Project Management Institute
Greater Toronto
Information Systems Local Interest Group

Draw winner for free workshop: Patricia Crowe

Networking Dinner and Presentation

"On-line, On-time, On-budget, 
Titanic lessons for the e-business executive"
Presenter: Mark Kozak-Holland

Date: Thursday September 18th, 2003
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Northern District Public Library, 2nd floor, 40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto (near Yonge/Eglinton) You can access the Library by subway. If you drive, there is ample Public Parking in the area.

Timetable:
5:45 p.m. Doors open – pickup PDU receipt
6:10 p.m. Networking & buffet dinner 
7:00 p.m. Sponsorship Presentation
7:10 p.m. Speaker presentation
8:00 p.m. Q&A, networking continues

Averting Project Disasters: Every year we experience IT projects from "hell" that we know will turn into an operational disaster. But do any come close to Titanic's track-record of four years in development and 4 days in operation?

Mark Kozak-Holland
Senior e-business Consultant, IBM Global Services, Canada
Mark helps organizations evaluate how enabling technologies can impact their business and enhance existing business processes to the customer. Mark has recently authored an e-business book [1], the subject of the presentation. Mark is passionate about history and advocates that we move through repeating cycles of historical change. Paying attention to how historical projects and emerging technologies of the past solved complex problems of the day provides some very valuable insight into how to solve today’s more challenging business problems. Mark is currently working on his second book in the lessons from history series.

[1] http://www.mc-store.com/ononon.html

Fee: $35 for PMI members; $45 for non-members & guests. 
This meeting earns 1 PDU point for participating.

REGISTRATION: Please register via the SOC online registration page. Online registration cut-off is Noon  September 16th. Any problems, please call the SOC office at 416-381-4058.

"Introducing the ISLIG after-meeting social!" 
Join us at Alleycatz Live Jazz Bar (2409 Yonge Street), east side of Yonge just north of Broadway Ave. 
8:30p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - cash bar. Host: Dimitar Popovski

EMAIL: info@gtislig.org

Feedback results:
September 18, 2003
"On-line, On-time, On-budget, 
Titanic lessons for the e-business executive"

Winner of the draw (free dinner event): Manie Azenda
Link to presentation in PDF format

Greater Toronto ISLIG workshop meeting
"Managing Difficult People"
Presenter: Triya Chakraborty, MBA

Date: Thursday August 14th, 2003
Time: 6:15 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Northern District Public Library, 2nd floor, 40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto (near Yonge/Eglinton) You can access the Library by subway. If you drive, there is ample Public Parking in the area.

Timetable:
6:15 p.m. Doors open – pickup PDU receipt; only snack & drink will be available
6:30 p.m. Workshop starts
8:00 p.m. Close discussion, networking continues

SPEAKER: Triya Chakraborty, MBA, has 20 years of Project Management experience with major enterprises including New Horizons Systems Solutions, Ontario Power Generation, SHL Systemhouse, Ultramar, and Comshare. Triya has managed multiple large projects, and has become a leading practitioner in Team & People Management, Communications Skills, and Conflict Resolution.

DESCRIPTION: In this workshop Triya will share with you techniques, experiences, and participation in how to manage difficult people.

REGISTRATION: Seats are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please register via the SOC online registration page. Online registration cut-off is 5:00 p.m. August 13. Any problems, please call the SOC office at 416-381-4058.

EMAIL: info@gtislig.org

This event is FREE. Participants shall be issued one PDU receipt.

Thanks go to Bill Chadwick for organizing and leading this activity.

Issues & Challenges Workshop
"Project Execution Plan – Inclusions / Exclusions"

Date: Thursday, June 12, 2003
Location: Northern District Public Library, 2nd floor, 40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto (near Yonge/Eglinton) You can access the Library by subway. If you drive, there is ample Public Parking in the area.
Timetable:
6:15 p.m. Doors open
6:30 p.m. Presentation
7:00 p.m. Group discussions
8:00 p.m. Close

There is no fees to attend this meeting. Attendees shall be entitled to one PDU. A light snack and soft drinks will be provided.

Seats are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Please register via the SOC online registration page. Online registration cut-off is 5:00 p.m. June 11. Any problems, please call the SOC office at 416-381-4058.

Thanks go to Sanjay Swarup for organizing and leading this activity.

Issues & Challenges Workshops is a service offered by the Greater Toronto Information Systems Local Interest Group (GT ISLIG) and it is being organized in response to your requests. A panel of your peers will address the day-to-day issues and challenges faced by our members in managing IT projects.

Spread the news to co-workers, fellow Project Managers, associates, friends and others interested in attending these events.
 

Feedback results Thursday, June 12, 2003:
Issues and Challenges Workshop
"Project Execution Plan – Inclusions / Exclusions "

"The Alignment of Change Management Disciplines"
Presenter: Wayne Thomas, PMP

Date: Thursday 22 May 2003, 6PM - 8:30PM
Location: Northern District Public Library, 2nd floor, 40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto (near Yonge/Eglinton)
Timetable: Registration opens at 5:45 p.m.
Networking & Buffet Dinner 6:00 p.m.
Voting 7:00 p.m.
Presentation and Group Discussion 7:10 p.m.
Q&A, Networking 8:00 p.m. till close

Fee: $35 for PMI members; $45 for non-members & guests.

Registration:
Pre-register to reserve for buffet dinner by calling the Southern Ontario Chapter Office at 416-381-4058. Payment by charge card over phone, or cash at the door.

Or click here to register online.

This meeting earns 1 PDU point for participating.

Synopsis:
The alignment of change management disciplines. The speaker will  highlight the importance of a common comprehensive vision of change outcome and complexity, the functions of the change disciplines, and the role of project management to integrate these for optimum results.

Bio: Wayne Thomas, PMP
Wayne has worked in the financial, distribution, public, manufacturing and construction sectors at technical, supervisory and senior management levels.

As a Technology Director for a Canadian based multinational financial group Wayne provided technology alignment to business strategy. He managed a team of technicians, software developers, computer operators and business analysts that provided centralized and on-site technology services that included hardware support, network management, systems development, change management and end-user support.

Wayne has held various change management roles, including planner, implementation lead, project manager, sponsor and business owner in small to large technology projects. He measures success not by the implementation of technology but by its impact on business results.

Presentation handout in PowerPoint format (122KB)

Sponsor: Centennial College

Feedback results Thursday, May 22, 2003:
“Alignment of Change Management Disciplines" 

Winner of draw for free dinner event: J Anne Milochik.

“Project Management Environment Opportunities”
Presenter: Michael Stanleigh

Date: April 10th 2003 6:30 to 8:00pm
Location: Northern District Public Library, 2nd floor, 40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto (near Yonge/Eglinton)
Timetable: Registration opens at 6:10pm
Workshop begins at 6:30pm prompt
No meal (complementary snack provided)
Fee: no cost
PDU Credits: This meeting earns 1 PDU

Synopsis:
An interactive session covering:
- Some history of PMO’s (how we got here)
- The What (an accelerated approach to managing projects)
- The Why (some stories)
- The How (time and discipline for each stage of the process)
- The PMO (selling benefits of PM & PMO to management)
- Performance measures on success
- What would prevent success & how to overcome these obstacles
- Post project assessment of a total project failure
- Lessons Learned (retaining project knowledge)

Bio: Michael Stanleigh is President of Business Improvement Architects, a firm specializing in the areas of Project Management, Strategic Planning, Quality Management and Leadership. They work extensively across Canada, the United States, England and the Far East.

Michael’s international background in the area of project management includes both training and consulting. As well, he has spoken at many conferences and has written articles that have been published in many countries on the subjects of Innovation, Total Quality, Employee Motivation, Management and Project Management. Michael has been a frequent presenter at the Toronto Project World Conferences and the International conferences of the American Society for Quality and American Society for Training & Development. He instructs all of the public workshops in Project Management for the American Society of Quality.

April 10, 2003 "Project Management Environment Opportunities" feedback results

"Leadership in IT Project Management"
Presenter: Arie Avraham, Senior Project Manager, IBM Canada

Date: Thursday 20 March 2003 6PM - 8PM
Location: Northern District Public Library, 2nd floor, 40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto (near Yonge/Eglinton)
Timetable: Registration opens at 5:45 p.m.
Networking & Buffet Dinner 6:00 p.m.
Presentation 7:00 p.m. Q&A 8:00 p.m.

Fee: $35 for PMI members; $45 for non-members, guests.
This meeting earns 1 PDU point for participating.

Synopsis: Most Project Managers focus on their technical abilities. Some go beyond technical skills and are honing their soft skills. To successfully deal with the complexities and challenges in everyday project life, we need to go beyond that. We need to become Project Leaders. We often ensure good processes and best practices are followed. We do what we have done in the past. Often, we forget to lead. The focus of this presentation is Leadership, what it means to be an IT Project Leader, what it takes to be an IT Project Leader and the rewards one can expect.

This presentation is about people, results, teams, the value of planning, responsibility and change. It is about target setting, success, selecting the right staff for your project and making the right decisions. It's about the skills and values you need to become a leader. 

As the saying goes, "If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there." Your job as an IT Project Leader is to ensure the whole Team knows were they are going, and are getting there.

Bio: Arie Avraham is a Senior Project Manager with over 20 years of diverse IT Project Management experience. His focus is on achieving strategic business objectives through business requirements analysis, project planning and efficient resource utilization. Arie is a strong team builder with excellent facilitation and communication skills and solid problem solving abilities. He established a proven track record of successful projects delivered on time, within budget with quantifiable, value added benefits.

Arie is the Chair of the PMI Greater Toronto Information Systems Local
Interest Group (PMI GT ISLIG) and serves on the Centennial College Project Management Studies Advisory Board. He served 4 years on the PMI, Information Systems Specific Interest Group (PMI ISSIG) Board and 2 years on the ProjectWorld Canada Advisory Board
 

March 20, 2003 "Leadership in IT Project Management" feedback results

Winner of the draw (free dinner event): Ada Reviakina
Link to presentation in PDF format

"How to Manage Gathering & Documenting of User Requirements"

Date: Thursday, February 20, 2003 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Northern District Public Library, 2nd floor, 40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto (near Yonge/Eglinton) You can access the Library by subway. If you drive, there is ample Public Parking in the area.

There is no fees to attend this meeting. Attendees shall be entitled to one PDU. A light snack and soft drinks will be provided.

Seats are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
To register, call 416-381-4058.

Please arrive in time to allow a prompt 6:30 PM start.

Spread the news to co-workers, fellow Project Managers, associates, friends and others interested in attending these events.

Issues & Challenges Workshops is a service offered by the Greater Toronto Information Systems Local Interest Group (GT ISLIG) and it is being organized in response to your requests. A panel of your peers will address the day-to-day issues and challenges faced by our members in managing IT projects.

Our thanks go to members who forwarded Issues & Challenges to be addressed at our workshops.

Thanks go to Sanjay Swarup for organizing and leading this activity.

February 20, 2003 Issues & Challenges workshop feedback results

"Project Management for the 21st Century"
Speaker: Tom Snyder from Squalis Inc.

Date: Thursday 23 Jan 2003 6PM - 8PM
Location: Northern District Public Library, 2nd floor, 40 Orchard View Blvd, Toronto (near Yonge/Eglinton)
Fee: $35 for PMI members; $45 for non-members, guests.
This meeting earns 1 PDU point for participating.

Introduction: An integration of modern management theories into a comprehensive Project Management Framework. Many of the processes that comprise industry standard Project Management methodologies are based on management theories that are becoming more and more out of date.

Registration: Register By Calling the Southern Ontario Chapter Office at 416-381-4058. 

"Project Management for the 21st Century" Power Point presentation:

January 23, 2003 "Project Management for the 21st Century" feedback results

Winner of the draw (free dinner event): Norman Shaw