Letters from Hungary

Our guests were Balázs G. Nagy, president and Richárd Ránki-Kovács, managing director from Hungarian Service and Outsourcing Association (HOA) who shared their experiences about the trends of the Hungarian Business Services Sector and presented the key findings of HOA Business Services Study 2018.

Almost 40 colleagues participated in the first PMPub in 2019, and the reason for this high number is that many professionals – including project managers – are involved in Shared Services or Business Services Sector operation and projects.

Balázs G. Nagy thoroughly introduced the Business Services Sector (BSC) in Hungary and globally. He emphasized that BSC is an entire industry that – statistically – does not exist. A BSC company is not linked to this sector but to the line of business which the company operates in (eg. energy or telco sector). Despite this phenomenon, global business forced the companies to enhance their operation by managing the processes and data, which the companies dealing with. A BSC is kind of a center of excellence where part of the business is outsourced and maintained by professional people. BSCs can help to increase quality and enhance efficiency at companies. In addition to that, a BSC can inspire companies with new ideas, initiatives, and projects.

In Hungary major BSC activities are finance, accounting, HR, IT, and customer related services. There are 110 BSCs and 700 service center type of entities in Hungary. BSC is the second fast growing sector in Hungary. There are 60.000 people working in BSCs in the country, and there are 160.000 people affected by BSCs (suppliers, other service providers) in Hungary.

Further thoughts about BSC sector:

• BSC Sector can handle local economic crisis easier, because the business is managed on global basis (international companies) and thus BSC companies have more “space” to maintain the business locally.
• It is complicated to move a BSC from one country to another, and many times cost is not everything. You may consider cultural or for example knowledge-related factors before moving a BSC from one place to another.
• Project thinking is crucial in BSC Sector, because BSCs are operated by projects, or projects are common in BSCs’ life. Besides cultural fit and language, project thinking is one of the most important elements in operating a successful BSC.
• BSC can be operated everywhere in the world, where culture/people welcome a BSC company. Many times BSC is operated in a city, that was attractive to the management of the company (they love the place, the city, the whole atmosphere). Budapest’s biggest advantage is feasibility: Balázs has not heard about BSCs that failed in the capital.
• The biggest BSC country in Europe is the UK.
• Balázs has concern about involving second tier cities (Pécs, Szeged, Debrecen, Miskolc etc.) at higher intensity in terms of BSC operation in Hungary.
• It is hard to make the rival companies to cooperate in this sector, but in Hungary HOA tries to find and support cooperation opportunities (eg. there is a BSC round table in Debrecen which incorporates 10 local BSCs).
• The Business Services Sector is very complex. In this environment you have to be a good project manager, but on top of that you have to possess line of business knowledge as well.
• In many cases, local people perform better than foreign experts because they have wide domestic experience and knowledge.  

Richárd Ránki introduced HOA and its operation. The association was founded in 2004. HOA’s most important goal is to “represent the interests of the sector, support its members and organize regular programs with the aim of creating a strong community”.

HOA’s organization comprises the board and the management team. Board members are delegated by BSC/SSC companies and the executives make the decisions in terms of HOA’s strategy, programs and operation.

Besides sharing the knowledge, HOA lobbies the government in order to enhance the outsourcing and business services in Hungary. HOA holds meetings for BSC/SSC community members, and also there is a business breakfast for top leaders of domestic BSCs. Richárd presented the HOA Business Services Study 2018, which was prepared in collaboration with HIPA and BCE (Corvinus University of Budapest). Please find the summary of the study at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWyU9IoVW0o

In the name of PMI Budapest, Hungarian Chapter, we would like to thank Balázs and Richárd for coming and sharing their thoughts in PMPub!

We would like to remind you that the next PMPub will be in May
and the Art of Projects 2019 conference will be on 7th November

We had the pleasure of seeing Susanne Madsen speak at our “Art of Projects” Internal Project Management Conference in 2018. Susanne’s presentation made a huge impression on me. Our PMI Budapest, Hungarian Chapter and the Project Management profession is facing new challenges everyday: stress and burnout.

We needed someone to energize and motivate our audience to think differently about how we handle stress and difficult situations and how to overcome potential burnout. Susanne’s talk fit the bill. As an experienced project manager of large change programs, Susanne has first-hand experience of how stressful project management can be. Almost all project managers have experienced stress on their projects and far too many suffer from ill health as a result. Wow. That’s all I can say is Wow!

What an amazing Keynote and Master Class! Susanne Madsen’s energy and enthusiasm during her presentation and Master Class “The Power of Project Leadership” kept the audience engaged and looking for more. We had so many members say they were up late that night writing down thoughts about how they could implement Susanne’s ideas on how to handle stress and avoid burnout.

Susanne was the perfect Keynote Speaker to kick off our event! She made a huge impact on our group and made the 2018 Art of Projects Conference a huge success!

Aim of the Project Management Forum

This year, the PM Forum, which creates and continues the traditions of the project management profession, will be held for the 22nd time. The Forum is also an excellent opportunity for networking, exchange of ideas and professional discussions this year.

The 22nd Forum focuses on the human factors of project management, highlighting the agility and complexity of project solutions in accelerated competition, the development of non-traditional human abilities and attitudes, and the need for an organizational and operational order that supports them.

For years alone, a questionnaire related to the conference can give you a picture and a time series of the domestic situation of the profession, and now the assessment of the agile approach takes place in the changing thematic section. 

Invitation to participate

The 22nd PM Forum will once again provide the opportunity to get to know the latest domestic and international solutions, exchange experiences on successful practices and build a professional relationship that is essential for building trust.

Thematics

• as a new element, it also helps the Forum gain knowledge by inviting keynote speakers (eg: Bible and management or behavioral economics)
• agility for the individual and the team - beyond professional competencies, what is needed to be able to develop an effective, good-looking work in an agile environment? The section and the subsequent panel discussion are organized by Gabriella Peuker SZB member
• the domestic situation of the agile approach - self-questionnaire research tries to assess the prevalence of the agile approach in Hungary and the critical issues of workplace applications.The research is led by Gábor Török sociologist and publishes his results in the Forum. The questionnaire will be available in December at www.hte.hu, www.pmsz.hu, at the address given on the electronic portals www.pmi.hu. It will be available until 18 February 2019
• more presentations on the human aspects of project management, about the best practitioners of the profession including the experiences of the PM of the Year 

The publication of the Forum is published in electronic form. Presentations pdf. please send it to [email protected] by 15 March 2019 (max. 15 pages) . The formal requirements for accepted presentations will be notified by the rapporteurs in a confirmation. 

Call for sponsorship

The sponsor of the project management commitment to professionalism supports the oldest recognized project management conference in Hungary. It also appears

• on the Calls of the Forum,
• In a publication with an ISBN number
• in press releases and the intense social media campaign
• on the advertising space specified in the forum site and in the posted material

The agreed sponsorship fee and the Forum participation fee will be paid by HTE after the sponsorship agreement has been concluded and upon receipt of the application form. 

Important dates

The participation fee includes 13.000 HUF + VAT, which is included in the invoice issued. 

Cancellation

Only possible in writing. If canceled up to 30-15 days before the event, 50% of the entry fee can be refunded. In case of cancellation within 15 days we cannot refund the fee.

By participating in the Forum or holding a presentation, the 6.5 PDU (Professional Development Unit) required for PMI qualification can be obtained. Upon request, a certificate can be requested from the HTE Secretariat for attendance at the Forum or for presentations. Further information on the recognition of points can be found at www.pmi.hu.

We are looking forward to presenters, participants and sponsors! 

Supporters of the Event

• ERICSSON HUNGARY 
• LEGRAND HUNGARY 
• PRO-COMPASS 
• T-SYSTEMS 

Cooperating partners

• CONSTRUCTION SCIENCE ASSOCIATION 
• NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MAIN CONTRACTORS (MAJOR) 
• HTE PROJECT MANAGEMENT SECTION (TIPIK) 
• ASSOCIATION OF IT, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONIC COMPANIES (IVSZ) 
• HUNGARIAN PROJECT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (PMSZ) 
• NATIONAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION AUTHORITY (NMHH) 
• PMI BUDAPEST HUNGARIAN CHAPTER

Media partner

• MFOR.HU 

A középiskolában az általános műveltség megszerzése és a sikeres felsőoktatási felvételire való felkészülés mellett a munka világának megismerése is fontos célként jelenik meg a diákok számára, nem utolsó sorban a helyes pályaválasztás megalapozása szempontjából is. Bármennyire is fontos ez, nincsenek könnyű helyzetben az oktatási intézmények. A legtöbb szakmában ugyanis a tudásanyag folyamatos változása mellett sok esetben a feladatok megszervezése is nagymértékben átalakul.

Egyre több olyan egyszeri feladatban kell részt venniük a vállalatok dolgozóinak, amelynek célja valamilyen egyedi eredmény létrehozása. Ilyen lehet egy új termék kifejlesztése a gyógyszergyártásban vagy az autóiparban, egy egyedi szoftverfejlesztés vagy egy vállalat belső folyamatainak átalakítása. Magyarán az ismétlődő tevékenységek mellett egyre nagyobb szerepet játszanak a projektek.

A hazai középiskolai oktatás gyakorlatában a projektszemlélet nem jelenik meg a szükséges mértékben. Három projektvezető ezért úgy határozott, hogy önkéntes munkában összeállít egy gyakorlati megközelítésű projektszemlélet fejlesztő programot a PMI Educational Foundation ajánlásainak figyelembevételével középiskolások számára. A tananyag alapján a Sashegyi Arany János Általános Iskola és Gimnázium egyik végzős osztályában a 2018/2019-es tanév első félévében valósult meg az első kurzus.

Elkészült a szusszanósarok

A PROMISchool (PROject MindSet In Schools) „PROjektet Minden Iskolába” elnevezésű program célja az, hogy a diákok megismerjék a projektek világát. Egy korszerű projektorientált vállalati szervezetben ugyanis nem csupán a projektvezető, hanem minden részvevő számára érték a projektmenedzsment tudás. Másrészt a magánéletben is fontos szerepet játszanak bizonyos projektek, mint például a lakásvásárlás, munkahelyváltás stb. Ezért a projektszemlélet elsajátításából és a projektmenedzsmentben használt egyes képességek fejlesztéséből a legtöbb diák profitálhat hosszútávon. Ilyen képességek (soft skills), melyek fejlesztését a program támogatja: a kommunikáció, az együttműködés, a kritikus gondolkodás, a problémamegoldás, a kreativitás és az innováció

Az iskolaújság első száma

A projektalapú tanulási programot megvalósító oktatói csapat tagjai: Nyerges Attiláné tanárnő, valamint Jereb Balázs (SIA Central Europe Zrt), Németh Endre (Angyal Business Consulting), és Pálvölgyi Lajos (PMI Budapest, Magyar Tagozat) projektmenedzserek voltak.

A program elméleti részében a projektek legfontosabb fázisait és a fázisokhoz kapcsolódó alapvető ismereteket dolgozták fel a tanulók, úgymint előkészítés, tervezés, megvalósítás, lezárás. A gyakorlati részben az osztály öt projektcsapatot alakított, és mindegyik egy-egy önállóan kiválasztott projektet valósított meg, projektszervezetként működve. Nagy dilemma volt, hogy a projektek választhatók legyenek-e egy az oktatók által javasolt listából, vagy teljesen önállóan alakítsák-e ki őket. Utólag nagyon jó döntésnek bizonyult, hogy a diákcsoportok maguk tűzték ki a projektcélokat, mert ez jelentős motivációt jelentett a legtöbb csoport számára.

Készülnek a projekttervek

Érdemes megjegyezni, hogy az öt projekt közül többnek is sikerült olyan problémákkal találkoznia, amelyek a valós életben is előfordulnak. Volt olyan projekt, amelyik csak úgy készült el határidőre, hogy a tervezett projektterjedelmet lényegesen csökkentették, volt olyan csoport, amelyik túl nehéz témát választott (órarendkészítés) és ezért menetközben új témát kellett választania. Fontos üzenetként élték meg az oktatók, hogy a diákok által kitűzött célok jelentős része nem egyszerűen kedves volt, hanem valódi értéket is hordozott az iskola közösségének. Az egyik csoport például iskolaújságot indított, két másik csoport pedig egy-egy iskolai sarkot alakított át ötletes pihenőhellyé, közösségi térré önerőből. Volt olyan csoport, amelyik a szebb napokat látott tornaöltözők felújítására rakott le pénzügyileg kalkulált felújítási tervet, illetve az ötödik csapat által készített film január végén debütált a szalagavatón.  

A kapott pozitív visszajelzések alapján a tanári csapat úgy látja, hogy volt értelme a befektetett munkának, és érdemes lenne más középiskolákkal vagy felsőfokú oktatási intézményekkel folytatni az együttműködést a PMI keretein belül. Több diák jelezte a félév végén, hogy fejlődött az együttműködési készsége, folyamatlátása és szervezési készsége. Ezek a visszajelzések jelentették a legnagyobb elismerést a kezdeményezőknek. Ugyanakkor voltak olyan jelzések is, amelyek alapján a program javítható. Talán a legmeghatóbb az volt, hogy a projekt program lezárulta után az egyik csoport folytatta a feladatát, és tovább dolgozott az általuk kialakított közösségi tér szépítésén.

A szervezők örömmel fogadják olyan oktatók és gyakorlati szakemberek jelentkezését tapasztalatcsere vagy esetleges együttműködés céljából, akik a projektalapú tanulás (project based learning) módszerét alkalmazzák a közép- vagy felsőoktatásban, vagy ilyen programot szeretnének indítani, vagy szívesen közreműködnének ilyen projektekben. (E-mail: [email protected])

Kapcsolódó cikkek:

• Hegyvidék. A XII. kerületi polgárok lapja
• http://www.hegyvidekujsag.eu/kozelet/szusszanosarok?fbclid=IwAR3KTHwJuLn-0HmpJ3dPY84MO3GayOrvr4Lj60y_tarI5kYNErGN1DX3de0
• Sashegyi Arany János Gimnázium honlapja
• http://aranyj.hu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PROMISchool.pdf
• PMI Budapest, Magyar Tagozat honlapja: Projektpedagógia
• https://pmi.hu/index.php/31-szakmai-fejlodes/1124-projektpedagogia
• PMI Budapest, Magyar Tagozat honlapja: Projektoktatás konferencia beszámoló
• https://pmi.hu/index.php/20-hirek-esemenyek/1164-projektoktatas-konferencia
• ResearchGate: projektmenedzsment és projektpedagógia (letölthető konferencia tanulmány)
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325630374_Projektmenedzsment_es_projektpedagogia

In addition to acquiring general literacy in secondary school and preparing for successful higher education, getting to know the world of work is also an important goal for students, not least for the foundation of good career choices. No matter how important it is, there is no easy situation for educational institutions. In most professions, in addition to the constant change of knowledge, in many cases the organization of tasks is also greatly altered.

More and more people need to be involved in one-off tasks for companies that create a unique result. Such can be the development of a new product in the pharmaceutical industry or the automotive industry, the development of a unique software development or the transformation of the internal processes of a company. In addition, projects are playing an increasingly important role in repetitive activities.

In the practice of domestic secondary education in Hungary, the project approach does not appear to the required extent. Therefore, three project leaders have decided to work on a volunteer approach to develop a practical approach to project approach, taking into account the recommendations of the PMI Educational Foundation for secondary school students. Based on the curriculum, the first course was completed in the first semester of the 2018/2019 academic year in one of the graduates of the Arany János Primary School and Grammar High School of Sashegy in Hungary.

The PROMISchool (PROject MindSet In Schools) “Project for Every School” program is designed to help students get to know the world of projects. In a modern project-oriented corporate organization, project management knowledge is not only important for a project leader, but a real value for all participants. On the other hand, some projects, such as buying a home, changing jobs, etc., play an important role in privacy. Therefore, most students can benefit from acquiring a project approach and developing some of the capabilities used in project management in the long run. Such soft skills are supported by the program: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and innovation.

The members of the teaching team implementing the project-based learning program were Mrs.Attilané Nyerges, a teacher, and Mr. Balázs Jereb (SIA Central Europe Zrt), Mr. Endre Németh (Angyal Business Consulting), and project managers Dr. Lajos Pálvölgyi (PMI Budapest, Hungarian Chapter).

In the theoretical part of the program, the most important phases of the projects and the basic knowledge related to the phases were worked out by the students, such as preparation, planning, implementation, closure. In the practical part, the department has formed five project teams, each of which has individually selected projects, operating as a project organization. It was a big dilemma whether the projects could be selected from a list suggested by the trainers or whether they would be completely independent. Afterwards, it was a very good decision that student groups set their own goals for the project, because it was a great motivation for most groups.

It is worth noting that several of the five projects have also encountered problems that occur in real life. There was a project that was only prepared by the deadline to significantly reduce the planned project scope, there was a group that chose a topic that was too difficult (scheduling) and therefore had to choose a new topic on the go. 

As an important message, the trainers experienced that a significant part of the goals set by the students were not just nice, but also brought real value to the school community. One group, for example, launched a school newspaper, and two other groups transformed a school corner into a smart resting place, a community space of its own. There was a group that put up a financially-calculated renovation plan for the renovation of the gymnastics that saw the most beautiful days, and the fifth team's film made its debut at the end of January 2019.

On the basis of the positive feedback received, the Teaching Team sees a sense of invested work and it would be worthwhile to continue working with other secondary schools or higher education institutions within the framework of PMI. 

Several students indicated at the end of the semester that they had developed their cooperation skills, process vision and organizational skills. These feedbacks were the greatest recognition for the initiators. However, there were indications that the program could be improved. Perhaps the most striking thing was that after the project program was completed, one of the groups continued their work and continued to work to improve their community space.

Organizers are pleased to welcome trainers and practitioners to exchange experiences or co-operate in project-based learning in secondary or higher education, or to participate in such projects or would like to participate in such projects. (Email: [email protected] )

Related Articles:

• Mountains. The XII. District citizens' page
• http://www.hegyvidekujsag.eu/kozelet/szusszanosarok?fbclid=IwAR3KTHwJuLn-0HmpJ3dPY84MO3GayOrvr4Lj60y_tarI5kYNErGN1DX3de0
• Website of Sashegyi Arany János High School
• http://aranyj.hu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PROMISchool.pdf
• PMI Budapest, Hungarian Chapter: Project Pedagogy
• https://pmi.hu/index.php/31-szakmai-fejlodes/1124-projektpedagogia
• PMI Budapest, Hungarian Chpater: Project Education Conference Report
• https://pmi.hu/index.php/20-hirek-esemenyek/1164-projektoktatas-konferencia
• ResearchGate: Project Management and Project Education (Downloadable Conference Study)
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325630374_Projektmenedzsment_es_projektpedagogia