Planning Planet Newsletter - 29th Sept 2015

Dear Planning Planet Members,

Please find below some messages from the Guild and from one or two of our sponsors...

Dear Planning Planet Members,

Subject: Exam questions for Planning & Scheduling Foundation Level 

We are looking for some support in the creation of questions for our next Planning & Scheduling examination.  Over the past few months we have learnt that whilst you, as subject matter experts, know about planning and scheduling, there is a science about how to create a very good exam question, especially when it is multiple choice or rank ordering etc.

We have also learnt that to ensure that questions are not over exposed we do need a sizeable question bank. 

We have organised for some short webinar training sessions on "How to Write a Good Examination Question". These sessions will be 60 to 90 minutes in length.  The first of these sessions are planned as follows:

• Tuesday, 6th October at 2:00 PM BST
• Thursday, 7th October at 2:00 AM BST (for any folks who may be in Asia)
• Thursday, 7th October at 3:00 PM BST

Please contact us via the admin@GuildofProjectControls.com [1] team as to which date you are able to attend. If you would like to participate, but are not able to make these dates, please let us know and we will try and offer further dates. Please indicate which time zone you are in.

We look forward to your valued contribution and thank you in advance for your support.

Very best Peoplecert, Certifying Professionals

Are you a Planning Felon?

Felonious Planning and the Law of Parsimony

The Law of Parsimony states that the simplest or most elegant solution is the best solution. But in project planning, we often seem to think that complexity adds to the credibility of our plan. Is a 50,000 activity schedule necessarily more illustrative for group understanding than an elegant 300 activity schedule?

Read more [2]...

Are you A Seasoned Practitioner and can check the Guild Standard of Practice?

If you are suitably experienced and want to help with the final pre-live review of one or more of the following "Guild Modules" we would love to hear from you.  

These are living documents which are all organised around the following sub-headings: (1) Introduction & Process Map, (2) Inputs, (3) Tools & Techniques, (4) Outputs and (5) References and Templates and are thus process-driven and consistent in terms of structure.

1. Managing Project Controls
2. Managing People
3. Managing Scope
4. Managing Risk & Opportunity
5. Managing Contracts
6. Managing Resources
7. Managing Planning & Scheduling
8. Managing Cost Estimating & Budgeting
9. Managing Project Cost Accounting
10. Managing Project Progress & Performance 
11. Managing Change
12. Managing Historical Project Databases
13. Managing Forensic Performance Assessment

Clueless Planning

If you have seen any of the AT&T ads featuring kids brainstorming, then you have an idea what it is like to be in a planning session without the relevant subject matter experts. If you haven’t seen any of these ads, then click here [3]. We will wait…

Read more [4]...

Join Planning Planet at Project Challenge Expo [5]: FREE to attend!

Register now [6]

Kensington Olympia, 6^th and 7^th October 2015

Project Challenge Expo [5], the UK’s leading independent event for projects, programmes, process and resource, has announced an early speaker line-up that’s set to bring you all the latest on project planning and controls – with 40 free seminars for you to choose from.

The widely recognised event, which returns to the popular location of Kensington Olympia on the 6^th and 7th October 2015, promises a diverse and value-adding programme of distinguished speakers. The programme is carefully designed to benefit project planning and controls professionals seeking new advice, tools and techniques in a welcoming peer-to-peer environment.

Naturally, Planning Planet will be at the event in full force. We’ll be exhibiting as well as presenting: Look out for updates on our seminar very soon.

In the meantime, organisers have just released news of the first high profile speakers confirmed for Project Challenge Expo. Key planning and control seminars include:

What change activities should I include in my project plan? Melanie Franklin, Co-Chair, Change Management Institute and Director, Agile Change Management Limited.

Mastering your project controls: Malcolm West, MD PROJECT in a box

Optimizing the utilization of your skilled resources. How to balance demand and capacity in volatile multi-project environments. Barry Muir, Director, Innate Management Systems Ltd.

Plus, there are plenty of opportunities to update on the latest in continuous professional development tools, career progression options, and the crucial interpersonal skills that so often make the difference between a successful project and a disaster! Make sure you catch:

Developing Project Leadership: Sarah Coleman, Director, Business Evolution Ltd & Donnie MacNicol, Director, Team Animation Ltd.

How good are you at managing difficult conversations with senior managers? Bernard Murray-Gates, Principal Consultant at CITI.

Managing Agile, Waterfall and Hybrid projects within the Portfolio: Jon Lewis, Director, Ninth Wave.

Challenges and Trends in a PMO Practitioner’s Career: Eileen Roden and Lindsay Scott, PMO Flashmob.

This distinguished line-up will be joined by a further 33 esteemed experts across four targeted presentation zones:

• Case Studies and Expertise Zone [7]
• Master Class Zone [8]
• Learning and Professional Development Zone [9]
• Solutions Presentations Zone [10]

A busy exhibition floor is also anticipated, showcasing the latest in best practice solutions from the sector’s leading consultants, vendors, suppliers, associations and institutes. Make sure you make your way to the Planning Planet stand for news, resources and advice from the worlds' largest community of Planners, Project Controllers, Cost Engineers and Project Delivery professionals!

The full programme for Project Challenge Expo 2015 is being constantly updated, so once you’ve registered for your free delegate place [6], make sure you stay up to date on the website [5] as well as via Twitter [11] and LinkedIn [12].

• www.projchallenge.com [5]