PMI National Conference 2012

This is one of the most expected event by professionally. The event hosted at Leela Palace, MRC Nagar, Chennai. Schedule 28-30 September 2012. From morning 09.15 hours to 19.00 hours IST everyday. Its hosted by PMI Chennai & Kerala chapter together.

Being an early bird invitee, went to the location on 28th september 2012 by 09.30 hours IST itself. This hotel & location are new to me, got clues by discussing with Ganesh - VP Education of PMI Chennai chapter. But still I missed this location and went to TVH apartments, and got guided to the correct spot.

My number is 505 and get into the counter no: 5, and Mr.Selvakumar is the counter-in charge. With quiet patiently, he has explained about the Welcome Kit, RFID and provided with Pen Drive(quiet surprisingly) with technical paper. Selva, requested me to return RFID tag, on my return from the conference. He even mentioned that this conference is planned, "GO GREEN" initiate, by giving welcome bag. I just thought for a moment, that, since the bag is green in color, people started claiming as green. Somehow, Selva read my mind, and immediately, responded that, not only bag's color, but also the bag is made-up of fabric, without including any plastics and also many more initiatives taken on this reference, which you will see as conference progress.

As conference progressed, each speaker was honoured with Momento and also, a certificate for planting a count of tree, on the behalf of the speaker. Its very good. After each session completed, the feedbacks were requested, but again a change in the approach. Instead of providing in regular papers, they were informed to delegates by an SMS, we need respond based on the codes. Again another milestone, to minimize usage of paper. Very good.

After early bird sessions, actual event started, with a cultural event. The compere mentioned that the cultural event will be conducted by Karthik. One youngster, came and stood on the stage and four more came and stood on a stage, which is kept at different parts of conference hall. They played the song of 'Jai Ho' of AR Rahman and they made us to represent various components of orchestra and sing the song as in original. By stating in english, seems to be so easy, but the demonstration on the stage, through the delegates of 1200, is NOT AT ALL easy. But believe me, after this event, almost all of us were laughing and smiling limitlessly.

On day 2, we had Guruji Sri Sri Ravisankar session, which is a magic. Guruji, on the fly demonstrated 'Desktop Yoga', helped all of us to meditate for few minutes. Everything took around 18 minutes only, but we all felt as refreshed. His speech was around how individual could comfortably lead professional life, is Passion - Compassion - Dis-passion. He said, when world created, Lord Vishnu(Manager) came first, then Lord Brahma(Creator) came. What a connect between spirituality and professional...Simply great.

On day 3, we had session with E.Sreedharan, whom we consider as Father of India's Project Management. For everything and anything, he has solution and work around.He highlighted the key characteristics for the competitive project manager as, (a) Punctuality (b) Integrity (c) Professional Competency (d) Social responsible / belonging. He has explained each and every aspects of this in detail. Half of his time, dedicated to Q&A with delegates. One of the delegate is from Hyderabad Metro, and raised a question with reference to a problem faced by his management, which is delaying the project to proceed further. But the way Sreedharan, replied was amazing. He just replied, "start need to happen, where well-acceptance is available not where the problem exists. I am disappointed the way things taken over". Even if we allowed atleast 5 more minutes, I guess he might have completed project review session on the fly(without any notes, points, ppts).

Followed by Big Debate, which was Moderated by L.Sujeeth Kumar, who is a Location Head - HR for Infosys. The topic, "Could woman be better project managers?" It quiet delicate and complicate, where the both the sides, need to show decent edges, as pros and cons. But the moderator, so good, got to see those small things and blown-up in a debate fashion, which has made so interesting for the audience. Moderator, need to mention about, the way catch the point, the way blow with his own experience, and the way its presented to audience, believe me, it was great treat to watch, hear, and think about it. Excellent. Mr.Pascal, who is General Manager of Leela palace, was NOT supporting women could be better project manager, where he clearly mentioned that Woman managing men is OK, but Women managing women is a challenge. Actually he is from france. So this observation seems to be valid across globe. Interesting. The debate concluded with Sujeeth, wonderful conclusion note, favouring woman, but the way it was presented, is really impressive. Good Show Sujeeth.

Atlast the conference ended. But need to acknowledge their Volunteers, about their commitment, dedication, involvement, passion, ego-less operation are worth to appreciate.

Overall, it was interesting, knowledgeable, exciting conference. Worth more than we paid. Hoping to know more such opportunities.

Lead by Demonstration NOT to lean by Delegation

In the corporate world, when companies, becomes big, bigger, we have relatively more hierarchies and heads. This additional hierarchy objective is to, anticipating more review, detailed analysis, hoping for different perspectives. But in reality, these hierarchies, influence as an overhead, not more than that. If the organizations, are NOT matured, and does not have detailed roles & responsibilities, then, expect only nightmare as news.

In most of the so called big organizations, the additional hierarchy, who play the role between operations to strategy, quiet tend to be inoperative state. The moment if we see any concerns or problems or constraints or any mess-up with client management team, they take the side of strategy team, and move the responsibility and authority to the operations team. They would not participate into any resolution activities, but try to provides lots of Lip service in the back-end only.

Once the task is over, concerns are addressed, problems / constraints are resolved, they would come into light, without any shame, dignity and act as if they have done all wonders. Its something, owning a baby, without working for it. Anyhow, based on today's corporate comedy scene, they are known to be leaders.

In my opinion, the role is inoperative. period. Actual expectations, would be, they should have jumped into the situation, and guide the entire operations team, by providing appropriate confidence & motivation. That spirit is known to "Lead by Demonstration". If any other appropriate professionals, move those activities to any other subordinate(scape goat), in the name "Delegation" and stay away from the scene, then,its called, "Lean by Delegation".

Based on my observations, around 30 to 40 percent of senior management team, operate in this fashion.This was consolidated as collection from different perspectives from different sources, different type of companies, different type of industries, at different regions.

Planets Vs PMI Knowledge Areas

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AGM2012 - PMI Chennai Chapter - Key Speaker notes

Attended Annual Generalbody Meeting(AGM) - 2012 at Deccan Plaza, Royapettah, Chennai on 19-Aug-2012.  For this event, Key speaker invited was, Mr.K.Rajaram, MD of CMRL. The salient points of the presentation.

SALIENT POINTS

• - Decision Making authority, structure, need to be robust and quick.
• - Infrastructure projects - Better to start after acquisition of 90% land. Most of the delay in these projects are due to acquisition of lands.
• - Highlighted that the Competency to be collected, else trained, groomed. Tied-up with few educational institutions, train professionals, to be compete in this business.
• - Highlighted various stakeholders, like, Court, Metro water, Tamilnadu Electricity Board(TNEB), Bharath Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL), & Airport.
• - Land acquisition cases need to visit courts, to get justice quickly, else it would upset infrastructure project delay.
• - During drilling of the land, we have so many lines like Metro water, electricity lines, Telephone lines, which should not be disturbed, so that we need to get clearance from them too. For better operational convenience, those people are inducted into CMRL space
• - After 2 years of consistent and repeated discussions with Airports Authority of India(AAI), to get their support, acceptance, for extending metro lines to Airport.
• - Entire project management, was identified as Contractor Management, by the presenter and mentions that, if they manage Contractor effectively, then, the contractor, can manage their Time, Cost, Scope etc.
• - Sensitized that Project Managers need to have, 'Money value of time and Time value of Money'.
• - Project Managers need high focus on quality in their delivery. If we say anything is higher than quality, then it should be Safety.
• - Most of the organizations, Standards & Codes does not seem to translate into quality. These standards, need to reach last leaf root of the employee, as part of their day-to-day activity, else, its just document.
• - Interface Management - 49 meetings in a week, like tracks team, electrical team and signal team.
• - Communication Management - Managing Media is tough, Public is relatively easy.

Soon after the session, Karthik R, president of PMI chennai chapter, acknowledged their contribution, by quoting, "Rome was not built in a day. If so, we might have hired them".

It was nice informative session. 

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May Day - Labourers day

One of the routine day, was travelling to office, by office bus. My office is located at, Sipcot IT park, Siruseri, Chennai. To reach office, we need to travel atleast 1hour 30 mins to 1hour 45 mins. To be safe to reach office, before office time, Management, have organized, bus to come to our destination, bit early. So minimum 2 hours, need to be spent, before start of the office and same hours for returning back to home. So, in action, I need to devote around 13 hours a day, just to go, work & come back from office to vice versa.

During bus travel, I use to observe, about fellow passengers / co-workers, about their enthusiasm, preparedness, curious of the day. But most of them, keep themselves as a regular mechanical activity. Getting-up into the bus, from the same pick-up point, grab a window seat on driver direction(Morning sun - Does not strike), or any possible window seat location and continue their morning sleep. Same story continues, evening too.

Few days back, when our bus was nearing to Sipcot entrance, I happened to see another bus, with lots of North-Indian(atleast not Tamil) faces, as construction workers(labour class), sitting into the bus, and looking for the day. To my surprise, all of them were awake in the bus, & it, just overtaken our bus for their business day.

After seeing that bus, I just looked at the people in my company bus. It just felt that, we are not anyway different from those construction workers. In general, we were brought to the workspace, by the company bus. We work / slog at office, doing all forms of activities, to fulfil our stakeholder expectations, to make our living. Probably that could be the reason, to refer, all software workers as 'Cyber Coolies' like construction workers.

Prime difference, Construction workers, can see their creations, and it can be shared and shown, with proud about their contribution. But Software in kingdom, their creations, cannot be seen by ourself and undergoes changes for every business impact or change.

Anyway...most of the software professionals, feel that the May Day belongs to Labourers / Working community alone. We are not part of that group. Just wanted to conclude you all, that this, May day is belong to all our software professionals also. We also represent, this working community.

Wishing you happy may day.

Lord Ayyappa

Courtesy: http://www.aanmigakkadal.com/2012/02/blog-post_04.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AanmigaKadal+%28AANMIGA+KADAL+%28%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%80%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%29%29