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.

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!

Sponsored by PMI Inland Northwest Chapter

Spokane Professional Development Day 2013

Northern Quest Resort and Casino

Tuesday, June 11th 2013

The Race to the South Pole:
Ten Lessons for Project Managers

By Rick Brenner of Chaco Canyon Consulting

 
Breakfast and Lunch Included

$175  - PMIINW Member    *  $225  - Non-Member    *  $175  - Per Person (groups of 5 or more)

Registration is now open!

Program Description:

On 14 December 1911, four men led by Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole. Thirty-five days later, Robert F. Scott and four others followed. Amundsen had won the race to the pole. Amundsen’s party returned to base on 26 January 1912. Scott’s party perished. As historical drama, why this happened is interesting enough. But to project managers, the story is fascinating.

We’ll use the history of this event to explore ten important lessons about managing complex projects. From this story we can learn ten lessons in project management, including lessons about leadership, planning, scope creep, risk management, improvisation, discipline, organizational politics, team dynamics, technology management, and simplicity.

Who Should Attend:

This program is especially valuable for people involved in projects that are operating with thin safety margins — perhaps the project is late already, or unusually complex, or budgets have been reduced, a strategic partner has become difficult, or any number of complications are anticipated, but possibly unknown.

Leaders, executives, managers, project managers, program managers, and project team members can all benefit.

Rick Brenner is principal of Chaco Canyon Consulting. He works with people in dynamic problem-solving organizations that are making products so novel or complex that they need state-of-the-art teamwork and stronger relationships among their people.

Learning Objectives:

This program conveys lessons about project management that are especially valuable for projects that have thin margins. Some examples:

• Team dynamics depend, among other factors, on the state of the project, the nature of the host culture, and the size of the team.
• Leadership matters most when the project is in trouble. When the leader-ship fails, not much else can succeed.
• Replanning is a dangerous fiction, because planning is never really finished.
• Preventing scope creep requires constant vigilance. A single lapse can doom the entire effort.
• Think of everything that can go wrong, and prepare for it. Then, you will still have missed something important.
• Improvisation is a useful skill, but relying on it is foolhardy.
• Whatever you choose for your team’s culture, stick to it until your team decides to change it.
• The owning organization always imposes tight constraints. Sometimes, they must be circumvented.
• Multiple overlapping skill sets is a key to harmony.
• Most reliable path to success: do something new with existing technology. Least reliable: doing something new with untried technology.
• Venturing into the unknown with a complicated plan is a high-risk endeavor. Simplicity rules.

Past Attendees Say:

“Awesome workshop. Rick kept everyone engaged and interested while bringing out valuable lessons for our day-to-day projects.” - Giagneesh Rawat

“I will be able to start using what I learned in this seminar on my project teams immediately.” - Keith Smith, Internal Consultant (Project Team Coach)

“A wonderfully different way to look at communication problems!” - Stephen Nosal

District 81 PM Friday workshops have successfully wrapped up. The video submitted by - Jonathan Plank, Roger HS student - says it all!!!

A special thanks to the sponsor -- Yvonne Luman -- for inviting us to teach project management fundamentals to the students; to the students for your active participation and interest; and to the education committee members who graciously donated their time and efforts to make the workshops a success.

More work is necessary to build a formal training session for next year. But until then, enjoy Jonathan's video!

(Press Play at the lower left)

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. 

There are many projects in progress... and there is still plenty to do so if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Vicki Behar.
 
 PM Training for District 81 Kids
 
The goal of this project is to provide fundamental project management skills to District 81 vocational students.  Tomorrow, we will be delivering our second workshop to the students.  This workshop will cover common language and project management basics as well as provide a brain storming exercise involving the students interactively.  The Chapter will be presenting a total of four workshops, this year.
 
The long-term goal is to build a sustainable program.  Once the workshops have been delivered, the volunteers will be reviewing education material provided through the PMI Educational Foundation.  It is our hope that this material can be incorporated into the Blackboard software used by District 81 for next year's program.
 
Professional Development Day
 
The initial planning meeting is set for July 8th.  This is a very talented group and I am sure there will be more to share after their initial meetings... stay tuned!
 
PMP Prep Class
 
Melody and Melia are working like detectives to uncover the changes that will be made to the exam so that our materials can be updated and our next Prep class can be scheduled.
 
They have ordered two books -- newer versions of the Rita Mulcahy books -- and will be examining these books for clues.  They will be attending a webinar presented by Erica Flores, San Diego Chapter regarding the changes.  The webinar will be held on July 8th.
 
What they do know is that approximately 30% of the test will be changed.  The PMBOK will not be updated until next year.  They believe the changes mostly affect the Professional Responsibility section of the PMBOK.
 
Books/Library
 
This team of one - Richard Kearnes - has contacted the Liberty Lake Library.  The librarian indicated that the other library systems will probably have similar policies.  Richard will confirm this by speaking to Spokane County and City library systems in the next few weeks.
 
In the meantime, Richard would like your help in identifying three to four good PM books that you think would be of most use to library patrons. So don't be surprised if you receive a survey, soon!  He will be interested in what you own in your home libraries; what you believe is a good read; and what suggestions you might have for this endeavor.
 
Mentor Program
 
This program still needs a champion... are you the right person to build a mentor program for the Chapter?
 

Do you need an easy way to maintain your certification without traveling or incurring additional expense?

For the next three months, Gantthead has opened up a series of webinars normally reserved for their premium membership holders to anyone who is willing to register on their site.  Registration is free.

Their hope is that they by offering this service to you that you will catch up on PDU requirements, and later decide to join as a premium member to earn new PDUs on a regular basis. HOWEVER, you do not have to do so and the local Chapter is not endorsing Gantthead but merely letting you know the opportunity is out there.

So please pass this along to everyone who may be interested. It is a way to boost your career knowledge. Also, it’s a great opportunity and it costs nothing!

PS "Thank you" shout out to Richard Kearnes, PMP - Chapter member for sharing this information with us! 

Current projects in progress for 2011-2012:

Project: District 81 Project – PM for Kids

 
Description: Provide a series of seminars to students between 16 -24 during regular business hours.  The materials will need to be put together and presented to the students. The goal is to build a sustainable program.  This may require “train-the-trainer” materials/presentations to teachers, as well.  A meeting will be set up to talk with Sponsor, Yvonne Luman and determine exactly what will be possible to provide.
 
Project: Professional Development Day
 
Description: Plan, organize and implement a premier event for project managers/professionals in the Inland NW area.  The professional day will be an annual event held in June.  The team responsible for this event will need to (among other things) secure venue, gather sponsors, select speakers, be responsible for advertising, menu, etc.  In addition, this team will prepare a lessons learned and a succession plan for PDD 2013.
 
Project: PMP Prep Class
 
Description:  Review and update current materials to ensure compliance after August update of certification/PMBOK.  Determine the schedule for the next class; prepare advertising; recruit PMP certified instructors from Chapter members; recruit coaches, etc.
 
Project: Books – Library and Give-a-ways
 
Description: The team will connect with members in regards to determining “how” best to meet their library needs.  This may include a member survey but will definitely need some “outside the box” thinking! 
 
Project: Mentor Program
 
Description: Build a mentor program for our Chapter members.  Determine what is possible; research other mentor programs; survey our membership and determine their needs. Then implement, implement, and implement!

PMI is Supporting Important Developments in Project Management by Launching the Agile Certification

Who Should Pursue the PMI Agile Certification?
Practitioners who are using Agile practices in their projects, or whose organizations are adopting Agile approaches to project management, are good candidates for the PMI Agile Certification. By earning the Agile certification, practitioners can:

• Demonstrate to employers their level of professionalism in Agile practices of project management
• Increase their professional versatility in both project management tools and techniques
• Show they have the capacity to lead basic Agile project teams by holding a certification that is more credible than existing training-only or exam-only based offerings

• May 2011 – Candidates for the Agile certification will be able to submit an application for the pilot. 
• August 2011 – Pilot testing is scheduled to begin.

North America/Latin America at customercare@pmi.org