People or Process, Which Improves Success Rates The Most
 
Why do we rely on process so much when people do the work? We know process helps, but when people get involved, life becomes difficult. People or Process, as the name implies, looks directly at the role of people versus process in a project’s success or failure. The focus on process is a needed component, but does not obviate the need to manage people.  Unfortunately, the trend over the last fifteen years has been to focus on process and reduce the project to a checklist of tasks.  This has created a culture that neglects the value of a manager with people skills.
 
This presentation uses story telling, case studies, and class interaction to underscore the how people make or break a process. Attendees learn the importance of working closer with the people on the project by looking at:
 

The three major types of processes.
How processes improve our ability to handle exceptions.
The effect of relying on process in the workplace on interpersonal behavior.
An in-depth study of process on two common tasks—estimation and negotiation.
How process affects motivation.
The key drivers to motivate team members.

 
By the end of the presentation, attendees will understand the importance of balancing people and process, where to focus their efforts. The benefit of being more involved with the inner workings of the project will be evident.
 
For more information click here (Documents/NonsecureDocs/REST 2012 Brochure Final.pdf).

This year the theme of NASA Project Management (PM) Challenge is Evolve and Excel. NASA PM Challenge 2012 will be held at the Caribe Royale Hotel and Convention Center, Orlando, Florida on February 22-23, 2012. NASA PM Challenge provides the forum for all stakeholders in the Project Management Community to meet and share stories, lessons learned, and new uses of technology in the industry.
 
Todd C. Williams has been accepted to present on: People, Process, and Project Success
Presentation Abstract: Process drives our lives; however, too much reliance on process can be a significant contributor to project failure.
 
Processes are everywhere. We start our days in a ritual for getting ready for work or school following the same steps day after day. We cannot escape it; developing and following process makes our lives easier. Formal processes are required to maintain consistency and accuracy, not to mention to abide by regulations. At first, this appears to be the most obvious statement; however, add people-people with personality, prejudice, and protest-and enforcing processes becomes more difficult.
 
To deal with the reality of business, you need a toolbox of techniques that can address the needs of the people who supply you information, the managers that consume your information, and the competing interests of stakeholders. To do that, you need an understanding of how people perform and methods to incentivize them.This presentation looks at the lynch pin of government and business-process-why it is important, when it works, and how its overuse generates failure. It provides a number of examples showing why people are unpredictably unreliable and methods to improve their performance. At its conclusion you will have insight to some of the quirks inherent in people, experience from exposing the traits in yourself, and teaches you how to handle them.

This year the theme of NASA Project Management (PM) Challenge is Evolve and Excel. NASA PM Challenge 2012 will be held at the Caribe Royale Hotel and Convention Center, Orlando, Florida on February 22-23, 2012. NASA PM Challenge provides the forum for all stakeholders in the Project Management Community to meet and share stories, lessons learned, and new uses of technology in the industry.
 
Todd C. Williams has been accepted to present on: People, Process, and Project Success
Presentation Abstract: Process drives our lives; however, too much reliance on process can be a significant contributor to project failure.
 
Processes are everywhere. We start our days in a ritual for getting ready for work or school following the same steps day after day. We cannot escape it; developing and following process makes our lives easier. Formal processes are required to maintain consistency and accuracy, not to mention to abide by regulations. At first, this appears to be the most obvious statement; however, add people-people with personality, prejudice, and protest-and enforcing processes becomes more difficult.
 
To deal with the reality of business, you need a toolbox of techniques that can address the needs of the people who supply you information, the managers that consume your information, and the competing interests of stakeholders. To do that, you need an understanding of how people perform and methods to incentivize them.This presentation looks at the lynch pin of government and business-process-why it is important, when it works, and how its overuse generates failure. It provides a number of examples showing why people are unpredictably unreliable and methods to improve their performance. At its conclusion you will have insight to some of the quirks inherent in people, experience from exposing the traits in yourself, and teaches you how to handle them.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012 10:00 am Pacific Standard Time
 
About: "Tearing Down Project Barriers Between Business and IT"
With the current rate of project failures, estimated anywhere from thirty to seventy percent, improving project success rates must be one of every project manager’s primary goals. However, there are no silver bullets. Therefore, reversing the tide of project failure entails more than applying process. Process only addresses a small fraction of the problems plaguing our projects. A major missing component is a thorough comprehension of the project’s value to the customer. Dismantling the walls between customers and suppliers is a responsibility far from the reach of any given project, but is single area where the most benefit can be seen. It requires using a number of techniques, learned while recovering red projects, to improve the chances of their success. It requires using the concept of Guidance Teams, quantitatively measuring stakeholder alignment for portfolios long before the project is started. These techniques get the project delivery people involved with the project during the customer’s inception. The presentation covers:• The concept and responsibilities of a Guidance Team.• Involving the delivery team at the customer's project inception.• Measuring and maintaining stakeholder expectations from inception through delivery.• Simple tricks to improve communication with the project team.• Defining the proper methodology for the project.The focus is customer and stakeholder relationship. By creating and maintaining alignment at a point long before the project actually starts, greatly improves the chances for success.At the end of the webinar, attendees will understand the benefits of and methods for fostering early stakeholder involvement and methods measure and maintain alignment. This advanced webinar conveys techniques that executives and PMO managers can implement.

 
This Webinar earns Professional Development Units (PDUs) recognized by the Project Management Institute. After logging into the click here (https://attaskevents.webex.com/mw0306lb/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=attaskevents&service=6&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Fattaskevents.webex.com%2Fec0605lb%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26confViewID%3D280280791%26siteurl%3Dattaskevents%26%26%26)
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