Wow, just came across this one. There is a PMI Chapter in Canada, Calgary, (Souther Alberta Chapter) that has just organized a Conference with more than 500 project managers to attend. Everybody who has ever organized an event or a conference does know how much efforts gos into it. Venue, Speakers, Registration, the whole caring about delegates, accommodation, sponsorships, guidelines, speakers and their papers, website, content, etc etc etc.

So these guys now managed to organize the whole conference called PMI SAC Conference. Even if the program looks great by covering all areas of leadership, coaching, influencing, self-promotion and how to create winning projects. A two day conference for less than a 1.000 Dollars.

Program packed with good stuff and great presentation on the website with all the details.

Neil Sanderson, President of the Local Chapter is reffering to the demand on well trained project managers.

There is no lack of work all over the world for professional project managers. There is always a huge demand for professionally trained project managers, and, in these uncertain economic times, the demand is even greater.

I heard these things for the last 3 month a couple of times. When the going gets rough the tough gets going. Meaning that if there is a downturn in economy, projects are getting cut and therefore he demand is slowing down the demand for training is getting higher. As the Project Manager has the time to train as well as needs to catch up with certifications and special skills and has to get ahead of the ‘competition’.

Richard Egelstaff referred to that in his presentation at the PMI Queensland Chapter in September this year and mentioned that now is the perfect time to attend training. And whether its a training course or a conference the result will put you as a potential candidate for a role ahead of your competition applying for the same role.

How ever, great example how to organize a very successful conference and how to create a great website supporting that initiative.

Yesterday I had the paid pleasure to attend a Training Course, facilitated by Mosaic Projects by Pat Weaver, talking about “How to develop an effective schedule“.

A one day course from 09am to 04ish with 2 hours of break in between for good networking opportunities, using the facilities from AIM (Australian Institute of Project Management) with a great and addictive Bookstore in the House open to the public.

Pat has contributed to the Practice Standard for Scheduling (Chapter 3 has been written half by him),  issued by the Project Management Institute and as a certified PMP and PMP-SP is a very knowledgeable person in that field.

Pat divides the topic in 5 important steps

• Step 1 - Planning the Planning
• Step 2 - Developing the Baseline Schedule
• Step 3 - Setting Reasonable Objectives
• Step 4 - Maintaining the Plan
• Step 5 - Reviewing & Validating the Schedule

Beside explaining the topic Pat was always referring to valuable content on his website that contributes to the topic explained. More examples are described and shown there and are open to the public.

So we have got exposed to a powerful process, understood that stakeholder management is important throughout the whole lifecycle of the plan, received a copy of “The Practice Standard for Scheduling”, got known to other peers and had the opportunity to shop in the bookstore which many of us took advantage from.

Some more practical examples and case studies (how to facilitate a Planning Workshop, good working examples of good schedules in various formats etc.) that teach you how to apply the process learned about, less basic and fundamentals, less powerpoint but more explanation and highlighting how the process need to be adapted and can be applied in organisations that are less mature would be needed.