Project Manager

Q: Is PM Training being used by companies in the engineering and construction management organizations?

In a recent blog post I asked readers to share their organizations’ project management future goals and aspirations.  The responses were varied and interesting –  please keep them coming! Not surprisingly, one area of interest is Earned Value Management (EVM). 

If your company has asked whether the money spent to properly train project managers is really worth it, here's a research statistic you may want to publicize:

92% of companies that have recovered failing projects cite the importance of the project manager's role in the turnaround.

In my last blog, I discussed the need for project managers to be involved in providing clear and complete requirements and statements of work (SOWs) to their vendor management organization.  After reading the blog, a client called to discuss “requirements,” and it became clear that we have just opened the door on a much wider discussion.

The title of this post came from a contracts attorney who shall remain nameless, quoting one of his company’s project managers.

He went on to describe his problem, and the problem of many procurement organizations:   “Many project managers don’t understand that they have a significant role in vendor management.” He observed that many of the problems in project management that were attributed to vendors actually began with inadequate
project  manager and project team participation in the procurement process. 

I agree!

Welcome to the PM College blog! One of the perks of teaching courses in project management is the conversation with project management professionals that arises in and outside of the classroom. Our desire is to extend that conversation to the Web, creating a network of project management professionals at all levels, to discuss those issues that you face each day.