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• Varied Skills the Key to Getting Ahead

• How to Attain More Value from Projects

• Planning on Paper Towel and Other Mistakes: A PM Trainer’s Perspective

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Nov-Dec 2008

• Six Ways to Negotiate with Other Cultures

• Gain Fast ROI from Virtualisation

• Communications Skills and Surfing Microsoft: A Trainer’s Perspective

Sept-Oct 2008

• A Different Approach to Project Management

• The Future of Software Development: A Developer’s Perspective

• Australian Organisations Set to Embrace UC with New Training Courses

Jul-Aug 2008

• DDLS at Tech.Ed: Meet the Presenters

• Is your organisation skilled to survive Australia’s economic downturn?

• A Step Closer to Business Process Management

Jun 2008

• Top Tips for Fear-Free Presenting

• How to Retain Your Employees

• Access to Data Makes your Business Smarter

May 2008

• Internet Protocol Volumes Explode: Manage your business’ risks

• Win the War Against Skills Shortage

• New General Manager at DDLS

April 2008

• Attend TrainIT for Charity for This Year’s Top Technology Insights

• Managing Employee-led Communication Tools at Work

• Top Tips for Project Managers to Improve Performance

March 2008

• Negotiation Skills

• SpecIT Student Q&A

Archived Issues

Planning on Paper Towel and Other Mistakes: A PM Trainer’s Perspective

Name: Stephen Hartley Title: Project Management Professional Workshop Facilitator Highlight of your time with DDLS? People in key project roles often come into the workshops with little formal training or understanding in project management. The best part of the job is seeing them leave with a suite of knowledge and skills that are REAL and that can be applied immediately.

1. What are the most common mistakes Project Managers (PMs) make when planning, implementing and managing a project?
Many PMs fail at all three aspects: planning, implementing and managing projects. I’ve seen project plans written at the same time as the project is implemented. I’ve also seen project plans created, but never referred to again. I have even seen a project scope for a refurbishment contract scrawled on a piece of paper towel with the heading ‘Project Scope’ followed by mindless doodles.

PMs need to take time to plan before commencing the real work of the project. Similarly the project plan needs to be continually updated as the project is implemented. And finally, managing projects involves many simple management skills that PMs don’t inherently possess including planning, leading, organising and controlling skills (management 101); they need to train up!

2. PMs have been in great demand over the last few years. Will this trend continue and why?
Business and Government will continue to adopt project management principles over the coming years as constraints on time, budgets, specifications and resources continue to pressure organisations. More rigour, structure and process will be needed to manage stakeholder expectations and the expected changes to these over time. The best results are achieved through planned, implemented and managed activities; this is exactly what project management offers.

3. How do you like to conduct your training courses?
I try to connect with each participant one-to-one to better understand their workplace, processes and issues with the intent to create an appropriate learning environment for everybody. I aim to keep my workshops extremely practical and interactive, while keeping them grounded in theory and best practice. It’s important to keep an appropriate mix of facilitation and self directed (supported) learning too.

4. Favourite pastime?
I have published two project management textbooks so most of my time is spent researching and writing… I also enjoy fishing and bush walking too.

5. What’s on your coffee table at the moment?
I have an on-going chess game with my son on the coffee table. Other items include The Witch of Portobello (written by Paulo Coelho), APC magazine and my daughter’s high school information kit on her new school.