When you’re trying to get an organization to accept and work with a new system, that’s a project. Anyone who’s done it (or tried it) knows that the “people” issues usually far outweigh the technical and methodological, not that those are all that easy.

This month’s PMI Maine presenter is fresh from that process. He is Dwight Fischer, Director of Enterprise Computing for the University System of New Hampshire. The program is called “Project Management: Integration with Organizational Culture”.

The session will provide a summary of a statewide information system implementation project for the university system, along with key project methodologies that worked, and those that didn’t.

Fischer’s emphasis will be on team development and facilitation, developing leadership and lessons learned.

Based in Durham, Fischer oversees the enterprise applications that serve the University of New Hampshire, the state colleges at Keene and Plymouth and the statewide network of the College of Lifelong Learning.
 

Enterprise Computing encompasses the USNH data center and teams of system administrators, MIS and database administrators.

Fischer recently played a leadership role in Project FRESH, a statewide implementation of new financial information system. Project FRESH continues with a human resource system implementation targeted for cutover in July 2003.

Prior to his appointment at the University System, Fischer led an implementation
project of a student information system at Keene State College.

Fischer holds a master’s degree in counseling (University of Wisconsin-River Falls) and an executive MBA (University of New Hampshire-Whittemore School).

His focus has been on instilling project methodology to ensure lasting organizational change.

Tom Carbone of Fairchild Semiconductor, in PMI Maine’s January program, discussed a method of using customized dynamic Webpages to automatically publish project data exported from project software.

The system can be used to automatically update milestones, metrics, activities completed or due and other project information to the Webpages.  Previously, project information was analyzed and posted to the Webpages manually by project managers.  Each project manager had to update multiple pages, taking hours per week.

The automated process reduces data entry redundancy by project managers; allows multiple project data to be sorted and filtered from the Webpages; and facilitates posting project metrics and graphical reports to the Web automatically for easy data access, analysis and knowledge management.

By focusing on the entry of correct data to a single location, the minimal effort in creating the dynamic Webpages will provide a large payback for the future.  In addition, there are sizeable benefits from having a project Webpage that is accurate, timely and widely distributed, and aligns with the PMBOK Communication Management Plan.

The project Website is a terrific tool for communicating across team members across the company, around the globe, in different time zones, and using various computer platforms.  The project communication Webpage is not only a convenient feature, it becomes a necessity.
 

PMP Prep Course
Set for April 27, May 4

PMI Maine has scheduled its Spring presentation of the PMP Exam Prep Course for April 27 and May 4, both Saturdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The course includes advice on applying for the examination, simulations of the test itself, detailed explanations of the answers and the testing philosophy, and advice on how to study for the test. It is presented by Mike Curran, PMP, and Jim Milliken, PMP, both members of PMI Maine.

The fee for the course is $475, of which $25 is required as an advance deposit. For information, or to register, contact Jim Milliken.

Competition expanded

The PMI Maine Project of the Year competition has been expanded on the basis of unexpectedly favorable early interest, requiring a shift to 2002 as the measurement year. Winners will be announced and honored at a PMI Maine program in June 2003.

The fields in which Project Management excellence will be recognized now include construction, information technology, economic development, education, business, industry and social service
Anyone interested in further information, or in joining the Project of the Year committee, should contact Jim Milliken, PMP.

PMI Maine Meetings 2001-2

Meetings are at Unum-Provident Headquarters
Building 1, 2211 Congress St. Portland,
unless otherwise specified.

Name in italics for each meeting is the PMI Maine member making arrangements.

Feb. 13 – Project Management:
Integration with Organizational Culture
with Dwight Fischer
(Steve Stofanak)

March 13 – Project Risk
with Bruce Chadbourne
(Bob Laliberte)

April 10 – Advanced Technology
Joint Meeting with IEEE
(Carl Gruenler)

May 8 – Product Development Processes
(Tom Carbone)

June – Project of the Year
Competition
(Jim Milliken)

Local Chapter Website Changes
(David Johnson)