PMI-NAC Newsletter
A Newsletter for Project Professionals
May 2008 |
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PROJECT MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES FROM THE TOP |
William H. Gurley
Senior Vice President and General Manager
Systems &Technology Solutions Business Unit
Science Applications International Corporation
 This is the seventh in an ongoing series of interviews with business executives, government officials, academics, and project managers published in the PMI NAC Newsletter. Our goal is to present leading ideas and insights on the practice of project management for our readers.
Bill Gurley is a Senior Vice President for the SAIC Systems & Technology Solutions Business Unit General Manager in Huntsville, Alabama.
In this interview - Bill discusses his thoughts about contemporary project management challenges and technology contracting in Huntsville and beyond.
Bill Gurley was interviewed for the PMI-NAC Newsletter by Don Ross, PMP
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Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is a Fortune 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health.
SAIC's approximately 44,000 employees serve customers in the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. Government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. SAIC had annual revenues of $8.9 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2008.
SAIC has a strong commitment to supporting programs of national importance - helping to solve or undertake our country's most significant problems.
In Huntsville - SAIC provides a diverse array of technical and software engineering capabilities supporting the Department of Defense, NASA and other federal and commercial customers across the country.
Core capabilities include software and hardware engineering, prototype development and testing, engineering trade-off analysis, management services, modeling and simulation, system engineering and integration, education and training, cost analysis, technology assessment, and unmanned systems development.
From intelligence systems through command, control and communications to missile defense, aviation, and space propulsion, SAIC helps clients respond faster, achieve more, and meet mission requirements
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| May Luncheon Meeting Details |
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Special Event !!!!!!!
Bring Your Boss to Lunch Day
The Power of the PMP Concept:
an Advantage Over the Competition
Allen Green, PMP
. . . and the Professional Development Committee
of PMI North Alabama Chapter
Thursday, May 15 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
$20 includes lunch
$25 non-PMINAC members
Marriott, 5 Tranquility Base
PDUs: 1
Click here to register
LUNCH IS FREE - for bosses of PMI-NAC members who also attend
Advance Registration Required !!! | |
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Upcoming Events & Professional Development Opportunities |
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Thursday June 19 - Monthly Luncheon Event
Program: Methods & Tools for Creating a WBS
Speaker: William Kessinger, PMP
Location: Marriott, 5 Tranquility Base
2008 Southeastern Software and Systems Engineering Conference
Next Generation Technologies - Opportunities and Challenges
Register Now for the 2008 Southeastern Software & Systems Engineering Conference, 12-14 May 2008, Huntsville, AL
The 2008 Southeastern Software & Systems Engineering Conference will be held 12-14 May at the Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL. This year's theme is Next Generation Technologies: Opportunities and Challenges. Conference sponsors include Westar, PPT Solutions; NDIA; IEEE; INCOSE; and the Huntsville Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN).
One of this year's major events will be a Digital Combat Exercise (DCE) in the exhibit area. Teams of students and professionals will have an opportunity to learn first hand about cyber warfare by participating in a simulated cyber battle. The DCE will be complemented by the WAAY TV Internet Safety Tour. This will be the 15th stop on a multi-city presentation where experts go "into the field" to educate parents and children about the wonders, and dangers, of the Internet.
An additional major event, America's Army, will be showcased in the exhibit area. The America's Army Game ,launched in July 2002, has penetrated contemporary culture to become one of the most popular computer games in the world, due in large part to its unique inside perspective of the U.S. Army and its exciting game-play.
For more information regarding sessions, workshops, exhibits, registration, and sponsorship opportunities please view our website at http://www.se3conference.com |
| Project Management In Practice |
Here's the Beef!
Let Project Management Boost the Bottom-Line
By Michelle LaBrosse, PMP, Founder, Cheetah Learning
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In this article - the author provides a crisp, to-the-point list of her Top Five Project Management Bottom-Line Boosters - that will help any one of us get a little more bang for the buck with our projects and programs.
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New PMPs / New Members / Renewing Members |
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Chapter Membership Exceeds 350 Members and is growing faster than most chapters in the USA !!!!!
Welcome Aboard To All ....
New Members
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Ronald T Carter
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George Calvin Goodman Jr
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Tracy L Hutchison
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Larry D McCallister
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Stephanie Ann McCullough
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Bondolin J Postell
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Elbert Douglas Smith
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Aubrey Lee Stewart |
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Ready to join PMI-NAC today and want instant help?
Send email to membership@NorthAlabamaPMI.org with subject line "Sign Me Up to PMI-NAC" |
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PMBOK Knowledge Quiz |
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Do You Really Know The PMBOK?
Test your knowledge with the following questions. These questions are similar to what you might find on the PMP exam. Questions and answers provided by Allen Green, PMI-NAC VP of Professional Development.
Answers are provided at the end of the newsletter
1. What is the primary purpose of a statistical control chart?
A. Evaluate results versus requirements
B. Evaluate conformance degree
C. Determine if results conform
D. Show how a process varies over time
2. Your project sponsor says that your project must cost less than $3,000,000 and he'd like it to come in under $2,600,000. This is an example of a project:
D. Objective
Want Help Preparing for Your PMP Exam?
PMI-NAC offers a course to help you prepare for exam success and meet the PMI exam requirement for 35 contact hours of project management education. Click here for details. |
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PMI-NAC Volunteer Update |
Volunteers Needed!
Make a Difference in Our Local Chapter and Earn PDUs to Maintain Your PMP Credential
Current PMI-NAC Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed in key areas across the chapter so take advantage of this great opportunity to earn PDUs and network with local project management professionals
Seminar Director - We need an energetic person who wants to plan events. This person will work with other volunteers to help select topics of interest to the membership - and then coordinate and plan 3-4 one-day or half-day seminars on selected topics. The Seminar Director works closely with the VP of Professional Development on seminar topics.
Membership Survey Tool Specialist - Here's an opportunity for someone with statistical or analytical skills - or wants to build them. The chapter is evaluating electronic survey tools for membership surveys and elections. Someone is needed to assist with technical tool evaluation and selection, as well as creating, administering, and analyzing the survey results. This person works directly with the President Elect and VP of Membership.
The PMI-NAC Chapter is growing rapidly and we are always looking for motivated and energetic folks to help us support chapter communications, special events, education, programs, planning and strategy.
To volunteer for any of the above opportunities or create your own opportunity leveraging your own unique skills contact Lourdes Godfrey at presidentelect@northalabamapmi.org.
Thanks To All Our Current PMI-NAC Volunteers for Making It Real !!!!
Brenda Matthews / Meeting Support & Finance
Camden Kent, PMP / PMP Prep Class
Carl Pivarsky / Database Management
Cathy Filippo, PMP / Sponsorship & Finance
Cynthia Hrubecky, PMP / Webmaster
Deborah Persley / Corporate Relations - NEW!
Don Ross, PMP / Newsletter Managing Editor
Donna Klecka / Acteva Manager
Herman Thomas / Corporate Ambassador
Jim Tower / Speaker's Bureau
Keith Winters, PMP / Process and Procedures - NEW!
Ken Grant, PMP / Speaker's Bureau Chair
Larry Frakes, PMP / PMP Prep Class
Lisa Caine, PMP / Sponsorship
Mark Zessinger, PMP / Schedule Manager - NEW!
Mike Meyer, PMP / Sponsorship
Pamela Farnsworth / Awards Director
Patty Popour, PMP / Evening meetings
Paul Hession, PMP / PMP Exam Simulator Reviewer
Richard Blais, PMP / Newsletter
Rick Schwarz, PMP / PMP Prep Class
Ron Steele, PMP / PMP Prep Class
Sarah Hembree, PMP / Membership Volunteer - NEW!
Steven Foster, PMP / PMP Prep Class
Terri Madak / Special Events - NEW!
Tony Lindeman, PMP / PMP Prep Class |
| Answers to the PMBOK Knowledge Quiz |
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1. Correct answer = D
Show how a process varies over time.
PMBOK® Guide, 3rd edition, page 192-193.
2. Correct answer = D
See PMBOK® Guide, 3rd edition, page 111. |
| Quick Bytes & Parting Shots |
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Membership Challenge 2008!
Help keep PMI-NAC at the top as one of the fastest growing PMI chapters on the globe! Beginning soon - PMI-NAC members in good standing will be eligible to compete for valuable prizes - based on who can persuade the most people to become PMI-NAC members by the end of the contest.
Each time someone joins - send an email to membership@northalabamapmi.org that contains the name of the new member - the date they joined - and your name as their "sponsor" for each new member you bring onboard. It's that easy!
Contest details and prizes will be announced soon so stay tuned for more news on how you can WIN! WIN! WIN!
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