Project World on PMChat radio

I've written here before about participating in the weekly twitter chat #pmchat, and we were pleased to recently participate in their one year anniversary celebration the #PMChat Olympics. In case you missed it, you can catch me talking about the 2012 event and some of our exciting speakers on the on-demand radio show here:

Listen to internet radio with KellyProjectSolutions on Blog Talk Radio

The free PW&WCBA pass has now been given away, but you can still save 20% off the cost of the event. Check out the details on the PMChat blog here. I hope to see some of the #PMChat community at the event!

For more information on the ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts and to register, visit our webpage.

Michelle LeBlanc is a Social Media Strategist at IIR USA and the voice behind the @Project_World twitter. She may be reached at mleblanc@iirusa.com

Power Up Your Agile Product Planning & Analysis

Did you miss our recent webinar "Power Up Your Agile Product Planning & Analysis: Collaborate to Deliver Value" presented by Ellen Gottesdiener, Founder, Principal Consultant, EBG Consulting, Inc.?

A recording of the session is available for your viewing here, be sure to check it out for insight into the "7 Product Dimension" and how they both transcend and deepen stories and personas.

Looking to learn more on this topic? Ellen Gottesdiener and co-author with Mary Gorman will soon be releasing their new book Discover to Deliver: Agile Product Planning & Analysis, sign up here to be notified when it is released.We're looking forward to picking up a copy at our ProjectWorld book store this September!

Ellen will also be presenting one of our workshops "Agile Essentials: People, Planning, and Product Practices" as well as our half day Agile Summit on Monday September 10th at ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts 2012. You must register for the pre-conference workshops to attend, make sure to reserve your spot now.

As a reader of our blog, you can receive 15% off the standard registration rate with Priority Code PW12BLOG. For more information on the ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts and to register, visit our webpage.

Last Chance to Save on ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts

There is just one question you have to ask yourself. And it's not why you should attend ProjectWorld® & World Congress for Business Analysts® in 2012. It's what you will miss if you don't?

Earn up to 36 PDUs/CDUs with just one conference investment: Within just one conference package you'll receive access to the 2012 on-demand Webinar Series, plus access to the live PW&WCBA conference in September. That's up to 36 PDUs/CDUs in one package! It's important to keep up to date on your professional education credits, and we're making it easier for you - earn almost half of the necessary credits in one place.

Complex Projects You Can Relate To: We've gone back to what matters most to you. Large-scale, complex projects delivered on-time and on-budget, including the World Trade Center, SEAL Team Six, Habitat for Humanity & Port Authority of NY & NJ.

The Latest & Greatest for All Your Hot Button Issues: The agenda covers: Risk Management for the PM & BA, Agile Essentials, Excellence in Project Portfolio Management, Transitioning Practices for Agile Delivery, Innovation in the PMO, Elevating the Role: From Manager to Leader, Creating a BA Center of Excellence, Social Communication, Innovation & Collaboration and Tools, Techniques & Trends. Download the brochure for details.

Re-Formatted Program Agenda: Our pre-conference summits and workshops no longer compete. Register for a workshop in the morning and a summit in the afternoon to maximize your learning. Make the most of your time at PW&WCBA!

Official Event Executive Summary: Get a wrap up of all the key topics and deliverables revealed throughout PW&WCBA's sessions in a document you can take back to the office and share with your colleagues.

Continuous Networking: Through our exclusive networking site, ProjectWorld Connect, you will be able to connect with fellow attendees and speakers before, during and after the event.

And much more! Download the brochure for the full conference agenda. (AND the 2011 Executive Summary & exclusive web seminar "10 Traits of an Agile Product Owner")

The industry's leading companies will be attending - don't get left behind - gain the skills, tools and techniques you need to be more valuable to yourself and your organization.

Take a look at the companies who've already signed on to attend: 
AAA Carolinas, Academy of Art University, Alfa Mutual Insurance, American Chemical Society, Ancestry.com, Aseco Integrated Systems, Atlas Copco, Axa Equitable, Ball Corporation, BECU, Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC, Blue Cross Blue Shield of TX, Boeing Company, Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield of MD, Chevron, Cisco, Citizens Bank, City of Charlotte, Constant Contact, Coventry Health Care, EBG Consulting, Inc. , ECMC, Enbridge Pipeline Inc, Encore Health Resources, Entertainment Partners, Farm Bureau Insurance, Florida Power & Light , Follett Higher Education, Forrest Research, Georgia Health Sciences University, Geospatial Intelligence Agency, Gerdau, GlaxoSmithKline, Green Shield Canada, Habitat for Humanity Int'l, Harley Davidson, Health Dialog Services, Highmark Blueshield, IBM, IIBA, John Deere & Company, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Liberty Mutual, Lifeway Christian Resources, Lincoln Financial Group, M&I Bank, Marathon Oil Company, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Meridian Technologies, Metropolitan Water, Microsoft, NAIC, Nationwide Insurance, NAV Canada, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Perrigo, PetSmart, Pfizer, Physicians Mutual, PMCentersUSA, Poole & Associates, Port Authority of NY & NJ, Projility, Prudential Financial, Puget Sound Energy, Railinc Corporation, Rich Products Corp., Robbins & Robbins, Inc. , Robert Bosch, Scotts Company, SEAL Team Six, Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, SIGSA, South African State IT Agency, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, State Farm Insurance Company, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Texas Guaranteed, The Clorox Company, The Coca Cola Company, National Council on Compensation Insurance, The Travelers Companies, Inc. , Tishman Construction Corp., U.S. Cellular, Value Creation Associates, Verizon, Vistakon Inc. , Walt Disney World Company, WEA Trust, WinWholesale Inc. , World Vision Ethiopia , Wsp Flack & Kurtz

As a reader of our blog, you can receive 15% off the standard registration rate with Priority Code PW12BLOG. For more information on the ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts and to register, visit our webpage.

We hope to see you in Orlando this September!

The ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts Team

Follow the ProjectWorld Twitter: https://twitter.com/project_world

Become a fan on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/JAM9Yc

One Month Until PW&WCBA: Six Tips For The Attendee

If there is one thing we know about our Project World and World Congress for Business Analysts attendees, it's that they are planners, be it by nature or simply experience of the profession.

With that in mind, if you're planning to attend this September, you may already be tracking down the little details. Here are some tips for making the most of your experience at the upcoming conference:

1. Arrival: If you're arriving by air at Orlando International Airport, Disney's Magical Express Service is the easiest choice for reaching our event venue at Disney's Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort.

This exclusive complimentary shuttle and luggage delivery service conveniently takes you from the airport directly to your Disney Resort and back again when it's time to return. To book, call 407-827-6777 or visit www.DisneyConventionEars.com/dme for more information. It is recommended that you book this service now if you haven't already.

For those who choose to drive or take a cab, the street address of the resort is 4600 North World Drive, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. There is also free transportation within the parks once you've reached the resort, including the Monorail, boats and motor coaches. Magic Kingdom® Park is also a short walk away.  

2. Accommodations: For questions regarding Disney's Contemporary Resort you may contact them directly at (407) 934-763, mention that you are with the "IIR ProjectWorld Conference" group. Disney's Contemporary Convention Center is adjacent to the Resort, with entrances both near the hotel registration desk, and at the rear near the garden wing annex and pool. This is where all PW&WCBA sessions will be held, just look for the PW&WCBA signage when you arrive!

3. Connect: Our exclusive crowdvine networking site is the place online for all your PW&WCBA information - here you will access documentation from session as well as information on collecting PDUs. Additionally, you can use the site to connect with fellow attendees and network before, during and after the event.

4. Dining: Lunch and a light breakfast will be served during the event, and there are also several dining locations on site at The Contemporary. Dining Locations at Disney's Contemporary Resort include:
California Grill – Award-winning restaurant with market-inspired menu, stage kitchen and spectacular views
The Wave – Casual dining featuring American cooking blended with world flavors
Chef Mickey's – Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
Food 'N Fun Center – Hot & cold sandwiches, salads and desserts
The Downtown Disney® area, available via free shuttles from the hotel, also offers several dining options.

5. Dress: We would like to create an informal atmosphere at the conference conducive to learning and networking- business casual dress is welcome. The main guideline is for you to wear what you feel most comfortable in.
With each attendee having their own ‘ideal’ temperature for conference rooms, it is not always possible to accommodate everyone. Assume the space inside will be air conditioned and the outside space will be warm. If you tend to feel cold you are encouraged to bring a sweater or jacket to the sessions.

6. Fun: Sure, PW&WCBA is a place for learning and career development, but feel free to take advantage of the great nearby attractions after conference hours. Special Disney Meeting/Convention Tickets are available only to meeting attendees, their guests and family members, Disney's multi-day and half-day Meeting/Convention tickets are designed to fit any agenda and can't be purchased at the Theme Park gates. For more information visit www.disneytickets.disney.go.com/store/ifir/welcome.html. 

Lastly, make sure to stay connected here, on twitter or on Facebook for up-to-the minute updates. We'll be live-tweeting from the conference at hashtag #pwwcba - so follow along and add your thoughts!

Haven't registered yet? There's still time! As a reader of our blog, you can receive 15% off the standard registration rate with Priority Code PW12BLOG. For more information on the ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts and to register, visit our webpage.

What's The Project Plan For Your Career?

Yesterday I had the pleasure of moderating yet another of our PW&WCBA webinar series. This session focused on career development - both for the manager that wants to bring out the best in their team, as well as the "rock star" on the team that wishes to drive their career forward. It got me thinking about project management and business analysis career paths, (which is always one of the hottest topics at PW&WCBA.)

Browsing PMI’s 2012 Pulse of the Profession I was interested to read the following:

"2011 PMI Project Management Salary Survey found that nearly 70% of organizations now have a career path for those engaged in project or program management. However, the majority of these are still informal and not clearly defined and in writing."

Anecdotal evidence from speaking with various PW&WCBA attendees agrees. One particular example from yesterday's webinar stood out to me as well: While the "rock star" on a team may need to be encouraged and developed to keep them within the team and the company - not everyone is suited to moving to a people management role, and in fact it may not even be something they're interested in. Whether that "rock star" is you, or you are the one in the management position, it is important to establish communication and evaluate what those career goals are.

If this is something you struggle with, several of our sessions at this year's PW&WCBA focus directly on next career moves, employee development and team leadership including:
What is a Business Architect and How Might YOU Get There? with Cecilie Hoffman, Business Architect, Railinc Corporation
Developing Project Managers into Project Leaders with Mark Schlosser, Director, Enterprise Project Change Management & Analytics, U.S. Cellular Corporation & Jackie Staley, Director, Enterprise Project Management, U.S. Cellular Corporation
How to Create and Sustain a Culture of Innovation in Your Organization with Srini Penchikala, Security Architecture Program Manager, Texas Guaranteed and
New Frontiers in PM: Creating High Performing Teams with Silvanus David, Program Manager, South African State Information Technology Agency

Plus, simply attending the conference can help you gain the skills and knowledge needed to take that next step - be it a people management role or more technical.  Download the brochure to learn more about these and all of our other sessions.

In your experience, is it difficult to define a project management or business analyst career path? Once you've reached a certain point, do you find yourself asking "what's next?" Share your experience with us in the comments.

Michelle LeBlanc is a Social Media Strategist at IIR USA and the voice behind the @Project_World twitter. She may be reached at mleblanc@iirusa.com

Increase Collaboration Between Your PM & BA Teams

Creating a collaborative environment is the starting point for creating an effective team building program. When you learn to collaborate internally, you are better able to compete externally. Are your project management and business analysis teams collaborating effectively for your business? Gain the skills you need to work better with your teams, and improve collaboration and communication at ProjectWorld® & World Congress for Business Analysts® next month!

Join Harvey A. Robbins, President of Robbins & Robbins, Inc. at PW&WCBA as he explores ways that you can create the kind of atmosphere where people feel free to share information, back each other up, and in general, act in a manner that encourages collaboration.

Plus, collaborate with your peers onsite at the event during the Your Space session. Channel the brilliance of a room full of PM and BA professionals and get answers to your most pressing questions from the collective knowledge and expertise of all attendees and speakers.

Take a look at the companies who've already signed on to attend:

AAA Carolinas, Academy of Art University, Alfa Mutual Insurance, American Chemical Society, Ancestry.com, Aseco Integrated Systems, Atlas Copco, Axa Equitable, Ball Corporation, BECU, Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC, Blue Cross Blue Shield of TX, Boeing Company, Campus Crusade for Christ, Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield of MD, Chamberlain Consulting, Chevron, Cisco, Citizens Bank, City of Charlotte, Constant Contact, Coventry Health Care, EBG Consulting, Inc. , ECMC, Enbridge Pipeline Inc, Encore Health Resources, Entertainment Partners, Farm Bureau Insurance, Florida Power & Light , Forrester Research, Georgia Health Sciences University, Geospatial Intelligence Agency Gerdau, GlaxoSmithKline, Green Shield Canada, Habitat for Humanity Int'l, Health Dialog Services, Highmark Blueshield, IAPPM, IBM, IIBA, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Liberty Mutual, Lifeway Christian Resources, Lincoln Financial Group, M&I Bank, Marathon Oil Company, Meridian Technologies, NAIC, Nationwide Insurance, NAV Canada, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, PepsiCo, Perrigo, PetSmart, Pfizer, Physicians Mutual, PMCentersUSA , Poole & Associates, Port Authority of NY & NJ, Prudential Financial, Puget Sound Energy, Railinc Corporation, Rich Products Corp., Robbins & Robbins, Inc. , Robert Bosch, Scotts Company, SEAL Team Six, SIGSA, Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, South African State IT Agency, Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide, State Farm Insurance Company, Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Texas Guaranteed, The Clorox Company, The Coca Cola Company, National Council on Compensation Insurance, The Travelers Companies, Inc. , Tishman Construction Corp., Toscanini Marble & Granite, U.S. Cellular, UIHNA, Ultimate Software, UPS, Value Creation Associates, Vistakon, Walt Disney World Company, WEA Trust, WinWholesale Inc. , World Vision of Ethiopia, Wsp Flack & Kurtz.

Visit our website and download the brochure for the full conference agenda.

The industry's leading companies will be attending - don't get left behind - gain the skills, tools and techniques you need to be more valuable to yourself and your organization.

As a reader of our blog, you can receive 15% off the standard registration rate with Priority Code PW12BLOG. For more information on the ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts and to register, visit our webpage.

We hope to see you in Orlando this September!

The ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts Team

Follow the ProjectWorld Twitter: https://twitter.com/project_world
Become a fan on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/JAM9Yc

PW&WCBA 2012 Joins The #PMChat Olympics

For the past year, each Friday whenever my schedule allowed I've eagerly tuned in to twitter at Noon EST to participate in #PMChat.

Where other hashtags on twitter often get overrun with unrelated content or are too filled with insiders to be welcoming to the casual observer, #PMChat simply provides a friendly community discussing problems and challenges they've faced, solutions they've found, and even what beverage goes best with a twitter chat. It doesn't hurt that participants can earn PDUs for participation, but I can't imagine that is the primary driver for many for chime in. Equally appealing for a PM newbie or someone who has been in the business for years, the chat provides a great place to build connections with the best and brightest project managers on twitter.

Similarly, PW&WCBA is about business and career development, yes, but it's also about finding that sense of community within the project management and business analyst worlds.

So, as soon as hosts Rob Prinzo and Robert Kelly announced the "#PMChat Olympics" to celebrate the one year mark of the chat, I knew we needed to get involved. "An online/social media scavenger hunt," the #PMChat Olympics is an opportunity to complete a series of tasks in order to win one of several prizes. I'm happy to announce that one free conference pass for our 2012 event in Orlando, FL is amongst those prizes!

You can read all the details here, but you'll need to follow along on the #PMChat hashtag all this month to enter. The contest officially starts at August 16th at 11:30 AM EST.

In the meantime, be sure to follow our twitter handle @Project_World for more updates.

Michelle LeBlanc is a Social Media Strategist at IIR USA and the voice behind the @Project_World twitter. She may be reached at mleblanc@iirusa.com

Complete Your Projects On-Time & On-Schedule

Only 2.5% of companies successfully completed all of their projects.*
One in six projects have a cost overrun of 200% and a schedule overrun of almost 70%.*

There is a staggering percentage of technology projects that either fail, or are unsuccessful in delivering the expected value to the business. While there are many different inputs and reasons for this, one common thread appears to be present in varying degrees. The use and role of the BA.

Once a respected and valued piece of an IT project, the role of the Business Analyst has been relegated to a narrowly focused, task-oriented regimentation that seems to include no more than a production of required documentation.

PW&WCBA brings together both sides of the project team, project management and business analysis, to advance collaboration within your organization. Hear Janet Santacroce, former Senior Business Systems Analyst SAP from The Coca Cola Company share how to bring the business analyst back into the project and structure a business environment to facilitate the role of business conduit.

Visit our website and download the brochure for the full conference agenda.
(Plus, you'll also receive a copy of the 2011 Executive Summary & exclusive web seminar "10 Traits of an Agile Product Owner")

The industry's leading companies will be attending - don't get left behind - gain the skills, tools and techniques you need to be more valuable to yourself and your organization.

Take a look at the companies who've already signed on to attend:
AAA Carolinas, Academy of Art University, Alfa Mutual Insurance, American Chemical Society, Ancestry.com, Aseco Integrated Systems, Atlas Copco, Axa Equitable, Ball Corporation, BECU, Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC, Blue Cross Blue Shield of TX, Boeing Company, Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield of MD, Chamberlain Consulting, Chevron, Cisco, Citizens Bank, City of Charlotte, Constant Contact, Coventry Health Care, EBG Consulting, Inc. , ECMC, Enbridge Pipeline Inc, Encore Health Resources, Entertainment Partners, Farm Bureau Insurance, Florida Power & Light Forrester Research, Georgia Health Sciences University, Geospatial Intelligence Agency, GlaxoSmithKline, Green Shield Canada, Habitat for Humanity Int'l, Health Dialog Services, Highmark Blueshield, IBM, IIBA, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Liberty Mutual, Lifeway Christian Resources, Lincoln Financial Group, M&I Bank, Marathon Oil Company, Meridian Technologies, NAIC, Nationwide Insurance, NAV Canada, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, PepsiCo, Perrigo, PetSmart, Pfizer, Physicians Mutual, PMCentersUSA Poole & Associates, Port Authority of NY & NJ, Prudential Financial, Puget Sound Energy, Railinc Corporation, Rich Products Corp., Robbins & Robbins, Inc. , Scotts Company, SEAL Team Six, Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, South African State IT Agency, State Farm Insurance Company, Texas Guaranteed, The Clorox Company, The Coca Cola Company, National Council on Compensation Insurance, The Travelers Companies, Inc. , Tishman Construction Corp., U.S. Cellular, UPS, Value Creation Associates, Walt Disney World Company, WEA Trust, WinWholesale Inc. and Wsp Flack & Kurtz As a reader of our blog, you can receive 15% off the standard registration rate with Priority Code PW12BLOG.

For more information on the ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts and to register, visit our webpage.

For a sample of the PW&WCBA experience, join us for a free webinar:
Power Up Your Agile Product Planning & Analysis: Collaborate to Deliver Value with Ellen Gottesdiener, Founder, Principal Consultant, EBG Consulting, Inc.
Wednesday, August 8th, 2012, 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/264528265

We hope to see you in Orlando this September!
The ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts Team
Follow the ProjectWorld Twitter
Become a fan on Facebook

* Statistics pulled from the Business Insider article, Most Projects Fail Because the Employees Working on them Just Don't Care.

5 Reasons To Turn Your PMO Into An Innovation Hub

One of the half day summits at this year's PW&WCBA conference is entitled "Innovation in the PMO – What's Next?" and it's one I'm really looking forward to. Unfortunately I find that when many hear the word "innovation" they think it's just a buzzword or fluff. In fact in 2010, LinkedIn discouraged the use of the term "innovative" on profiles adding it to a list of terms that "can appear empty to a potential employer."

But what company isn't looking to innovate? "Innovate or die" is perhaps one of the most frequently tossed around phrases in today's business world. In January of 2011, President Obama even launched a "Strategy for American Innovation." I think the aspect of innovation that scares some of the project management world away is that "fluffiness" and the seeming inability to plan for or around it. With that in mind, here are some simple steps to take towards making your PMO a center for innovation in your company:

1. Your PMO can prioritize in line with changing business strategies. As this article by by Peter Mihailidis, Rad Miletich and Adel Khreich explains "Prioritisation of initiatives is rarely explicitly documented. This in itself can lead to inefficient use of resources."

2. Your PMO can smooth demands on labor, and staff innovation projects appropriately. This Forrester report expands: "Forrester is beginning to see the project management office(PMO) act as the “matchmaker” — the group that aligns innovation opportunities with resources and helps organizations remove barriers to innovation by managing the never-ending demand for labor."

3. Your PMO can create balance for risky projects. In our webinar series, Creating Value with Project Portfolio Management, Part 1 & 2 with Michael Menke (The 2011 sessions of which you can view on our resource page) we learned about balancing projects strategically - you can afford to take a risk on developing some "Pearls" as long as you have enough "Bread & Butter" projects.

4. Your PMO can get innovation projects done on time, within scope. By providing a framework and relying on traditional best practices a PMO can avoid the dangers of pursuing too many risky projects, or even just too many projects. Project management methodologies provide a framework for workflow in what may be a constantly shifting business strategy. As this Forbes Insights report found: "Speed-to-market is necessary for successful innovation. More than 80% of survey respondents agreed that getting a product or service swiftly out to market is a critical business innovation tactic."

5. Your PMO can provide cultural change. Perhaps this is the biggest opportunity for innovation coming from the PMO. If your PMO provides a framework for idea generation and systems for evaluating the feasibility of those ideas, you may be providing your company with something it has never had before: space to come up with a wild or out-there concept.

Just forming a PMO? That organizational change is going to create a cultural change, too, and with it, room for innovation. Sure, not all ideas may turn into projects and some may turn into failed projects, but when there is a general business demand for innovation having this practical, structured manner of generating it may be just what you need.

Not sure where to start? Check out one of these on-demand webinars "Assessing the State of Innovation: How Does Your Company Rate? or "PMO Prosperity: What to Know, Do and Think About."

If you're still unconvinced, I hope you'll check out the PW&WCBA workshop with me this fall to learn more.

Michelle LeBlanc is a Social Media Strategist at IIR USA and the voice behind the @Project_World twitter. She may be reached at mleblanc@iirusa.com