The Government Project Difference

Advertisement [Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® Training]( A full 71% of organizations now report using agile approaches for projects. Use this [fast-growing certification]( to increase your PM versatility now! - Earn the required contact hours (21) to sit for the PMI-ACP® Exam - Use self-paced practice exams - Pass the exam on the first try, guaranteed* [Contact Us](mailto:contactus@projectmanagement.com) [About Us]( [Update Profile]( November 29, 2017 As our month-long look at Government PM nears its end, we discuss some key differences. Plus, 7 habits of an effective project manager, the speed of your PMO and strategies for engaging PM students (one of many offerings from our recent [Open House](fall-2017))!). The Knowledge Shelf helps your change adoption efforts, while our blogs share 3 ways to keep your project on budget and 5 levels of project financial management maturity. And readers ask for advice on making a difference and the pace of change in our forums! Advertisement [Webinar – Your PMO @ Hyperspeed]( Join Planview's Linda Roach and featured speaker from Forrester, Margo Visitacion vice president principal analyst, for a discussion on the role of a digitally focused PMO. During the webinar they will cover the skills, tools and techniques required for delivering value at hyperspeed. [Register today!]( "I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship." - Louisa May Alcott []PM HEADLINES [Government Projects Are Different: Discuss]( It is true that government projects are different...but not in the way that some argue. While it is wrestling with an entirely different animal to successfully manage the delivery of government projects, this PM argues those that do it well are some of the best project managers he knows. [We Don't Track Benefits…We're Government!]( Just because an organization is in the public sector doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to manage to benefits. If we forget about public versus private sector for a moment, the premise that projects are undertaken to deliver results rather than just outputs should be clear. [Habits of the Effective Project Manager]( While one optimal mix of attributes does not transcend every organization any project manager may work in, are there personal behaviors beyond core PM skills of risk, scope and schedule management that further differentiate exceptional PMs? This author says yes... [PMO Speed Freaks]( Historically, projects have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with speed. And if there is one characteristic that differentiates a business-focused PMO from any other, it is the ability to drive project execution as fast as the business requires. [Transitioning from the Private Sector into Government PM]( Those that have managed projects in a government agency after experience in the private sector have noted a difference in expectations for participation in projects, roles and responsibilities, and readiness for project success. Learnings from our Government topic section will help you take an effective consulting role in your transition into the public sector. "I think it's intoxicating when somebody is so unapologetically who they are." - Don Cheadle [Strategies for Engaging Students in PM Education]( Teaching project management prepares students to be college and career ready. Read about one teacher’s journey to bring PM to the classroom using no-cost resources from the PMI Educational Foundation. [Making a Difference in the Nonprofit World: Teaching PM Principles Can Change Lives]( Project management can transcend what you do in your business life. Learn how this practitioner helped people in need through work with a non-profit organization. [A College Professor's Handbook: Producing Future Project Managers]( Read how this tenured associate professor, who instructs in construction management at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, considers it his responsibility to develop opportunities for his students to acquire new skills and knowledge in project management. []KNOWLEDGE SHELF [Practical Methods for Successful Change Adoption]( What are the elements that can ensure a successful project adoption? What are some basic tactics that can be used to help make sure that stakeholders and in-the-trenches users have the best attitude possible to make the change and spread the news to their colleagues? The mission of [Knowledge Shelf]( is to help project professionals advance our practice by sharing their experiences and viewpoints. It is comprised of practitioners from a wide range of fields, covering both popular and niche topics. From lessons learned and case studies to opinion pieces and articles, this platform gives a voice to peers new to our online community, and allows for longer form contributions. For more information on how to submit your own article, please see our [Editorial Guidelines](. []THE PM POLL Is there a question you've been itching to ask? [Create a poll]( today to get some PM help from your peers! [Q: Which soft skill is the most important?]( - Communication - Negotiation - Motivation - Business Acumen - Influencing - Conflict Management - Other TOOL SPOTLIGHT Office Timeline is a free, award winning add-in for Microsoft PowerPoint that automatically creates professional timelines and Gantt charts in minutes. It makes presenting projects to colleagues, customers and management quick and easy. [Learn More]( [Search for your solution on our Tool Finder]( []BLOG IT Voices on Project Management by Conrado Morlan and Dave Wakeman Need a cheat sheet to help explain the profession to anyone you encounter this holiday season? Have no fear! Dave helps show how [Project Management Is For Everyone](. Plus, are organizations “toolizing” project management? Conrado shares more in [Project Management? There’s an App for That](. The Money Files by Elizabeth Harrin What's the difference between a technical PM and a technical service delivery manager? Elizabeth shares more in her [latest entry](. Plus, [3 Ways To Keep Your Project on Budget]( and [5 Levels of Project Financial Management Maturity](. Servant Leadership: Serve to Be Great by Mike Frenette//www.projectmanagement.com/blog-post/32750/Are-You-Ready-for-Your-Next-Project-- What stronger leadership is there than a PMO formed through a mix of best practices from credible sources, collaboration and consensus among the PMs in your organization? You must learn lessons from those who have tried and succeeded (and failed) to achieve [The Elusive PMO](. People, Planet, Profits & Projects by Richard Maltzman Rich was recently involved in a power outage. [Microbursts and Microgrids]( is about the ways in which microgrid projects may make a difference in the struggle to increase the use of renewable energy, and to “power up” parts of the world where not having power is much more than a mere inconvenience. Game Theory in Management by Michael Hatfield There’s a major management science issue inherent in managing projects for government. It has to do with the nature of the real customer—and how far removed they are from the actual transaction(s). Read about [What Government/Contractor PMs Really Want](...and [What Government PMs Really Do Not Want](. The Critical Path by Marjorie Anderson Two familiar names in the project management and education world have teamed up to release a new unique book called Project Management for Education: The Bridge to 21st Century Learning (“PM4Ed” for short). Marjorie shares more in a [recent entry](. Plus, get caught up on all the great [content from yesterday's Open House]( based on Project Management for Social Good®! []Q & A Did you know that help is just a click away? Our discussion forums give you access to the ProjectManagement.com community: more than 500,000 experienced minds and growing! Ask your question today or stop by to help out other members in need of advice, including these recent and ongoing discussions on... [Making a Difference: Your Story]( "As we still celebrate #GivingTuesday, we'd love to hear about the work that you have done to make a difference in your community through project management. Share your stories!" [The Pace of Change]( "After reading a substantial number of posts and recent articles, a very critical question came up. Has the pace of change in business and technology reached a level where most organizations can't keep up?" [Best Practices: Public vs. Private]( "How do best practices for project management in the public sector differ from best practices for project management in the private sector?" [The Stakeholder Relationship]( "Before you can successfully 'manage' your stakeholders, you really need to establish relationships with them. Would love to have you share your thoughts on this topic." [Job Requirement?]( "I'm looking for a new position and I'm finding almost all PM job listings in the Boston area are listing a Bachelor or Master Degree as a prerequisite. I don't have an undergraduate degree but have been in college off and on for 20 years. Do you think I should apply for these positions anyways and hope that once I get an interview they waive the requirement, or do you think I would just be wasting my time and theirs?" "You have to be willing to accept the idea that people may think you're stupid." - Anna Faris []PREMIUM PICKS Did you know that we have an extensive library of PDU-earning webinars? Here's just one of the latest valuable offerings you can check out [Your Role in Building a Pipeline for Project Managers of the Future]( This webinar will introduce a toolkit designed for project managers to become involved in the critical need of preparing students for the future? As always, your feedback and suggestions are welcome. How can we make your experience better? Is there something you haven't been able to find? Something you want to see that we don't have yet? [Let us know](mailto:cameron@projectmanagement.com). We'll handle it. 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