*** PLEASE NOTE THIS MONTH'S EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE A WEEK EARLIER THAN NORMAL -TUESDAY  23RD SEPTEMBER** 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

After a long career as an environmental scientist and managing large-scale research projects, Mike turned his hand to managing projects within corporate environments.  Most of this time was spent as a contractor within the Oil & Gas and Financial Services sectors.  He has 12 years as a PMP, mostly managing projects and programmes within IT departments, an MBL and a passion for how projects work, how to do projects right, with a special interest in ‘People in Projects.  This predilection for project management frameworks and practices and has been employed to developed or improve methodologies.

Mike is currently employed at Engen to develop governance and practice frameworks and to develop Project Manager expertise through coaching and development.

ABOUT THE TALK:

Even though project management techniques and practices are well defined, we are often pressurised not to use good project management by our client.  We might even institutionalise this lapse in professionalism by defining an alternative ‘Project Lite’ methodology. 

The problem is: Who decides what the project needs?  Who has that amount of foresight?  What if we get it wrong? How do we govern the project? How do we assure the outcomes?

By analysing a number of different sized projects, we looked at what is eliminated for the sake of reduced project management complexity or reduced administrative overhead.  We then assessed the impacts. 

The conclusion is that we severely impact project outcomes by eliminating project management techniques and practices from the methodology.  Rather, we should rely on the professionalism of the project manager to tailor the project as befits its nature.

Project Governance: The bane of our lives

Every project manager curses project governance.  It’s that part of the job that prevents us from going home early on a Friday afternoon.  For some, it could be a good excuse for going home early - all that admin can be done from home.  But no matter how we manage it, project governance is hated by all and sundry.  Our clients call project governance an overhead cost.  Our suppliers call it paper work. Project Managers believe it keeps them away from their real work.  Experts tell us it’s just part of the job – live with it. 

And we do have to do it.  But could we try a different understanding this Project Governance that we all hate so much?  I reckon we easily confuse project governance with project assurance and with project administration.  All three are important in a project, but they serve different purposes.
Project Governance: appropriate directorship, authority and accountability within the project structure;
Project Assurance: the systematic actions necessary to provide confidence that the project outcomes are appropriate;
Project Administration: The records that result from governance and the records that support assurance.

TIME:

17:30 - 18:00 Registration
18:00 - 19:00 Presentation – Mike O' Callaghan

19:00 - 20:00 Snack and an opportunity to Network

COST:

Members
Online registration - Free of charge
Registration on the day - R60 incl VAT

Non-Members
Online registration and payment in advance - R75 incl VAT
Registration on the day or payment post event - R100 incl VAT

BANKING DETAILS:

Account name: PMISA
Branch: Nicolway
Account number: 1522079319
Reference: PMSA WC 28/5 (Initials, Surname)

RSVP:

Kindly note that RSVP is essential. Please complete the online registration.

Thank you to our PMSA Western Cape 2014 Events Sponsors: