I’ve always believed that its in
everyone’s best interests to have experienced practitioners give something back
to the industry. All of the below are volunteer positions which I have been
specifically invited to fill. The opportunity to advocate and promote the
industries involved; coupled with the opportunity to influence future
directions, standards and knowledge bases is always both challenging and
rewarding.
My most recent leadership roles working
both in and with professional
associations are summarised below.
Project Management Institute
The Project Management Institute (USA)
is arguably the most widely known and respected project management professional
association in the world.
In recent times the PMI has coupled
with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) to develop
combined Communities of Practice, which have the high level goals of mutually
advocating the complementary nature of the industries; and to provide
opportunities for leaders in both industries to network, grow their
organisations and increase the effectiveness of their core business.
Recently I was asked to speak at
a combined event on how the IIBA
Competency Standard can support both Business Analysts and Project
Managers in delivering successful project outcomes. This was an interesting
event as it involved advocating the expertise and value of both professions.
Through generating recognition that both Business Analysts and Project Managers
execute complementary functions in delivering sustainable change, both the PMI
and IIBA’s goals for the event were realised: Delegates not only grew in their
professional knowledge, but were better equipped in effectively working with
their professional cousins.
International Organisation for Standardization
The International Organisation for
Standardization (ISO) is currently managing a worldwide project seeking to
position project management to Project Sponsors of every kind. The final
deliverable of this project is a standard which will eventually become ISO
21500: A Guide to Project Management.
Standards Australia represents
Australia’s interests in this project, and in December 2009 I was invited to
join the Standards Australia Working Group in developing the standard. Unlike
PMBOK, PRINCE2 and similar publications, ISO 21500 is quite specifically
targeted at the Project Sponsor, and as such is a valuable and worthy addition
to the current standards currently comprising internationally accepted
principles of Best Practice.
Australian progress to date has
involved two drafts which have been extensively reviewed, and the final draft
was reviewed in Brazil 12-16 July 2010. At this conference the standard was
accepted, all that remains is the individual signoffs from each national body.
No significant changes are expected in this process, which will lead
to the final draft being released in 2011.
Australian Institute of Project Management
In 2008 the Australian Institute of
Project Management (AIPM) determined that its suite of competency standards
underpinning its Registered Project Manager recognition scheme was due for a
complete overhaul.
A quite early draft of the new
standards were released for public consultation, and as at the time I was
employed by the author of the previous (2004) standards I was quite keen to
contribute. After reviewing my (rather extensive!) feedback I was then invited
by the AIPM to participate in the Industry Reference Group. As the name
suggests, this small working group represented the project and program
management industry in Australia in developing the new standards
After this I was then invited to
participate in the Standards Review Committee, which wrote and progressively
reviewed subsequent drafts of the standards. I was then again invited to be a
temporary member of the AIPM Assessor Panel, which wrote the methodology by
which candidates are assessed against the new standards. Having successfully
transitioned the new standards into Business As Usual I then withdrew from the
permanent panel.
This was quite a unique role, as there
was no other person or organisation involved in the end to end development of
the new standards, and I’m quite proud of the results.
International Institute of Business Analysis
As the first recipient of the Certified
Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) certification in Australia, I’ve always
had quite a keen interest in all things related to the International institute
of Business Analysis (IIBA). I’m currently a member of the IIBA Global
Professional Development Committee, the scope of which includes development of
the IIBA Business Analysis Competency Standards.
I’m also a member of the CBAP Appeal
Committee and a Special Interest Group Leader in the IIBA Online Communities.
Australian Institute of Business Analysis
2009 and 2010 were exciting years for
Business Analysis in Australia, with the Australian Institute of Business
Analysis (AIBA) making real strides in Business Analysis competency standard
development.
Although there is the very real issue
that the AIBA is wholly owned by a private company specialising in Business
Analysis services, nonetheless the AIBA has a lot to offer and is well
positioned to drive Business Analysis forward in Australia.
Previous roles with the AIBA were
comprised of membership of two temporary industry bodies: The Training and
Development Sub-Committee and the Resourcing Sub-Committee. The fundamental
purposes of these committees were to facilitate the integration of the AIBA
standards into education and professional services offerings within Australia
Conferences and Publications
I truly can’t recall all the times I’ve
been published online: Industry newsletters, websites, interviews, articles I’ve
authorised and the like. Rather than attempt to track down them all I’ve simply
listed hard copy publications and recent speaking events.
2010 Industry Event:
Understanding the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge
2010 Industry Event:
Essential Project Management Communication Skills
2010 Industry Event:
Understanding the BABOK, and Experts Panel Discussion
2010 Industry Event:
Sustainable Change – Dissecting The Chaos Report and Lessons Learned for Business
2009 Association of
Regulatory and Clinical Scientists Annual Conference: Running Successful Projects in the
Therapeutic Goods Industry.
2009 Local Government
Managers Australia: Integrated Planning & Reporting and Managing Change.
2008 Industry Event:
Delivering Strategy Through Effective Project Management.
2007 Business Analyst World
Symposium: Pimp My Project (seriously, that’s what I called it).
2007 Industry Event: The
PMO & Portfolio Management.
2007 Business Analyst World
Symposium: Business Analysis Future Directions
2007 Business Analyst World
Symposium: Gaining Business Buy-In to Project Requirements.
2005 Executive PA
Conference: Understanding the Human Aspects of Project Management.
2004 Australian Financial
Review: Published on Contemporary Trends in Project Management.
2003 Executive PA
Conference: Project Management 101
| 
