I'm sitting the MSP Advanced Practitioner Re-registration Exam today.
It doesn't seem like five years since I first attained the qualification, but in these hard times I think it's important to keep your core qualifications current.
The public sector in particular insists on freelance programme managers being MSP qualified, and it's also a useful addition to my Continuing Professional Development Log to maintain my standing within the Association for Project Managers (APM).
I'm confident the exam will go well; I've used MSP in practice solidly since before I qualified, so if I don't know about it by now I never will!
www.stevesyder.com Blog from Steve Syder, Interim Director of Programmes and Projects
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Monday, 24 May 2010
Government Spending Cuts
It's good to see the new Government act so quickly to reduce the UK's budget deficit.
What will the changes mean for interims like me?
In the short term it will probably reduce our options, as government departments adjust to the changes and opportunities offered via agencies handling public sector areas diminish.
However, in the medium to long term, it's probably good news; the private sector will grow in confidence in response to this decisive action and the public sector will replace "Big name" consultancies with interims to reduce overhead. Interims also do not appear on headcount, so we tend to benefit from recruitment freezes.
So far so good - here's hoping my optimism is justified.
What will the changes mean for interims like me?
In the short term it will probably reduce our options, as government departments adjust to the changes and opportunities offered via agencies handling public sector areas diminish.
However, in the medium to long term, it's probably good news; the private sector will grow in confidence in response to this decisive action and the public sector will replace "Big name" consultancies with interims to reduce overhead. Interims also do not appear on headcount, so we tend to benefit from recruitment freezes.
So far so good - here's hoping my optimism is justified.
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Monday, 10 May 2010
Hung Parliament
The hung parliament is bad news for many people, not least interim programme managers like me.
My day job is to manage multi-million pounds programmes of business change/transformation.
As long as we have no settled government agenda in place - with a sufficient majority to see it through - then the public sector will just tread water and no major programmes will be initiated. Similarly, the private sector will be reluctant to plan massive investments if it doesn't know what government reaction will be.
Whatever the outcome of the talks between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives, I fear that any government will be short-lived. We should probably gird our loins for a second General Election in the autumn. Effectively, that means that there will be few large business change programmes kicked off before the new financial year in April 2011.
Worrying times indeed, but at least my handicap should come down!
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Social Oomph
I've taken out a free trial of the professional version of Social Oomph - https://www.socialoomph.com/
I think the paid version is too expensive for individuals, so I'll be making the most of the professional features for the six days I have it.
One of the features I particularly like is the ability to add a recurring post with lots of variants. You type as many tweets as you like into one post and tell Social Oomph which Twitter account you want to post to and how frequently you want to post (for Twitter once a day is the most). Social Oomph then posts randomly from your variations to keep your online activity busy all the time.
I've used the feature to advertise that I'm currently available for interim work and free programme health checks. I've also advertised my free programme case studies. I have a second recurring post set up to promote my pub directory www.findfriendlypubs.co.uk
One of the side effects I've already found is that it has increased my number of followers.
I really recommend you take a look at Social Oomph if you have any kind of social networking account. Even the free version is good; if only they had an intermediate paid version for individuals!
I think the paid version is too expensive for individuals, so I'll be making the most of the professional features for the six days I have it.
One of the features I particularly like is the ability to add a recurring post with lots of variants. You type as many tweets as you like into one post and tell Social Oomph which Twitter account you want to post to and how frequently you want to post (for Twitter once a day is the most). Social Oomph then posts randomly from your variations to keep your online activity busy all the time.
I've used the feature to advertise that I'm currently available for interim work and free programme health checks. I've also advertised my free programme case studies. I have a second recurring post set up to promote my pub directory www.findfriendlypubs.co.uk
One of the side effects I've already found is that it has increased my number of followers.
I really recommend you take a look at Social Oomph if you have any kind of social networking account. Even the free version is good; if only they had an intermediate paid version for individuals!
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Free Programme Health Checks
I've decided to offer organisations free health checks for their business change programmes with budgets in excess of £10m.
More than ever, in these current economic times, organisations need to be sure that they are doing the right programmes, aligned to corporate strategy, in the right way and with the right people.
A programme health check or gateway review should provide reassurance, but can cost thousands of pounds. Now people can have them for free if they contact me (remember, I'm an OGC Approved Gateway Reviewer).
Why would I do it for free? Well, the market is so quiet at the moment that most of my assignments only occupy a small proportion of my time. By giving these health checks for free I'm creating a larger business network for myself, and hopefully generating plenty of goodwill that could repay me at a later date.
For more details about the offer - and it genuinely is free with no catches - visit http://www.stevesyder.com/free.htm
More than ever, in these current economic times, organisations need to be sure that they are doing the right programmes, aligned to corporate strategy, in the right way and with the right people.
A programme health check or gateway review should provide reassurance, but can cost thousands of pounds. Now people can have them for free if they contact me (remember, I'm an OGC Approved Gateway Reviewer).
Why would I do it for free? Well, the market is so quiet at the moment that most of my assignments only occupy a small proportion of my time. By giving these health checks for free I'm creating a larger business network for myself, and hopefully generating plenty of goodwill that could repay me at a later date.
For more details about the offer - and it genuinely is free with no catches - visit http://www.stevesyder.com/free.htm
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Hard Times Indeed!
Proof if it were needed that times are hard; I was just called by one of the best agents I have ever worked with who told me his company has folded.
To add insult to injury he was given no advanced warning and arrived to locked doors one morning. What a bad way to treat loyal members of staff.
Things really are bad if people like this cannot sustain business. I wish him well for the future.
To add insult to injury he was given no advanced warning and arrived to locked doors one morning. What a bad way to treat loyal members of staff.
Things really are bad if people like this cannot sustain business. I wish him well for the future.
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