This is a collection of useful short articles and links. It tries to collect together the thoughts of people who actually practice Project Management and Change Management.

Read more about Prince 2 Training

Just lately we have been receiving an increasing number of enquiries regarding our training in soft skills, people skills. Our approach is simple and explained here

Personally, I think this is very forward looking.  Many of us are too embarrassed to admit our weaknesses area such as

• listening skills
• negotiating
• team leadership
• facilitation
• recognising and dealing with stress.

It’s as though we think everyone should be able to do all of things. actually most of us Can do these things to an extent, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get better at them. For instance, I think I am OK in the kitchen. But I also know that a few lessons would make me a lot better.  it’s just not that important to me.

However, if my sucess at work or in life depended on my kitchen skills then I would go out there and get lessons and try to be as good as I could be.

So how many people depend on their soft skills, people skills to get things done at work. Could they be better?

As you may already know, a Change Management Practitioner qualification is currently in development. The current APMG plan is for these to be available to candidates as early as November 2009.  I think its fair to say that  a task as complex as this where the quality of the deliverables  is paramount …..may get delayed.

However, it is our intention at Project Laneways to be a the forefront of this. We plan to be the first to develop a Practitioner workshop and offer qualification.

I am on the exam panel and must respect the rules of confidentiality that I have signed up to, but I am quite excited about this.

The new version of PRINCE2, PRINCE2 2009, talks about embedding PRINCE2 in an organisation. This is about getting the organsiation to use PRINCE2 effectively. This will mean

• Training managers in PRINCE2
• Briefing Execcutives in PRINCE2

Tailoring PRINCE2 so that it is aligned with other organsiational processes e.g. annual budget process, account management, financial delegation etc

Coaching and mentoring Project Managers and Project Boards so that they use PRINCE2 intelligently and appropriately. It should be seen as a useful aid to Project Management not as an impediment

Being prepared to adapt the usage as the company eveolves.

In other words this is  Change Management Initiative and sits right at the cross roads of two Project laneways fields of expertise.  I intend to write more about this over the next few months.

Well, the PRINCE 2 2009 course materials have all been lodged. Samples have come back from the Printer and we have a green light.  People who licence the material for their courses seem to be happy as well.

Actually, I am quite excited about the new PRINCE2 2009. It is not perfect (but what human invention ever is) but there are many steps forward.

Apart from anything else, the new book is smaller and that must be a good thing

“Change is inevitable, except from a Vending Machine”  Robert C. Gallagher

I have to say I like that quote.