Presentation: Implementation of Project and Portfolio Management System
In this presentation Graham Smith will be discussing lessons learned from implementation of Project and Portfolio Management System (PPMs).  Avista began implementing a PPMs in 2011 and continues to develop and mature the solution.  This discussion will review how Avista arrived at the solution and the discoveries made throughout the project.

Presenter: Graham Smith, PMP
Graham Smith is Project Manager with Avista Utilities, currently working on a major project to replace the customer information and enterprise asset management systems.  Prior to this project, Graham spent three years managing and growing the Enterprise Technology department’s Project Management Office.  Graham has over 18 years experience as a technology professional is a Certified Project Management Professional and holds MBA from Webster University and BS from Central Washington University.

Menu: Beef Stroganoff with Sour Cream and Noodles
Register online to note any special dietary requests.

Registration: Earn up to 2 PDUs. Pre-registration encouraged! Please register by noon, Friday, May 17!
 Please help us get a head-count:
• $30 non-Chapter members with meal
• $25 Chapter members with meal
• $10 without meal
• Students free with ID
 Register at http://pmiinw.org/registermeeting
 Door Prize drawings included
 
Date: Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Agenda: 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm - Registration Set up
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm - Pre-dinner program, Agile and Lean Spokane
6:45 pm – PMI Business Meeting
6:45 pm – 7:30 pm - Dinner
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm - After dinner program, PMI Chapter Presentation
8:30 pm – 9:00 pm - Adjourn/Socializing/Networking

Place: Red Lion River Inn, 700 N. Division, Spokane, 99202 - (509) 326-1120

Hi,

I recently watched a good webinar about empowering your team members, why it is important and what benefits you will reap from it!

http://info.tenrox.com/Key-Techniques-for-Transforming-Your-PMs-into-Leaders.html?source=tenrox-site&description=Key-Techniques-for-Transforming-PMs-into-Leaders-Webinar-Recording

Not a bad view for 1 PDU!

There are also other webinars at this page, http://www.tenrox.com/en/downloads/webinars/index.htm?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonsqXIZKXonjHpfsX56OQrXKW3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4AS8pgI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFQ7XEMaVq27gNXhE%3D

We are happy to announce that PDD 2013 Registration is now open!

The Race to the South Pole:

Ten Lessons for Project Managers

 By Rick Brenner of Chaco Canyon Consulting

 Click here to learn more and sign up for the event.

I have an email setup cop@pmiinw.org that can be used to submit ideas for the previous blog regarding Charters and Project Documents!

So my first rambling here is going to be starting at the beginning. Charters. What do you (or your business) do for a Charter? Click here for a link to Project Mgt Forms from the PMI . What are your thoughts? Is your Charter to detailed to make a decision if it is to be a short term ‘skunk works’ project versus a long-term PMO project run with PMI standards? 
 
Do you (or your business) find them useful? We all know what best practices are and sometimes cut corners, modify them or ignore them all together.
 
I’ll be the first here in this virtual community to share what we (used to) do where I work. 

1. Requestor enters Project Request on Intranet
2. Business Analyst creates a Project Charter
3. Request & Charter are Triaged based on complexity – Short Term or Long Term
   1. Short Term project - Request is completed by the Functional team; IE 1 or 2 programmers for 1 week
   2. Long Term project - Request is completed using the PMO and PMI standards

You see the problem above? Step #2 the BA creates a Charter that might never be used in for a Short Term project (3.1) and it could be months before resources are freed up to start another project (3.2); and we all know that the Charter should be as fresh as possible – not months old!
 
So our gating process now looks like this.

1. Requestor enters Project Request on Intranet
2. Business Analyst creates a Project Charter
3. Request & Charter are Triaged based on complexity – Short Term or Long Term
   1. Short Term project - Request is completed by the Functional team; IE 1 or 2 programmers for 1 week
   2. Long Term project - Request is completed using the PMO and PMI standards
      1. Create Charter
      2. Create Scope, etc….

What do you do? What are your thoughts on all these forms and artifacts? Is what you do for a Traditional project different from that of an Agile one? If so, what is it?

A CoP is a Community of Practice.  They can be found on pmi.org.

I have been asked to sign up for a few (currently I have 14) and will be reading the updates, attending webinars etc and updating this page with what little tidbits I glean from the material!

The new VP of Education has had a slow start but is starting to get some momentum!  Our main focus so far has been to get a PMP Virtual Exam Prep Course and PDD (Professional Development Day) scheduled for 2013.
 

PMP Virtual Exam Prep Course
 
The chapter held its last examp prep course in fall of 2011 with amazing results.  All but one student reported passing the challenging PMP exam to gain their credential.  That is amazing.  We are putting together the finishing details on a 2013 course that will run from January through April.  Find our more details and registration information in the PMP Virtual Exam Prep Course 2013 ! 

If you are interested in again facilitating a class along the way, thanks in advance and please contact Scott Rabe.
 
Professional Development Day
 
The chapter held its first PDD this past June and had over sixty participants join us to learn about Agile.  We heard great feedback.  Cheryl Craig is once again leading a team to review last year's feedback and prepare for an even more successful PDD 2013.  Look for more information to be coming out soon!

Webmaster's blog entry here.

Great News! 
 
PM Training for District 81 Kids – The last of the four workshops will be given tomorrow, afternoon.
 
This has been extremely exciting. The student participation has been excellent.
 
A sponsor meeting will be held with Yvonne Luman,  District 81 Schools on Friday, August 5th. Amongst other things, that will be discussed is the upcoming year. It is our hopes to have a more formal, structured class for next year’s participates. This may include having a few teachers attend!
 
PMP Prep Exam – October  5th has been set for the next PMP Prep class. For further information, please contact the VP of Education.
 
The orientation session have not been scheduled but it is never too early to work on the acceptance application.
 
Professional Day – This group has been busy as well. The theme they have selected is Agile. Look for more detail to follow, soon...
 
Mentor Program – Are you the right volunteer to head up this program?  If so, please contact the VP of Education.
 
Library/Book Program – An update will be posted, soon. 

We are pleased to announce that Jim Keesee has successfully completed all requirements and testing set by the Project Management Institute to qualify for his PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification on July 27, 2011.

Congratulations, Jim!