05 October 2018 Newsletter

Dear Planning Planet Member,

Please find below this weeks newsletter. We hope that you find it adds value to your day. Please visit our sponsors as they keep our servers running and without them, we will cease to exist...

Hello PPers,

As you know I (James Williams) help run Planning Planet and collectively we are the largest online "project" community in the World; we have 150,000+ project practitioners and I've also been one of the ~500 subject experts helping develop the project controls competency tool box (i.e. body of knowledge, role descriptors, capability self-assessments and competency certifications) for the Guild of Project Controls.

Because of the work I am doing with the Guild I observed that they have two competency certifications that align with the knowledge expectation of the PMI's Project Management Professional (PMP) certification; these are the their Planning & Scheduling Professional Certification (PSPC) AND also their Cost Management Professional Certification (CMPC). 

These cover the Managing Project Controls knowledge domain as well as the Managing Scope, Managing Planning & Scheduling, Managing Cost and also Managing Project Progress domains and have the same KNOW and UNDERSTAND expectation like the PMP and the PMBOK domains.

Myself and other Guild of Project Controls members have asked why the Guild doesn't recognise our PMPs which is a bit ironic because many of these 500 experts and contributors are PMP holders themselves who were involved in the shaping and creation of the above tool box.

As Planning Planet Founder I challenged the Guild Certification Board and showed them that I am doing all of this work learning the PMP so shouldn't the Guild recognise that my new proven PMP knowledge would also allow me to pass their credential?

After mapping the PMP expectations to the Guild expectations they who now agree that any member with a current PMP can be issued with these two certifications as recognition of them having been through the rigour of demonstrating they have the above KNOW and UNDERSTAND elements of Planning, Scheduling and Cost Management.

As a result and as Founder of Planning Planet they are allowing me to recruit 500 current PMP holders as they seek to recruit a core of PMP individuals to grow their footprint but also to have PMP individuals who know me who may want be involved in any future Guild ideas and decision processes.   If you think you would like to join me in requesting these two additional certifications (no additional exam or assessment) then please contact me as I can help you claim one of the 500 allotted from the Guild Certification Board.

All I need to do it finish my own PMP in time to get the 500th allocation!!

Hope this helps and have a great day.

James Williams  james.wiliams@planningplanet.com [1]

Every project has stakeholders and identifying their role and importance for your project can be key for ensuring swift decision making and the ability to recognize which needs take priority over others. You need to know who to convince or who to support...

If you are wondering how to identify project stakeholders.  Read the blog [2]...

We are supporting the UK Synergy 2018 Conference and wanted to tell our UK members about it.  We hope this adds value; it is called Scope & Benefits or Bust!

Where: Your Friends House 173-177 Euston Road London NW1 2BJ, Opposite Euston Station

When: Thursday 1 November 2018 And related workshops Wednesday 31 October 2018

Check out the Conference... [3] Check out the Workshops... [4]

Are YOU a Project Controls Practitioner - are YOU ambitious?

Do you seek PROMOTION or do you want to better UNDERSTAND YOUR Stengths and SKILLS (in private) or do you seek that NEW ROLE?

Proven Practitioner provides ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED

Go to Premium [5] and sign up!  

Have the first month free NOW at this low INTRODUCTORY PRICE!

Coming up in November, PrimaveraReader’s team will be showcasing PrimaveraReader™ [6] at the largest Project Controls events:

>Project Controls Symposium 2018 - 2nd- 3rd Nov, Houston, Texas.
>Project Controls Expo 2018 UK - 14th Nov, London, UK
>Project Controls Expo 2018 AUS - 22nd Nov, Melbourne, Australia

If you are visiting any of the conferences, say hello to the team or even pre-schedule a meeting at contact@primaverareader.com [7] and learn more about PrimaveraReader™ and where it can fit in your company. 

Watch this on-demand webcast [8] to learn how Swinerton Builders achieved dynamic enterprise reporting that brings real progress directly from the field to the fingertips of decision-makers.

Discover how Oracle’s Primavera platform serves up insights that are tailored for different levels of the organization and allows Swinerton to make better decisions from better data.

Many organizations today recognize the need to incorporate comprehensive cost management and earned-value analysis capabilities into their project portfolio management systems.

Read our blog [9] to learn about how new enhancements to Oracle’s Primavera Unifier enable users to perform EVM to better analyze the progress and performance of projects.

As a planner, we usually need a second monitor to be more productive. If you have an iPad, you can easily make it a second monitor.

Follow the simple steps in this link [10]and begin to increase your productivity.

Best-in-class organizations use earned value management (EVM) on projects and programs that deliver a product or measurable outcome in order to avoid and eliminate surprises.

It is critical to determine how much work has been accomplished and compare that to the growing costs and against a well thought out plan.

Download this exclusive white paper [12] that explores the 32 EVM principles in the ANSI standard EIA-748C and the National Defense Industrial Association’s (NDIA) Earned Value Management Systems Intent Guide. 

Learn how to use ARES PRISM to conform to the AACE International Recommended Practice 82R-13 today.

Planning Planet Forum Topic:

Here is an interesting discussion around the Preferred Progress Measurement Technique in P6; pros and cons of physical vs duration etc.

Would it make sense to build resources loaded schedule (labor non labor) if the duration is 15 months. Which method would be preferred over another if you have resources loaded in the schedule., get involved.

Read & Get Invovled... [13]

Our Project Controls Gatherings are a great opportunity for our members to discuss industry issues, share ideas and form new connections. Here is a list of our upcoming gatherings...

• Motherwell, Scotland [14] - Saturday 13th October 2018
• Houston, USA [15] - Project Controls Symposium - Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd November 2018

These meetings may just form the beginning of lasting professional relationships. Don’t miss out! Follow the links above to sign up.

What should I do if I can't see a meeting near me?

If you don’t see an event near you listed above, why not create your own? Just email james.williams@planningplanet.com [16] to get started.

To make sure these events can be as successful as possible, please forward this to your friends and colleagues so they can also get involved.

Every industry has its publications that are held to that lofty status of go-to guides, and project controls is no exception.

Rather than spend valuable time weeding through the volumes that are available out there, we bring you the top 24, can’t-miss project controls books that every good project professional has on their shelf.

Follow this link [17] to read more.

San Diego, California - JANUARY 20 – 23, 2019

For 2019 the Construction CPM Conference returns to San Diego

We have booked six meeting rooms over three full days.

Two keynotes – Seventy-Seven breakouts – Five networking events – One conference

Early Early Bird Rate Ends 15JUL18.  Our Best Rates for Speakers & Exhibitors is open to all – until 16JUL18.  REGISTER NOW [18] for $825.

Have you taken a look at the Guild of Project Controls' Role Descriptors yet? 

This is the perfect tool for those who want to find out the baseline knowledge required for their role and level of seniority - think of it as a job descriptor for all roles and levels of competence.

If you are a Guild Member, do give it a try here [19], or if you would like to find out more about becoming a member of the Guild, click here [20]. 

Project Controls Plan (PCP) is a well-defined documented Project Controls execution strategy that describes specific processes, procedures, systems, & tools used by the Project Control team throughout the project lifecycle.

Read the full article here [21]...

I am working in Oil and Gas Sector on the Main Contractor Side. The senario here is we have a Contract with Cleint which says the Client Review period is 5 Calendar Days after Issue of Deliverable.

If the Client didnt respond back in 5 days I take the Deliverbale to be approved and take the full credit. So is it Ok to take the credit after the review period if the Client has not responded or should I wait till the Client responds to take the credit. Some times the Client takes 1 Month to respond. What is your view on this? Answer on the forum here [22]...

Scenario: I am a mature student who has decided to cross over in to the AEC field from the food industry.  I have no experience as yet in AEC but am hoping to get an opportunity in the planning side of things.  I am considering to have the subject title above as my dissertation topic and would like some help and pointers on resources, case studies etc. Other suggestions for a planning related topic would also be welcome.

Have anything to add to the discussion? Answer on the forum here... [23]

What is needed to come up with a production rate?

A duration of time, the manhours involved, and an amount of work produced

This section of Planning Planet [24]is here to document this. 

What information do you have that you can share?

Do you lose too much time on a daily basis, creating separate PDF documents for each project team that has no other way of receiving project schedule information created with Oracle® Primavera P6?

Find out how PrimaveraReader helps Project Schedulers [25] in the biggest companies around the globe to improve the efficiency of their work.

A superior alternative to the "most popular" software for us as planners? 

Spider Project (SP) is a functional and powerful professional project management software.

Today it is used in 34 countries though most Spider Project customers are in Russia. Spider Project offers numerous unique functional features and is the only PM software that optimizes resource, cost, and material constrained schedules and budgets for projects and portfolios.

The unique features of Spider Project include Quantity Based Scheduling, Conditional Scheduling, Skill Scheduling, Optimal Resource, Cost and Material Leveling, Resource Critical Path Calculation, Cash and Material Flows Calculation and Management, Trend Analysis, Advanced Risk Simulation and Analysis, Calculation of Success Probability Trends, Calculation and Management of required Project Time and Cost Buffers, Application of Corporate Norms, Management of many Parallel Budgets, Multiple WBS and many others.

Spider Project was and is used for management of many large scale programs in Russia, including $51bln construction program for 2014 Winter Olympic Games preparation.  Check it out here [26]...  

Here is your chance to join one of the largest project delivery organisations in the world! Following their purchase of CH2M Hill, Jacobs are an even more exciting place to work - and a true global leader - a 'must have' for your CV!  Here is their advertisement...

We’re hiring!

Opportunities await you.  We are working on some of the most exciting, iconic projects around the world.

Jacobs has recently won a major contract, known as the Programme Delivery Partner (PDP) – for the provision of project management, project controls and integrated logistics support - with the Ministry of Defence's (MOD's) Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Agency, based in Bristol. DE&S is seeking our support at their offices across the UK and we are, therefore, keen to identify people who are interested in working for Jacobs, and being involved in PDP, across the UK.

The award of the PDP contract, estimated to be worth more than £250m over the next two years, with the option to extend this for an additional two years.

We invite YOU to bring your best self to work with us and progress your career on either this exciting new project or one of the other exciting projects and programmes Jacobs is supporting across the UK. Join our team and say “Hello” to a whole new future.

Let's get social!

We'd love to connect with you on our social media platforms. Not only can you easily get in touch with us on our LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, we also share a lot of useful information including event alerts, news, job opportunities and interesting blog posts. Following us will also help to get you connected with others in the industry!

Build your network and keep up to date by following us on social media, just click the icons to get started.

The Compendium and Reference (CaR) is a document which forms The Guild Standards.

We have where possible offered advice as to previously written material which is in the public domain and proven to be of such quality that it can be used as a reliable reference of "best tested and proven practice".

The CaR is a living document being continually improved, supplemented and updated by the Guild community to reflect improvements to practices, opinions and methods in our chosen profession. The Guild is ready to receive suggestions at any time for updates to the CaR Standards.

Take a look here [33].

Whatever the eventual outcomes of the prolonged Brexit saga that Britain is currently engulfed in, for the moment at least, employment in the UK is as healthy as it has ever been. The employment rate is the joint highest since records began in 1971. Likewise, the unemployment rate is the lowest since 1975. These contrast sharply with the analysis before and since the vote to leave the EU in 2016, predicting that employment in the UK would suffer greatly post-Brexit.  Read the blog... [35]

Have you tried the Guild of Project Controls' Assessment Centre? 

From this tool you will be able to ascertain your strengths and weaknesses against the many years of research that the Guild has ascertained are the Standards required for your role.

Further, for the first time you will know how you stack up in terms of skills in the Project Controls industry whatever your role.

Give it a try here [37]!

• Abuja, Nigeria – Oct 24/25
• Almaty, Kazakhstan – Oct 26/27
• Moscow, Russia – Oct 31
• PC Expo London – Nov 13-14
• Melbourne, AU – Nov 28
• Kuwait city, Kuwait – Nov 30
• Rio, Brazil – December 06
• Porto, Portugal – Mar 19

MEMBERS [40]

See who you know from within our 150,000+ membership pool!

GUILD [41]

Take a look at the worlds first and only competence based credentials supported by a career path, role descriptors, self-assessment tools and online compendium desk reference of best tested and proven tools and techniques for project controls practitioners.

BLOG [42]

Join other members who share their thoughts and ideas in the form of blog posts.

FORUM [43]

100,000+ questions and answers to the topics we struggle with (mostly software!) on a day to day basis.

WIKI [44]

A knowledge-base that can be contributed to or utilized by anyone with skills and/or interest in planning, scheduling or project controls. No Wiki page or article is owned by its creator or any other editor, and its content relies upon collaboration and teamwork. How can you contribute?

BUILD TIMES [24]

What is needed to come up with a production rate? A duration of time, the manhours involved, and an amount of work produced? Take a look and get involved.

JOBS [45]

This has been dusty and quiet place for some time now. We have been liaising with recruiters, headhunters and talent managers plus a ream of corporate leaders and very soon we will have the largest live repository of project controls jobs in the world. Check back soon.

ADVERTISERS [46]

Check out our Silver and Gold partners and see if you'd like to be included there also.