Written By Theresa McCoy

The Architecture Engineering & Construction Forum hosted Monica Varriale, Global Strategy and Program Development Leader, for an engaging discussion on Managing Global Projects.

Monica outlined the innovation process in moving from global to regional and finally country specific execution in a cross-functional team environment. Within this process there are four key areas that drive project success, which is particularly important for global project execution. These include:
• Alignment
• Chartering
• Forecasting
• Handover (global to regional)

Monica also stressed the importance of team alliance and taking ownership in order to be truly successful in executing innovation in the market. Chartering is also critical so that the team connects the project to the promised benefits of the brand to ensure the innovation is meaningful in each region and country targeted for product innovation launch. In her consumer goods case study, Monica emphasized the criticality of cross-functional engagement with the regions and countries early and often to achieve ultimate success.

Lastly, Monica illustrated how complex global projects can be successfully managed and executed to the regional level through employing best practices, embracing flexibility and leveraging regional strengths to maintain a highly productive global cross-functional team.

Detailed information on all the upcoming Forums can be found at: http://www.pmiatlanta.org.  Please join us!

 About PMI

Atlanta Chapter serves Project Management Community in Metro Atlanta, and we're an active resource to corporations, community and government agencies throughout north Georgia. With over 5,000 members, PMI Atlanta is among the top 5 chapters in the world. Our professional expertise span across industries; we’re the professionals building healthcare information technology systems, the engineers developing smarter public transportation, and the planners growing our communities more efficiently.

Written by D'Lovely Gibson

During our February Governance Forum, we had the pleasure of engaging with Michael Rice, Sr. Director of Technology at Cox Communications about their successes and lessons learned implementing a Network Operation Center (NOC).

Most corporations have a NOC that focuses on Service Assurance, and Michael spoke about the importance of technology and tool automation. Cox, like many companies, is focused on efficiency, effectiveness, and enablement of NOC areas surrounding problem identification, analysis, and restoration. To stay best in class, companies are implementing the latest advancements in technology automation including machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotics (process automation), and analytics. With this advanced technology, Cox is able to focus on decreasing mean time to identify and resolving network issues at fast rates all while enabling customer experience and satisfaction.

The support of a robust project management team was critical for delivering Cox’s NOC implementation. Co-location and collaboration across various teams of project managers was important in delivering against an aggressive timeline. While governance changed constantly to keep up with ever changing resources, team structures, and risk mitigation strategies, a “we’re one team” attitude across the delivery team was essential for a successful launch.

 About PMI

Atlanta Chapter serves Project Management Community in Metro Atlanta, and we're an active resource to corporations, community and government agencies throughout north Georgia. With over 5,000 members, PMI Atlanta is among the top 5 chapters in the world. Our professional expertise span across industries; we’re the professionals building healthcare information technology systems, the engineers developing smarter public transportation, and the planners growing our communities more efficiently.

Written By Jacqlyn Shelton

On January 15, 2019, the Agile Forum of Atlanta presented the "Backlog Planning Exercise" led by Rob Phillips (Principal Solutions Architect/AgileCraft) and Sara Phillips (CSM, PMP, PE, and Project Manager).

The purpose for the "Backlog Planning Exercise" was to generate and rank topics for the 2019 Agile Forum Event Calendar. The backlog process began with the formation five self-managed brainstorming groups. Each person in the group generated an idea about their favorite Agile topic, something they wanted to learn or believed others would benefit from learning.

The second phase of the backlog process utilized the ranking method. Each person used a point-value scale to grade their colleague's idea. The idea with the best evaluation from their colleagues moved on to the next level of scoring. The brainstorming sessions generated twenty-one potential Agile topics to explore.

In the last phase of the process, Rob and Sara explained how to execute multiple scoring and the evaluation methods that can be utilized to rank topics. All of the attendees participated by voting in a ranking session that highlighted defined business values applicable to the Agile Forum. The forum was successful in generating a backlog of topics for the Agile Forum Event Calendar.

Thank you, Rob and Sara Phillips, for facilitating and demonstrating a process that encouraged interaction among the participants, that engaged the participant's creativity, and that executed the agile decision-making process.

Thank you, MATRIX Resources for sponsoring the PMI Atlanta Agile Forum.

MATRIX Resources has 35 Years of Excellence experience providing staffing, agile and digital transformation services to help companies solve tough IT and business challenges. Visit www.matrixres.com for resources and information.

The PMI Atlanta Agile Forum provides value by helping members enhance their Agile implementation knowledge in an interactive setting, as well as, learn and share ideas on various Agile tools, techniques, and best practices. Everyone is welcome!

We look forward to seeing you at the February 19, 2019 meeting at 6 pm. Register at www.pmiatlanta.org

About PMI

Atlanta Chapter serves Project Management Community in Metro Atlanta, and we're an active resource to corporations, community and government agencies throughout north Georgia. With over 5,000 members, PMI Atlanta is among the top 5 chapters in the world. Our professional expertise span across industries; we’re the professionals building healthcare information technology systems, the engineers developing smarter public transportation, and the planners growing our communities more efficiently.

Written by Deborah Johnson, MBA MPH PMP

On December 11^th 2018, Stephen (Steve) T. Hopper, PE, Founder and Principal of Inviscid Consulting was the featured presenter at the Architecture Engineering & Construction (AEC) Forum.

Last year ,the Material Handling Institute (MHI) released The Material Handling & Logistics US Roadmap 2.0. This report predicts how supply chains will evolve between now and the year 2030.  The result of a comprehensive, seven-month study involving more than 200 supply chain-industry thought leaders. Steve Hopper was one of the Roadmap's participants and roundtable leaders, as well as a researcher and a co-author of the final report.

In his presentation, Steve Hopper listed the driving factors and disruptors predicted to shape the future of supply chain.  Then he discussed the implications of these forces/disruptors.  Key subject matter areas of change included:

• Technology
• Consumers
• Workforce
• Logistic Infrastructure

This was a fascinating presentation! The futuristic, “Jetson-like” realities of these changes already underway were both amazing and unsettling.  These are the things we could hardly imagine 5 years ago.  Such concepts as fog computing (aka the “internet of things), mass-personalization and the “non-human” workforce to name a few. The pace of change is higher than ever and it continues to accelerate. 

In conclusion – change is inevitable and fast.  It’s important to recognize the driving forces and disruptors affecting supply chain as well as their implications.  Then invest accordingly into infrastructure and developing the capabilities to thrive. Steve closed by offering the group copies of the actual report from Materials Handling Institute (available upon request) by contacting him directly.

To learn more about Architecture, Engineering and Construction Forum and the value it brings to projects, please join us at a future forum. The calendar can be found on the PMI Atlanta web site at http://www.pmiatlanta.org.

About PMI

Atlanta Chapter serves Project Management Community in Metro Atlanta, and we're an active resource to corporations, community and government agencies throughout north Georgia. With over 5,000 members, PMI Atlanta is among the top 5 chapters in the world. Our professional expertise span across industries; we’re the professionals building healthcare information technology systems, the engineers developing smarter public transportation, and the planners growing our communities more efficiently.

Written by: Jacqlyn Shelton

On October 16, 2018 the Agile Forum- PMI Atlanta Chapter presented a “Recruiter Panel Discussion” session which consisted of panelist whom provided tips and pointers to professionals looking to expand their careers into Agile, Scrum, or similar Project Manager (PM) opportunities. The attendees were professionals who desired career advice and/or expert evaluation of their credentials from Recruiters with decades of experience.  

The interactive session began by capturing questions from the attendees and the panelist providing advice. The forum was moderated by Joshua Jack (Director of Transformation for MATRIX Resources) standing on right.  Panelist were (right to left): Brandon Goodson (Recruiting and Talent Specialist for Strive Consulting), Chris Gegoudas (Recruiting Manager for MATRIX Resources), Nicole Plaisted (Professional Solutions/Business Development Manager for TRC), Dalas Burns (Senior Recruiter for TRC Professional Solutions), Rachel Howard (Chief Cultural Officer for LeadingAgile) and Lisa Leff (Director of Recruiting for Genuent Technologies).

Panelist Tips/Pointers:

• Always be ready to represent who you are and what you have to offer.
• Be flexible with change, process, technology, opportunities, and commuting. The more flexible the more opportunities to get your dream job.
• Honesty is critical on your resume and during an interview: Be transparent and open.
• Managers want to hire people they like and trust.
• If you meet 50% of the requirements on a job post, apply for the position. Apply for positions even if do not think you qualify because most job descriptions on websites or postings are not accurate.
• Gaps in your Resume: Be honest about gaps in resume, hiring Managers know life happens.

• Top 5 hard and soft skills that are in high demand for these roles

• Interpersonal Skills (let your personality and drive sell you)
• Honesty (be transparent)
• Flexible (be willing to try a new opportunity, to compromise to get your dream job)
• Growth (be open to opportunities that are offered to you)
• Teamwork (communicate and interact with everyone)

The forum concluded with two breakout sessions with Panelist and Attendees:

Resume-at-a-Glance (Review and evaluate individual attendee’s resumes),

Panelist and Individual Attendees Questions/Answers (individual Attendees Question/Answers). Many attendees consulted with both groups.

The PMI Atlanta Agile Forum wishes to thank our location sponsor: MATRIX Resources. MATRIX Resources has 35 Years of Excellence experience providing Staffing, Agile and Digital transformation services to help companies solve tough IT and business challenges.

The PMI Atlanta Agile Forum provides value by helping members enhance their Agile implementation knowledge in an interactive setting, as well as, learn and share ideas on various Agile tools, techniques and best practices. Everyone is welcome!  We look forward to seeing you at the meeting in January 2019.

Visit the PMI Atlanta website www.pmiatlanta.org to register.

About PMI

Atlanta Chapter serves Project Management Community in Metro Atlanta, and we're an active resource to corporations, community and government agencies throughout north Georgia. With over 5,000 members, PMI Atlanta is among the top 5 chapters in the world. Our professional expertise span across industries; we’re the professionals building healthcare information technology systems, the engineers developing smarter public transportation, and the planners growing our communities more efficiently.