Project report: Navy security model

Capt. Carl Gruenler will present a program on the numerous project management hurdles encountered and anticipated in developing the model and the Defense Department technology programs and emerging capabilities that support it.

"Anyone who's been paying attention to the events of our time and general advancements in computing technology," Gruenler said in describing the program, "will recognize the following new words in the public lexicon: smart cards, physical security, biometrics and wireless computing.

"Bringing them all together in an integrated system is viewed as the way ahead for a new defense-in-depth physical security model for the U.S. Navy, and potentially the Department of Defense."

Gruenler is developing the program at Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Five at the Brunswick Naval Air Station.

Captain Gruenler is the Smart Wing Program Manager, and is field project manager for the Navy Criminal

Investigative Service. He is a reservist called to active duty in May 1999 to apply technology to complex problems in an operational environment. A surface warfare officer, he has had six reserve command tours. In his civilian career, he has been a project manager, chief financial officer, president and CEO, and board chairman.

The April 10 meeting will begin with an inexpensive buffet at 5:30 p.m., followed by a chapter meeting at 6 and the program from 6:30 to 8:30. Advance registration is required with Dennis Carignan at Dennis.Carignan@biw.com.

The Support Center is near the Cooks Corner exit of Route 1 in Brunswick. Detailed directions are on pmimaine.org

You can win a complimentary two-day pass to ProjectWorld Boston, the largest project management event in the region. Just attend the April 10 PMI Maine meeting and enter your business card in the drawing. ProjectWorld Boston is a conference and exposition designed to address the pressures facing project managers in today's business environment.

PMI Maine's website has been updated to help PMPs locate information on re-certification. On our Certification page you will find handy links to:

• Overview of the Continuing Certification Requirements Program (CCR)

• Professional Development Unit (PDU) qualifying activities

• Reporting instructions and forms

• Your personal PDU transcript online

• CCR FAQs and Handbook

PDU activities reporting can now be done online. Or you can download a PDF version of the paper form. Can't find your copy of the Handbook with all the program details? Hop online and get the lowdown.

Denny Smith, PMI National's Manager of Certification, recently announced that the Professional Development Program has been renamed the Continuing Certification Requirements program. It is felt the new name better reflects the nature of the PMP certification renewal program. So it's out with PDP and in with CCR, but we still have the beloved PDUs!

To maintain your Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, you must earn 60 PDUs in each three-year period after you earn certification. Remember, attending local chapter meetings qualifies. See you at the next Maine PMI meeting.

-- David Johnson, PMP

Consider that 84 percent of projects fail (according to a Standish Group study), either outright or due to not meeting scope, cost or schedule requirements. There provides good reason to begin or intensify risk management practices on your projects.

Risk management specialist Bruce Chadbourne recommends attacking risk on three fronts: good risk management practices as spelled out in the PMBOK Guide, actively maintaining a risk database, and creating a Project Support Office. Chadbourne, who works with the New Hampshire firm of Analytical Solutions, and is the current Director of the PMI Risk Special Interest Group for Region I, spoke at the March meeting of PMI Maine.

Managing risk, he said, requires you to identify, analyze and plan for risk, then follow up and control it during the project life cycle. A comprehensive risk

analytical and database software tool available on SPMN.com is Risk Radar will help you identify and manage risk as well as provide a database and template for risk data.

One of the functions you can set up in your business, as Bruce has, is a Project Support Office. This function typically provides support in the areas of lessons learned, templates, checklists, resources for teambuilding and PM standards. It can support all PM processes including risk management and the maintenance of a risk database.

How do you get started? Begin by holding a Risk Discovery Meeting with your PM team to identify, quantify and develop plans to manage your project risks. And then, as a member at the PMI meeting said, build in comfort milestones to help you look at key risk points in your project life cycle.

-- Bob Laliberte

 PMI Maine Meetings 2002

Meetings are at UnumProvident Headquarters
Building 1 at 2211 Congress St., Portland,
unless otherwise specified. They open at 5:30 p.m.

APRIL 10 – Advanced Technology
Joint Meeting with IEEE
(Carl Gruenler, USN, Host)
at BIW Surface Ship Support Center
290 Bath Road, Brunswick
To register for this meeting, contact:
Dennis.Carignan@biw.com
MAY 15 – Product Development Processes
(Tom Carbone, Host)
at Fairchild Semiconductor
Running Hill Road, South Portland
To register for this meeting, contact:
t.carbone@ieee.org 207-775-4644
JUNE 12 – Project of the Year Project
(Jim Milliken,PMP, chairman)
Local Chapter Website Changes
(David Johnson, PMP, chairman)