W14.1 – Budi – Two Stepping Stones

Continuing my effort to consolidate the updated project schedule, all project managers have started to submit their updated plan. Not yet regularly, and also not yet in a standard format, but at least it’s a start. Deep down, I feel that we are still a long way from having an EVM-based project control process. It has something to do with the competencies as well as company’s prioritization. Nevertheless, I believe that the company needs to build the project management competencies.

According to PMI’s Project Manager Competency Development (PMCD) Framework – Second Edition, Project Manager’s competence consists of three dimensions: knowledge competence, performance competence, and personal competence. The framework also provides guidelines on how to break down the competencies into competence criteria units, and the types of evidence needed to identify the project manager’s strengths and development needs.

From another point of view, Building Project Management Centers of Excellence by Dennis Bolles, PMP, provides an excellent curriculum for project management training.

These two books can be a great input for our training center, to improve the overall project management competencies.

I think that this is a big problem, because at this level of competencies, it is very difficult to send across the message of using earned value to control and monitor our projects.

On the other front, my initiative to simplify the work-time reporting has got a big push from the management. They want to see it used by our team as soon as possible. Now the tool to enable this new reporting is being developed. The proper project schedule update and the improved work time reporting are two stepping stones towards the Earned Value Project Management. But without the right level of project management competencies, the value of EVPM would be seen as too much additional work.

W.14.1-Chrisma-Tactical or Strategy

I remember back in the class how DR. PDG always saying that here in Indonesia how people so easily saying STRATEGY and or STRATEGIC in their planning. How is their so proud when saying that they have created strategy to win their battle. But before jump to conclusion why they say like that, let define clearly what is strategy and what is tactical.

Cited from wikipedia, Strategy refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal.  And corellation to a game theory, a strategy refers to one of the options that a player can choose. That is, every player in a non-cooperative game has a set of possible strategies, and must choose one of the choices.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy). Where the player has set the win-win solutions, knows thier risk of losing and how big of losing. Are they accept of the losing portion as long as big picture (aim) achieved. So in strategy, you already know your risk analysis assessment.

How about tactics or tactical, cited from wikipedia also and correlate to chess game (a game of true analytic scheme), a tactic refers to a short sequence of moves which limits the opponent’s options and may result in tangible gain. Tactics are usually contrasted with strategy, in which advantages take longer to be realized, and the opponent is less constrained in responding. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_tactics)

As you can see, strategic is more deeper in planning and risk assessment. When all possibly case (best case, more likely and worst case scenarios) has already determine.

That is why in my previous blog posting, I stated that my strategy was wrong, in which that I thought (in the worst case scenarios) that IF I did not join the distance learning group from day one, I cannot join them in what ever phase they have. BUT on the contrary, we still CAN join the distance learning group eventhough the bus driver has drop off all the tourists that have not done their assignments, and can pick up the hitch hiker that have addequate papers and documents. If so, maybe the tourists that has been drop off if they have the documents can join again to the bus, is it?

Nevertheless, this is the learning process for me that every thing can be negotiate, that is why 90% of PM has to be able to communicate and a good mediator.

Good night, this is the night of 2010 champion league final, may all questtocce team mates become the true CHAMPION.

WK14-Nui-Low Productivity

I have one question pop up on my head, “Why am I not productive?” during past two weeks. Even I can produce work as effectively but I fail in efficiency. I took more time than ever to read one book chapter. I try to pressure myself but nothing improves for more than one week. What the reason of my low productivity?

One I observe on my daily life, the main reasons are a lot of distractions, loose focus and high self pressure. A lot of distractions are come from situation in Bangkok, this make me nervous and worry what’s going on. So I frequently check news from internet, twitter and facebook. Second reason is about pressure that I have created to myself about this learning thing. I make reading schedule for myself to cope with revise project schedule. I miss many chapters and I can’t catch up. Moreover, I got supplemental task in last week, next week is benchmark exam and week after that is Bid, Oh my god! I feel guilty every time that I try to relax by watching TV, play game or even talking to my friend. I don’t want to give up, I don’t want to throw away what I have done and I want to pass it!

I can’t really concentrate on reading and other tasks. I have to shut down myself and turn to read dharma book. You may laugh at me but it’s true. It teaches us to always aware of what we are doing, try to OBSERVE what’s happen to our mind then react later. Nowadays, we have many things distract and I mostly react immediately. I think this make me can’t focus. I hope this could make me get back to normal stage and able to produce work as usual.

One more thing about 140 characters that is allowed to put on social network, that you have mentioned, I think it is beneficial to the readers like the precise heading news on newspaper. Even though sometimes grammar is neglected but the key message still contains convey to the reader. So it is better to get to the point rather than blah blah blah which wasting time to read without any additional value.