 symposium hosted by University of Maryland’s Project Center for Excellence. For this episode, we feature the track on Leadership and Conflict. Five presenters are featured, covering these topics “Breaking Rules: A Rulebook for Improving Your Performance”; “Managing Teams with Servant Leadership”; “Conflict Resolution Practices for the 21st Century”; “Practical Methods for Successful Change Adoption”; and “Eight Steps to lasting Change that Works Every Time.”
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An educational podcast with PM Guests discussing key technical project management techniques in new ways.
About the Speakers
Bob McGannon specializes in strategic program and portfolio management and has helped set up project management offices on three different continents. He has 25 years of IT, project management, and project analysis experience, 18 of those years with the IBM Corporation. His management experience includes technology outsourcing, IT delivery measurement and quality, business analysis, and general project management. Bob has worked internationally while playing a major role in the development of international trade applications in use in the United States and Europe, and recently worked in Australia on a consulting engagement with Medicare in Canberra.
Joseph (Joe) D. Launi has over 30 years of experience and has worked tirelessly to develop a solid reputation for delivering successful projects and improving project management competency. He is a proven project management executive with progressive experience encompassing project management office (PMO) leadership; development and management of PMO policies, best practices and methodologies; development and presentation of project management training; implementation of project management software solutions; information technology project and program oversight; research and development into motivation and morale building programs; and profit and loss management of various consulting practice areas.
Pamela Davis-Ghavami is a Washingtonian with 29 years of federal service in the Information Technology field. She has a BBA from the University of the District of Columbia in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems Science, a Masters in Information Technology and Project Management from Capella University and is PMP certified. She enjoys learning new things about technology, sharing her knowledge with anyone who will listen, being an active member in her Toastmaster club and moving to the top of the adder of her Montgomery County Tennis league club.
Aimee Richcreek Baxter has worked in the technology industry for over 25 years as a Project Manager and Technology Trainer. She has been a certified PMP since 2000. Currently, Aimee works at Macalester College, as Financial System Specialist, bringing technology solutions to the Business Services Office and the Macalester Community it serves. She utilizes her PMP skills every day from small tasks to larger campus-wide projects.
Myles Miller is a multi-national CEO, two-time Best Selling Author and Radio Host of “Myles of SUCCESS”, with over 30 years’ experience in the project management field, across multiple industries including retail, defense, state and federal government, international countries and hospitality. Myles has a BS in Business Management from Penn State University and a MBA from La Salle University in International Business Management and recently acquired his PhD from Baylor University.