PMSA news and views

Articles

PMSA news and views

Thursday, 23 June 2011 09:21

Forthcoming events this quarter

Upcoming events at Project Management South Africa

PMSA KZN Regional Conference 2011 Theme: The Good in Green: Responsible Project Management, Promoting our Planet & Sustainable Practice

Venue: Durban Country Club

Date: 5 to 6 September 2011

Topics to be covered include:

Understanding and applying the principles of Green Project Management
The role of the project manager in climate change strategy
Sustainable growth through project management: dream or reality?
Innovating your projects for sustainability
Programme management lessons learned on a green project
The cost of going green

Registration opens soon. Visit the PMSA website for details on the cost and registration information:

www.projectmanagement.org.za.

Out and about with PMSA

Social media and project management

The PMSA KwaZulu-Natal members and other interested people were recently treated to a presentation on social media by Mike Saunders, chief executive officer of digital media company, DigitLab which, along with TomorrowToday, has seen the vision for social media in
the marketplace.

He assists businesses in learning the dynamics of communicating by combining a level of creativity with the analytical edge as campaigns are developed and projects are executed.

One of the challenges that project managers face today, writes past president of PMSA’s KZN branch Lissa Stewart, is the requirement that they be an influencer and an effective communicator; and Saunders stressed the need to be able to use social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter effectively to achieve this.

When social media first hit the scene, companies may have been forgiven for seeing it as a waste of time and a distraction from the work at hand. Saunders proposed an alternative view, challenging the attendees to see social media as a means of enhancing business initiatives, rather than stifling productivity.

During this event, PMSA and TomorrowToday joined forces in supporting TOMS Shoes’ One Day Without Shoes Initiative (www.onedaywithoutshoes.com). This is a global initiative to raise awareness that children in developing nations are unable to afford shoes and are exposed to hardship and illness as a result. It encourages participants to go one day without shoes and support the various activities designed to provide shoes to less fortunate communities.

Launch of the GAPPS Programme Manager Standards

The Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (GAPPS) has launched the first ever globally developed performance-based competency standards for programme managers.

After five years of research and development, and rigorous workshopping, the GAPPS team has released a new and unique, fully developed, peer-reviewed set of performance-based standards for the role of programme manager.

The new standard includes tailoring matrices for complexity and type in programmes, acknowledging the broad spectrum of initiatives from ‘mega-project’ to strategic implementation, which may be termed “programme” within an organisation.

GAPPS leads in the development of performance-based standards, having released the first ever globally developed standard for project managers in 2006.

Adoption of the programme manager’s standard as best practice by organisations worldwide could provide real opportunities to improve programme management capability and competence. Resultant growth in performance levels may ultimately lead to business improvement and economic reward.

Explanation of the PMSA individual membership grades

Grade	Associate member
Description & criteria	An associate is someone who has an interest in project management and supports the objectives of PMSA, but does not yet meet the criteria to be a (full) member. They are not permitted a vote at annual elections, the PMSA Annual General Meeting or any Extraordinary General Meeting. Associates are expected to demonstrate their commitment to PMSA by signing a Professional Code of Conduct. There is no post-nominal for this grade. Related news items: 17/01/2012 12:00 - Blame game 05/10/2011 08:03 - The force that through the green fuse drives the flower 05/10/2011 07:18 - In living colour 27/06/2011 10:17 - In review 23/06/2011 08:50 - Creative collaboration online Older news items: 18/01/2011 09:06 - A resounding success 27/11/2009 11:06 - Alert! 31/08/2009 10:01 - Building PM practice communities This grade includes: Students A student member must be a full-time student of any faculty. Students receive the same benefits as associate members and are subject to the same obligations. Students must advise PMSA immediately if and when they cease full-time study, and at that time apply to upgrade their membership to associate or (full) member. Students are required to provide evidence of their full-time status on renewal of their membership each year. Retirees A retiree is a person who has retired from full-time employment and wishes to retain his/her interest in the project profession.
Fees	Associate member – R590 per annum inclusive of VAT.
	Student member – R360 per annum inclusive of VAT.
	Retiree member – R228 per annum inclusive of VAT.
Application requirements	Payment of R590 Submission of proof of payment Completion and submission of application form online, by fax or e-mail (student card/number and certified copy of identity document to be supplied for student and retiree applications respectively).
Application process	Member data is captured. Welcome message sent via e-mail. Pro forma invoice link sent to member automatically by e-mail. Proof of payment reviewed against bank statements. Membership activated. Membership pack compiled and mailed.
Terms & conditions	Membership is renewed on an annual basis. A member will receive an e-mail reminder or notification 60 days and 30 days prior to the month of membership expiry.
Member pack contents	Welcome letter, membership card, copy of PMSA publications

PMSA

Grade	(Full) member
Description & criteria	A (full) member of PMSA is a person who possesses the necessary qualifications and industry experience specified by PMSA. Requirements: Either: Any four-year bachelor’s degree at NQF 6, plus a minimum of three years’ industry or management experience, plus a discretionary peer group interview. OR: A Matric or other certificate at NQF 4, plus a minimum of five years’ approved industry or management experience, plus a discretionary peer group interview may be conducted. Members must demonstrate their commitment to the project management profession by signing the PMSA Code of Ethics. Applicants undertake to participate actively in a programme of sustainable professional career development and to participate in the affairs of PMSA. (Full) members of PMSA are eligible for nomination to the national and branch executive committees. Members are eligible to vote at annual elections, annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings. Members may use the post-nominal: Member PMSA (M.PMSA).
Fees	Grading fee on application – R285 once-off fee inclusive of VAT.
Fees	Membership fee – R630 per annum inclusive of VAT on advice of outcome of grading.
Application requirements	Payment of R285 and submission of proof of payment. Completion and submission of completed grading application form (online or on downloaded form) and submission of this, a CV, certified copy of identity document and copies of qualifications, by fax or e-mail. Payment of annual fee of R630 on advice of positive outcome of grading.
Application process	Member application and supporting documentation is submitted to the National Office. CEO conducts application review and consults grading panel if required. Member is advised of the grading outcome. Member data is captured. Pro forma invoice link sent to member automatically by e-mail. Proof of payment reviewed against bank statements. Membership activated. Membership pack compiled and mailed.
Terms & conditions	Membership is renewed on an annual basis. A member will receive an e-mail reminder or notification 60 days and 30 days prior to the month of membership expiry.
Member pack contents	Welcome letter, membership certificate, membership card, copy of PMSA publications

Grade	Professional member
Description & criteria	A professional member is a full member in good standing, whose knowledge, skill experience and contribution to the project management industry is consistent with the requirements of this PMSA status level. PMSA has endeavoured to align the criteria for this membership status level with those of its peer organisations around the world, by recognising relevant characteristics, certifications, accreditations and qualifications as components of the application for PMSA professional membership. Applicants for PMSA professional membership must submit evidence, as per the requirements of the application form, in support of their credibility, knowledge, experience and commitment to the profession in terms of all the following four areas: Industry experience: Minimum of 10 years as a practising project manager. Consistent professional practice against a recognised PM methodology. Qualifications/certifications: NQF6 equivalent in Project Management. Contribution to the profession through voluntary, developmental, research or mentoring activities. In addition, professional members must demonstrate their commitment to the project management profession by signing the PMSA Code of Ethics. Professional members are eligible to vote at annual elections, annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings. Professional Members may use the post-nominal: Professional Member PMSA (PM.PMSA). The applicant will nominate a referee who can substantiate evidence supplied in each of the four areas.
Fees	Grading fee on application – R285 once-off fee inclusive of VAT.
Fees	Membership fee – R1 1600 per annum inclusive of VAT.
Application requirements	Applicant must meet the criteria indicated on the PMSA Professional Membership Eligibility Checklist. Completion and submission of the grading application form and supporting information. Payment of R285 and submission of proof of payment.
Application process	Member application and supporting documentation is submitted to the National Office. Documents are reviewed for applicant eligibility. If applicant conforms with requirements, National Office consults referees. Application and referee comments are forwarded to PMSA Individual Member grading panel for application review. Applicant may be contacted for an interview. Applicant is advised of the grading outcome. Member data is captured. Pro forma invoice link sent to member automatically by e-mail. Proof of payment reviewed against bank statements. Membership activated. Membership pack compiled and mailed.
Terms & conditions	Membership is renewed on an annual basis. A member will receive an e-mail reminder or notification 60 days and 30 days prior to the month of membership expiry.
Member pack contents	Welcome letter, membership certificate, membership card, copy of PMSA publications

Benefits of PMSA individual membership

Benefits applicable to all

individual membership grades

Networking opportunities at PMSA branch and interest group events.
Access to topical speakers and project management thought leaders at
PMSA events.
Discounts to attend PMSA branch and interest group meetings.
Discounts on PM standards purchased from the PMSA bookstore.
Discounts in delegate fees at PMSA national and regional conferences.
Six copies of PMSA’s official magazine, ProjectNet, per year.
Four copies of the industry publication, The Project Manager, per year.
Access to conference proceedings and best-practice papers dating back to 1997.
Access to knowledge resources developed/negotiated for members.
Discounts for placing adverts in ProjectNet.
Representation, through PMSA committees, on relevant statutory and industry-related bodies.
Access to PMSA’s library of industry standards and books.
Access to the membership zone of the PMSA website, where project management resources are made available.

Benefits applicable to (full) members and professional

members only

Official membership certificate that can be used in tenders and work applications.
Invitation to participate in opinion articles in ProjectNet and The Project Manager, for profile-building.

Benefits applicable to

professional members only

Free attendance of PMSA branch and special interest group meetings.
Invitation to interact with international guest speakers in a forum setting at the PMSA National Conference.

The GAPPS team consists of representatives from industry, academia, national training authorities as well as professional associations in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, Russia and South Africa. The team works collaboratively to develop standards that provide for global portability of programme and project management qualifications, certifications and development programmes.

Currently, a number of programme and project management magazines and journals worldwide report that organisations and companies are still suffering significant revenue loss due to poor performance and/or failure of their programmes and projects.

Adoption of the GAPPS standards may assist organisations by providing a means for developing their programme and project performance capability, leading to their being more competitive in the marketplace.

The GAPPS standards can be adopted by organisations for the assessment, development and certification of their programme and project managers, in their entirety or customised to support existing programme and project management cultures, processes, tools as well as models.

Utilisation of the standards could potentially result in a demonstrable improvement to the organisation’s bottom line by revolutionising the way in which programmes and projects are managed.

The GAPPS standards may be downloaded free of charge from the GAPPS website. To get involved or to join the next working session (scheduled for June 2011 in Montreal), visit the GAPPS website at www.globalpmstandards.org.

A quick guide to becoming a PMSA member

PMSA’s grading structure and criteria are designed to achieve a model that will be accepted universally (locally, cross sector and internationally) and are simple to conform with and manage. This is to ensure our membership grades are consistent with those in related professional bodies; and that by maintaining and reviewing the criteria regularly, we contribute to developing and growing the profession in South Africa.

New applicants for membership can review the information in the tables to determine which individual membership grade is most appropriate to them, their knowledge and experience in the project management context; and are requested to complete their application accordingly. 

Quote this article on your site

To create link towards this article on your website,
copy and paste the text below in your page.

Preview :

PMSA news and views
Thursday, 23 June 2011