alexsbrown.com News: October 2007

Date: October 8th 2007

Some news from alexsbrown.com:

On-Line Survey for All Project Managers

If you have ever worked as a project manager, please go and fill out this important survey about project managers and senior executives at www.executive-pm.com. I have been helping Russ Archibald, PMP and PMI Fellow, and Jean-Pierre Debourse of ESC Lille with the survey, and I think it can help project managers tremendously. The survey is extensive and takes about an hour to complete, but I ask everyone to please take the time to do it.

This survey should help senior executives understand project management better, and help define clearer career paths for project managers to become executives.

Please take the survey at www.executive-pm.com today.

Presented "Project Schedules and Return on Investment" at the PMI North America Congress 2007 in Atlanta, GA

Available in HTML and PDF formats.

Presented at the PMI North America Congress in Atlanta, Georgia on October 8, 2007.

Explains key financial terms, including return on investment, time value of money, payback period, and first-to-market advantage. Applies these financial concepts to sample projects, to help project managers understand the business impact of schedule changes.

This paper was published on the site in 2006, but had to be taken down once it was accepted for the PMI Congress. The paper is now available on the site once again.

Founded a Toastmasters Group on LinkedIn and Started the Toastmasters Networking Web Site

Toastmasters International has helped me over the years to become a better speaker and leader. As a way to give back to that community, I founded and am running a group on the LinkedIn business networking site for Toastmasters members. It will help them meet other Toastmasters all over the world, to exchange business leads, and to learn more. I also started a new website to promote all kinds of business and social networking among Toastmasters. The new site is "Toastmasters Networking" and is available now at www.toastmasters-networking.org.

If you are a Toastmaster and would like to join the LinkedIn group, Toastmasters Networking has all the instructions to join. It also has directions on how to join similar groups on XING and other social and business networking sites.

If you are a Toastmaster or know any Toastmasters, please spread the word. I hope to see this expand and grow through the whole Toastmasters community.

Awarded IPMA-C Certification by asapm

I am proud to announce that I was awarded one of the first IPMA-C certificates issued by asapm, the US chapter of the International Project Management Association. Here is a brief quote from the the announcement by asapm: "We are pleased to announce the identities of the two individuals who were recently certified as asapm Certified Project Practitioners (aCPP) at Level C, Project Manager. They are Alex S. Brown of Belle Mead, NJ and George Pasieka of Winnipeg. Please join us in congratulating them!"

It is an honor to be among the first to earn this credential from the US member affiliate of IPMA. The application and interview process was challenging and I invite project managers to pursue it.

Published "Selecting the Best Format for a Project Charter"

Available in HTML and PDF formats.

Learn the best writing style, language, and format for your next project charter. In a fair world, only content would matter, but in the real world, these writing tips can help make your project successful.

Gave a Class, Gave a Speech, and Participated in a Panel for the San Diego PMI Chapter, September 13 to 14

The San Diego PMI Chapter held an impressive annual conference at the Handlery Hotel and Resort in San Diego, CA on September 13 and 14, 2007. Much thanks to the organizers for their hospitality, and congratulations on a great event.

I delivered a one-day class on strategic planning and projects. I also spoke about how to advance your project management career through writing and speaking, and participated in an expert panel on project management and organizational strategy.

Feel free to e-mail me with any requests for material to add to the site.

Thanks,
Alex S. Brown, PMP