Introduction
To continue in the efforts of bringing the professional community together, we will now go further afield and start a new transatlantic series as a joint effort between the College of Performance Management (CPM) in the US and EVA in the UK.
This new series titled “Building Bridges not Walls” will start on Thursday 27th May and will be based on the same format as our previous online events, with the aim of sharing ideas through conversation in a community unfettered by normal affiliations and restrictions. Steve Wake and Gordon Kranz CPM
President will discuss EVM joined by Tim Sheldon Head of the UK Submarine Agency.
Regular broadcasts every Thursday. Guests who are senior, diverse, open, interested, passionate, different, motivating, inspiring, and reassuring. A growing network to change for the better. Discussion with interest for both sides of the pond.
May
27/05/2021
16:00
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Speaker : Gordon Kranz – President College of Performance Management |
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Speaker : Dr Tim Sheldon – Head of UK Submarine Agency |
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Speaker : Steve Wake – EVA in the UK
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Statue of Agility
Performance management, it’s elementary my dear Watson
It needs dedication, not always a tea party, not even in Boston.
Project control, best delivery earned value, into everyday practice,
it certainly beats using your ass
to count spikes on the project cactus.
A benefits driven portfolio,
Setting up each domino,
So that they fall into place,
And land with grace.
Submarines are a lot like socks
They’re seldom seen,
But to toes are a kind of Fort knox.
Documentation, planning and agility,
It’s the new way, time to move on from hillbillybillity.
Effort & discipline to achieve the benefit we are trying to accomplish
Less putting up with obstacles more putting on the Ritz
Less project in a hurry, taking every step one by one.
Cos’ baby we were born to strategically run.
A waterfall experience that in a circular way Brings the benefit line,
Time after time.
Not one that’s Mason Dixie,
It’s good to make the distinction between Bourbon and Whiskey.
You say Data, I say DARTA,
Cracking the information shell, sorting through every peanut…
Just like Jimmy Carter!
So see it through from the Crib to the Grave
With everybody is reading off the same page.
If you want to avoid project paralysis
Try some Sweet home analysis.
Paul Lyalls EVA25 Poet In Residence 20/21
Common Sense isn’t that common any more
EVA Broadcast No 1 Stephen Carver Poem by Paul Lyalls EVA Poet in Residence
to enable the economy to be re-fronted.
We were only 24 hours from Durham
while the shit in London was almost overflowing.
But the Government is ongoing,
unlike the rest of the crew, especially those who are travelling on HS2!
which seems stuck, like shite to your shoe.
But shit just like rust doesn’t quit,
there’s always more of it.
Somewhere below the city it’s underneath
it’s an ever expanding ‘Grease’ Yes,
turd is the word,
It’s a manifest-hole
symbolic of the ‘leadershite’.
After all of this,
maybe it’d be better if the next asteroid didn’t miss.
June
03/06/2021
16:00
Topic : Soft Skills
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Speaker : Donna Fitzgerald – Chief Product Evangelist |
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Speaker : Sarah Schutte – Director |
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Speaker : Jason Kinder – Pinnacle |
Soft skills include communication skills, conflict resolution skills, and relationship building skills. Whereas hard skills focus on the knowledge and tools necessary to develop, maintain, and report on programs or projects, soft skills pertain to the people who are doing the work. And it is the people who are the critical component determining failure or success of the program or project. Important soft skills in program management include:
1.Leadership
2.Motivation
3.Communication
4.Conflict Management
5.Trust Building
6.Decision Making
7.Organization
Difficult Patient
EVA Broadcast No 2 Sophie Sabbage Poem by Paul Lyalls EVA Poet in Residence
If you Google the word ‘motivation’ and scroll,
You are probably lacking the movable or fixed posts of your own goal-
After all the desire to create
Is the deepest yearning of the human soul.
Are you ready for this,
Pucker up for that creative kiss.
Intensity has become the new normal
Yes we are survivors, but there’s more to being mortal.
Crisis is the birth place of creativity
But it shouldn’t be a constant into infinity.
Obli-dee Obli-daa Obligation – life goes on
Even in the last chance Sal-on-
You can strive for desire
But burn out is part of every fire.
Being who we are, instead of being who we are not.
Is always the best offer in societies shop.
As we crisis into another self worth proving reaction
Probably just like Jagger you won’t get no satisfaction.
Creativity is a world of possibility so wake up, smell the crisis.
Each one is a chance for you to change your devices.
Creativity is a world of possibility
That will expand your soul’s elasticity,
Mohannad Elmahdy Hassan
I’m a results oriented Executive with more than twenty years experience in startup and early stage as well as turnaround of companies. I specialize in exploring and capturing new markets and new customers, by finding the unique value and helping companies build and enhance their business based on this. I help the companies focus and build great process and hire great teams.
10/06/2021
16:00
Topic : Data Analytics
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Speaker : Mark Austin – Automutation |
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Speaker : Ian Pegram – Automutation |
The Coronavirus infodemic – making sense of data overload.
Lessons for Projects Infodemic. An excessive amount of information about a problem that is typically unreliable, spreads rapidly, and makes a solution more difficult to achieve.
Needed a planner, with a metaphorical spanner.
Who can also take one out of the works!
And can ensure, the network is a net that works.
Because 30,000 miles of track
Is a lot of clickety-clack!
Not overlooking ongoing outputs and outcomes
That must flow like water under 20,000 bridges-
We’re not just talking Jeff…
We’re talking processed and fully meshed.
Within a team that are all aboard
On an evolutionary path into machined learning,
To keep the wheels not just on but also turning.
Part prediction part knowledge driven
Which interprets as, getting from Waterloo to Wigan.
Especially in these times,
When the world heads deeper into a dark night
Looking for the proverbial at the end of… light.
But the Network has got untold tunnels
And each one as Michael Portillo commends
Has a well lit opening at both ends!
17/06/2021
16:00
Topic : Office of the Department of Defense IPM Vision
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Speaker : Mr. David Cadman – Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Enablers |
Dr Christine Unterhitzenberger
Dr Christine Unterhitzenberger is an Associate Professor of Project Management at the University of Leeds and has recently gained the status of Chartered Project Professional. Her research is focused on relational and psycho-social aspects in projects. She is particularly interested in how a better understanding and an increased awareness of psycho-social relationships can enhance the project performance. Her work has received external funding and has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals. Prior to her academic career she has worked for almost ten years as a project manager in the construction industry. She was responsible for the project management of various large scale construction projects with a total value of more than £ 500 million. Currently, she is Chair of the APM Research Advisory Group and a Department Editor for the Project Management Journal.
The Dodgy but nice relationship between contractors & Clients
(aka The language of Earned Value Love)
EVA Broadcast No 4 Christine Unterhitzenberger & Roger Joby Poem by Paul Lyalls EVA Poet in Residence
On the one hand They’re a dream
constantly talking, effortlessly engaging, looking the part
On the other, they’re a nightmare,
Micro managing on a trip to hell in a wee hand cart.
Earned value gives the warning signings
Principal is the client – It’s like a first date-
That wants to move on to love and marriage!
one part is in a better position, but one has baggage!
The client has the information and is all loving and giving
The contractor is swept off its feet
But then honeymoon is over and
The update flowers are from the garage.
Level of information goes from gourmet to takeaway
Opportunistic behavior, that looks cosmopolitan but’s really suburbia
Over budget, overtime, over paid and over here!
Contract-understanding-resources-education-delegation
Time to be cured & clear.
With all these in place you can say ‘yes dear’
As Barbara Streisand sang
You don’t bring me update flowers any more
Following the 5 points will bring back the l’amour
Well enough is enough, if you want to see the project in the buff
Cross case analysis is very applicable and once again it will make both parties lickable.
It’s all about a frame work frame of mind
And in the right critical researched measure you have to be cruel to be kind.
For both contractor and client to truly understand each other
And move on from first date to lover
Then they’ve got to understand the goals and live and let live
And if you ultimately cant love the one you want
Then love the one you’re with.
Dr Roger Joby
Roger Joby is a Visiting Research Fellow at Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University and an international project management consultant and educator with over 40 years’ experience, principally for Clinical Research Organizations. Recipient of the Pharmaceutical Contract Management Group (PCMG) Lifetime Fellowship Award 2019
24/06/2021
16:00
Topic : Benefits
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Speaker : Esther Gordon-Smith – Highways England Benefits Lead |
Steve Wake
Many organisations nowadays perceive project controls as an overhead and non-value add – due to wrong organisation culture, weak demonstration of its value/benefits, complied with over complicated methodologies/systems.
I will share insight on how the industry can press the “reset button” to address these challenges and provide a glimpse into the future of project controls.
DATA ANALYTICS (aka Cool tech!)EVA Broadcast No 5 Martin Paver
Poem by Paul Lyalls EVA Poet in Residence
Lets move the human up the value scale
Project Data Analytics is the way to prevail
Like John the Baptist
Let loose in Atlantis.
Project Data Analyics is the task force
That wins the race like a dark horse
Talking shady animals what about the Black swan
Well Data Analytics doesn’t drop the baton
The world is changing – the challenges are rearranging
Jobs are going to evolve – yesterdays solutions have stalled
new unpredictable’s, like covid will be hard to solve
Everything might be delayed – driving up productivity is the stage
Real time reporting raw data
Read now not later
Take Every single risk ever, the problems we all grapple with
Multiple solutions to put through the data sieve.
Defining the risk, stick or twist
Enter the Hackathon – loosley applied
Technical ninja’s at the top end
Project managers below
Creating solutions off the back of it. That revamp the show
Cleaning up the messy data,
Giving your order to a get things done waiter
What data? what lens to look through?
Applying a vision that magnifies what you need to do.
Let’s start to work together,
To open up the data
REMEMBER, remember the Fifth of November,
Data trustworthiness , reason and good to trot
July
01/07/2021
16:00
Topic : Governance Frameworks
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Speaker : Lee-Ann Murray – Director National Audit Office |
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Speaker : Kristian Barrett – Audit Principal National Audit Office |
EEEMMMoootttiiiooonnnaaalll intelligence – Lysa Morrison
Poem by Paul Lyalls – EVA25 Poet In Residence
The budgets are cutting, the businesses are shutting,
The Governments three amigos updates are off-putting!
How do we stay Resilient, Relaxed, Resourceful & Ready
In an economy that’s falling like confetti!
Rapidly re-jigging, redefining how we make a living.
Strategic human resources management
Doesn’t sound it, but it’s actually all dancing and singing.
Getting the best out of the people in who you invest.
Because we are Living in a VUCA World
Volatile uncertain complex ambiguous
With everyone worried about being thrown under the bus.
Fast change, slow change, the entire scenario rearranged
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threat
Keeping cool, no sweat.
Stressed employees need to be happy employees
Working from home, opening up the talent pool
Bringing the crown to the jewel.
Being creative, maintaining the camaraderie
Your employees are the numbers that win the lottery.
Part of a shared purpose not a circus
Trusted, opportunity lead, give them some cred.
Allowing the individuals to let loose their talent
Fantastic teamwork, recognition make it apparent
So what if there’s no more office
Line management are the bridge
Having to be ever-ready like the light that always goes on in the fridge
Higher emotional intelligence Can be built into the new norm,
We don’t want sheep, we want Sean!
Lysa Morrison
Currently the joint CEO of a new disruptive strategic HR management company, The Shiny Happy People, Lysa combines her wealth of commercial experience, along with her academic background to help organisations to bring the best out of their people and their businesses.
Lysa has been delivering workshops, executive coaching, group facilitation, consultancy and keynote talks to a diverse range of organisations and industries across the UK and Europe for the last 15 years. Lysa holistically brings together key areas of focus such as business strategy, transformation and change management, culture, emotional intelligence, HR – strategic talent management and employee engagement, design thinking, ’soft skills’ and personal development to solve complex problems and improve the performance of organisations.
Lysa completed her Executive MBA at Newcastle University Business School where she then became an Associate Senior Lecturer specialising in managing change, leadership, business strategy and professional development. Lysa has recently completed a Harvard Business School Online qualification on Entrepreneurship and is an accredited NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer, an ILM accredited Professional Coach, and a proud TedX speaker.