Where the Gurus Are!

 

Access to project management's thought leaders: PMO Symposium 2017

Transition. Transformation. Conversion. Change. These words are chiseled into today’s Project Management lexicon, but so is the word, “success” – the end goal for every project. As adaptive PM methods become more ubiquitous in organizations around the world, we recognize that no one approach will do. Rather, project leaders embrace and apply multiple approaches—predictive, Agile, or some hybrid thereof—to get their project across the proverbial finish line, all while trying to build sustainable benefits and agility. As one colleague commented after a project meeting last week, “It would be nice to just climb to the top of the mountain and ask the guru how to achieve project management nirvana!”

Ok, so let’s go with that concept for a second. Where do we find the guru, or gurus? How do we get an audience with them, pick their brain, learn from and apply their wisdom? Dr. Rita McGrath, a keynote speaker at this year’s PMO Symposium, might suggest that the ability and willingness to seek out actual information, confront bad news, learn fast from failure and design appropriate approaches is critical; that rapidly changing, volatile environments require us to adopt an entrepreneurial mind-set, what we need to learn even if we can’t visualize the outcome at the onset. This may sound like more uncertainty at a time when the quest is to seek more clarity. There is, however, a method to this perceived madness. McGrath’s talk on transient advantage is just one of the many mind-opening presentations on the agenda at the 2017 PMO Symposium (#PMOSym), November 5-8, in Houston, TX.

Nearly 80 industry thought leaders will share their perspectives, relevant strategies, and in-depth case studies at the Symposium, and will also give their insights on the future of project management and how the PMO—a change agent now more than ever—can build a rock-solid foundation for successful outcomes, leadership, and lasting value in a rapidly-evolving environment. The 2017 agenda allows for peer-to-peer interaction throughout the 4-day event, and is stacked with multiple breakout sessions and essential Knowledge Hubs. This year’s speakers and panelists span the globe and represent a wide swath of industries, organizations, and government agencies.

The Symposium’s host city of Houston is, by recent events, emblematic of change and transition as it now deals with the aftermath of last month’s Hurricane Harvey damages. Projects like the City’s reconstruction of a 38 mile stretch of US Highway 290 is one that has required an adaptive approach to manage the project. This timely and highly relevant case study has now been added the Symposium’s Learning Excursion series. The professional trip to The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) offices will illustrate how the agency has faced numerous challenges with the project’s reallocation of inter-agency responsibilities and evolving funding sources. PMOs from various organizations will be able to see and evaluate the project’s evolution that has resulted in implementation adjustments during construction.

Coupled with topics on successful, transformative project management are talks on the qualities that change-driven leaders possess. According to Adrian Gostick, a leadership guru and #1 best-selling leadership author, it is culture that drives innovation and execution. Strong cultures encourage leadership from everyone in the organization and as the project leader, you are the core influencer of the kind of culture at play in your team, division, or whole company.  Gostick will deliver a keynote address at the Symposium that focuses on developing a “Culture of Belief” to drive results, especially within a dynamic work environment. Each of the Symposium’s four keynote speakers not only bring recognized expertise, but will also elicit thought-provoking discussions on Agile Transformation and The Evolving PMO, as well as the practical application skills needed to help lead an organization’s transition to a more adaptive culture.

Project management nirvana? Perhaps this is an oxymoron. But, finding one’s own sense of PMO competency and assuredness in today’s climate is achievable, as the Symposium’s many gurus will attest. So in a sense, mission accomplished: access to the project management gurus and PM enlightenment – and, no exhaustive mountain climbing required.

PMO Symposium  |  Houston, TX  |  November 5-8, 2017