PW&WCBA exclusive interview: Joseph A. Lukas, PMP, PE, CCE Vice-President, PMCentersUSA

Leading up to ProjectWorld® & World Congress for Business Analysts®  we're speaking with some of our featured 2012 speakers to bring you a taste of the 2012 event. Today we bring you an exclusive interview with Joseph A. Lukas, PMP, PE, CCE Vice-President, PMCentersUSA.

Joe Lukas, Vice President of PMCentersUSA, has over 30 years' experience in project management encompassing project portfolio management and international project management. His projects have spanned numerous industries, including manufacturing, product development, information technology, and construction. Learn more on the PMCentersUSA website here.

PW: Can you give us a sneak peek of what your workshop will be at Project World?

JL: I created this 1/2-day workshop specifically for people who want to achieve excellence in managing project risks. Do you find yourself constantly 'putting out fires' on your projects? This workshop will show you how to become proactive rather than reactive by learning an effective risk management process including best practices for risk identification, risk analysis and risk response planning. I designed this workshop to be highly interactive, with exercises to allow attendees to try the best practices presented during the workshop. It will help attendees better manage the risks on their projects.

PW: How did you first become interested in risk management? 

JL: When I first started managing projects, I quickly realized that 'things happen' on projects and I observed some Project Managers who were constantly sidetracked by events that could have been anticipated. What a waste of time and energy! I realized it's more efficient and effective to plan ahead to deal with the inevitable uncertainty that exists on projects.

PW: You have a PMP certification - but is risk management also important for those working as BAs?

Business Analysts need to develop the project requirements and there are many risk events that can impact their efforts. Risk management needs to be part of their plan in order for the project to succeed!

PW: What is one step our readers can take to begin to 'anticipate the unanticipated' on their projects? 

Schedule a brainstorming workshop with your project team to focus on the risk events that could impact the project objectives. Risk management is not difficult to use provided you are committed to making managing project risks an ongoing process. Reviewing the status of project risks should be part of every project team meeting.

Interesting in learning more? Join us for Risk Management Excellence for PM & BA Disciplines with Joseph Lukas, PMP, PE, CCE, Vice President, PMCentersUSA on September 10th, 2012. As a reader of our blog we'd like to offer you an exclusive 15% discount off the standard registration rate with code PW12BLOG. For more information on the ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts and to register, visit our webpage. 

Speaker Spotlight: Connie Steward, SVP Human Resources, Learning Systems and Organizational Development, Habitat for Humanity International

Recently, we looked at ProjectWorld® & World Congress for Business Analysts® keynote Don Mann of SEAL Team Six, but ProjectWorld® speakers come from many varied industries and all areas of the spectrum. Connie Steward, SVP Human Resources, Learning Systems and Organizational Development, Habitat for Humanity International faces an very different set of challenges in her day to day life, and yet the project management and business analysis insights you can take away from each of their stories have some similarities.

For example, Steward has embraced technology-enabled learning strong online distribution of tools and resources to keep her team up to speed regardless of their physical location. For a peek at the insights she has to share at ProjectWorld®, check out this feature in the Winter 2011 issue of Training Industry Quarterly.

Then, join us for "Overcoming Barriers: Finding Shared Purpose in Complex Projects" with Connie Steward & Lysa Ratliff, Senior Director Cause Marketing and Partner Communications, Habitat for Humanity International at ProjectWorld® & World Congress for Business Analysts® this September.

This hands-on session offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Habitat manages complex, multi-national events and projects. Examples show how leadership practices and project management processes can be combined to navigate in an international community project with thousands of tasks. Learn how leadership skills develop organically in experiential settings, outside the confines of a traditional hierarchy, and how creative leadership thrives in the planning, logistics and execution of wide-scale, hands-on projects.

As a reader of our blog we'd like to offer you an exclusive 15% discount off the standard registration rate with code PW12BLOG. For more information on the ProjectWorld & World Congress for Business Analysts and to register, visit our webpage.