The Asia Pacific Global Congress 2009 has ended, but I would like to share my overall impressions. The congress was definitely less crowded than last year in Sydney, Australia. A symptom of the tightening global economy, but paradoxically, this probably made the event more enjoyable.
There was time and space to meet and talk to interesting people, the quality of the papers was exceptional, and the social events entertaining and interesting.
Here are some of the highlights:
• Young Min Park's paper suggesting many of the processes in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) were applied 200 years ago in Korea for the building of the Hwaseong fortress. This paper clearly demonstrated projects have been around for millennia.
• Patrick Weaver's paper on improving schedule management. He linked a clear understanding of the history of scheduling to the emerging views of projects as social networks and temporary knowledge organizations to suggest improved ways of using a schedule to influence future team actions and decisions.
• The Tastes of Malaysia reception--the food was interesting, the displays of local culture and music fascinating. And watching the dozens of project managers armed with wooden mallets hammering disks of pewter into bowls to take home was a sight to remember. What is it about us project managers that makes bashing something with a large hammer so attractive?
A final observation: Despite their similarities, the various PMI global congresses are definitely developing a flavor of their own:
• The North American congress is impressive in its size, scale and power. Too much to do, too much to see and thousands of people. Total exhaustion at the end.
• The atmosphere at the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) congress feels more collegiate, cultural and measured. Delegates seem intent on gaining the maximum benefit from their time at the congress right through to the last session on the last day.
• The Asia Pacific congress seems more fun. There is a huge range of cultures present and conversations ebb and flow, people introduce themselves to strangers, thousands of business cards are exchanged and at the end everyone has a new network of friends.
I would recommend spreading your wings and planning visits to congresses outside of your region if time and expenses allow. You will definitely see different aspects of our profession.
This congress has been fun, but now I have to get ready to work. I'm presenting a SeminarsWorld® workshop.
Editor's Note: Read more about the PMI Global Congress 2009--Asia Pacific on PMI.org.
There was time and space to meet and talk to interesting people, the quality of the papers was exceptional, and the social events entertaining and interesting.
Here are some of the highlights:
• Young Min Park's paper suggesting many of the processes in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) were applied 200 years ago in Korea for the building of the Hwaseong fortress. This paper clearly demonstrated projects have been around for millennia.
• Patrick Weaver's paper on improving schedule management. He linked a clear understanding of the history of scheduling to the emerging views of projects as social networks and temporary knowledge organizations to suggest improved ways of using a schedule to influence future team actions and decisions.
• The Tastes of Malaysia reception--the food was interesting, the displays of local culture and music fascinating. And watching the dozens of project managers armed with wooden mallets hammering disks of pewter into bowls to take home was a sight to remember. What is it about us project managers that makes bashing something with a large hammer so attractive?
A final observation: Despite their similarities, the various PMI global congresses are definitely developing a flavor of their own:
• The North American congress is impressive in its size, scale and power. Too much to do, too much to see and thousands of people. Total exhaustion at the end.
• The atmosphere at the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) congress feels more collegiate, cultural and measured. Delegates seem intent on gaining the maximum benefit from their time at the congress right through to the last session on the last day.
• The Asia Pacific congress seems more fun. There is a huge range of cultures present and conversations ebb and flow, people introduce themselves to strangers, thousands of business cards are exchanged and at the end everyone has a new network of friends.
I would recommend spreading your wings and planning visits to congresses outside of your region if time and expenses allow. You will definitely see different aspects of our profession.
This congress has been fun, but now I have to get ready to work. I'm presenting a SeminarsWorld® workshop.
Editor's Note: Read more about the PMI Global Congress 2009--Asia Pacific on PMI.org.
I am myself more in the Lean approch with a vision but familiar with Agile way.
On my way I met supposed expert or too much by the book people that try to develop solutions and not having the overall picture or a broad view of the actual situation. Being by the PMBOOK book or Agile way as a basic is nice but better if the person can transform this info. in improving by expanding our inner self creativity and innovation and use it as a leverage with others.
I have discovered that being by the book is not fast enough to adapt to specific critical issues. Creativity and innovation, foreseen problems at the most early stage before they appear does adapt really fast and help correct the project direction in a easy and smooth way.
Linda, Thank you for the sweet and concise review. I admit that I missed attending this one. The last one I attended was in HK in 2007 and I admired your clarity on the stake holder management seminar. Thank you for all you are.
Linda, I agree with you the small size of the congress enalbed to create much more meaningful relationships. I was also interested by the fact that many of the presentations were much less technical than in North America. See my Blog "Key Messages..."