IBM has just asked me to manage a second programme for them at Legal & General and offered me a six-months extension to my contract with a rate increase.
All of this is really good. There are some really professional people at IBM, not least many of those who transferred over from L&G back in October, and there are some interesting challenges ahead, both in terms of the programmes I'm looking after and in helping to integrate transferred staff into IBM.
It's a new world for me because I'm far more involved in infrastructure than I ever have been before, and it's a long while since I worked at an insurance company, so it's all good personal development stuff as well.
Between this and the work I'm doing for the APM on the professional standard I ought to have a satisfying time in 2011.
www.stevesyder.com Blog from Steve Syder, Interim Director of Programmes and Projects
Friday, 17 December 2010
Thursday, 25 November 2010
APM Awards Ceremony
I've a hectic day's work for IBM today before heading off to the APM Award Ceremony in Central London this evening.
The award is for the new Project Professionals' Standard, hopefully to soon be chartered status.
Awards will be going to founder members of the Association's new Professional Standard Register and to those people who qualified as assessors for the standard.
I qualify on both counts I'm pleased to say!
The new standard will boost the professionalism of Portfolio, Programme and Project Management and reassure potential employers that they are engaging someone who is judged by his/her peers to be knowledgeable, experienced and professional.
I was delighted to be selected as a Fellow of the APM to help with the pilot process. It gave me the opportunity to put something back into the profession and to help create a meaningful standard.
It will be good to meet up again with all the other people who worked on the pilot. I'm really looking forward to the official launch next year!
The award is for the new Project Professionals' Standard, hopefully to soon be chartered status.
Awards will be going to founder members of the Association's new Professional Standard Register and to those people who qualified as assessors for the standard.
I qualify on both counts I'm pleased to say!
The new standard will boost the professionalism of Portfolio, Programme and Project Management and reassure potential employers that they are engaging someone who is judged by his/her peers to be knowledgeable, experienced and professional.
I was delighted to be selected as a Fellow of the APM to help with the pilot process. It gave me the opportunity to put something back into the profession and to help create a meaningful standard.
It will be good to meet up again with all the other people who worked on the pilot. I'm really looking forward to the official launch next year!
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Never underestimate the importance of Stakeholder Engagement
I've always considered stakeholder engagement to be one of the primary skills I bring to the table on any assignment, which was why I volunteered to write the Stakeholder Management section of the upcoming revision of the Association for Project Management's Body of Knowledge.
Stakeholder engagement loomed large on each of the programme rescue assignments I undertook over the last five years, and it's playing a large part in my current role.
People are newly TUPE'd over to a new organisation, and so are understandably nervous and concerned for their futures, even though their futures can be very rosy in the new organisation if they embrace it.
The retained staff too are inevitably struggling to come to terms with the changes. There are new processes for them to learn, they can no longer "call in favours" from colleagues to cut the bureaucratic corners because those colleagues now need a Purchase Order, and some of the retained staff feel that the new outsourcing arrangement is a judgement on their past performance.
Add to the mix the fact that this is quite a political working environment and you can see why careful stakeholder engagement is so important.
Fortunately, I have an excellent programme sponsor, so, whilst my stakeholder engagement skills have brought most people on board with the new proposals, the sponsor's experience in dealing with one or two stragglers has been invaluable.
I'm always careful to remember that:
1. People must be won over
2. Logic alone won't do it
3. Neither will adhering slavishly to a methodology
4. Often the most sceptical once won over become the most evangelical.
Have a good day and keep that "Can do" attitude!
http://www.stevesyder.com
Stakeholder engagement loomed large on each of the programme rescue assignments I undertook over the last five years, and it's playing a large part in my current role.
People are newly TUPE'd over to a new organisation, and so are understandably nervous and concerned for their futures, even though their futures can be very rosy in the new organisation if they embrace it.
The retained staff too are inevitably struggling to come to terms with the changes. There are new processes for them to learn, they can no longer "call in favours" from colleagues to cut the bureaucratic corners because those colleagues now need a Purchase Order, and some of the retained staff feel that the new outsourcing arrangement is a judgement on their past performance.
Add to the mix the fact that this is quite a political working environment and you can see why careful stakeholder engagement is so important.
Fortunately, I have an excellent programme sponsor, so, whilst my stakeholder engagement skills have brought most people on board with the new proposals, the sponsor's experience in dealing with one or two stragglers has been invaluable.
I'm always careful to remember that:
1. People must be won over
2. Logic alone won't do it
3. Neither will adhering slavishly to a methodology
4. Often the most sceptical once won over become the most evangelical.
Have a good day and keep that "Can do" attitude!
http://www.stevesyder.com
Thursday, 7 October 2010
IBM Assignment
I'm currently a month into my latest assignment at IBM, the end client being a major insurance company, with my attention being focussed specifically on a Solvency II programme and an online protection service improvement programme.
It's an interesting place to be.
I started before the contract start date, so I was there to witness all the TUPE process, on-boarding etc.
It took me back to my days with EDS, where my assignment started before they signed the contract with Lloyds TSB; both assignments were for American companies, both were right at the start of the contract and both involved a lot of very professional people, so all in all, work is pretty stimulating.
Most of the people I have spoken to who have transferred over to IBM as part of the TUPE process seem genuinely excited abot the move, and see it as enhancing their career prospects, so they are good to work with too.
Solvency II is interesting to be involved in because it has far-reaching implications for all insurance companies, and work will need to be well underway in every company by early 2011.
Online protection is also very interesting, being complementary to my eCommerce work at Camelot last year.
Looks like being a good run up to Christmas and the New Year for me!
It's an interesting place to be.
I started before the contract start date, so I was there to witness all the TUPE process, on-boarding etc.
It took me back to my days with EDS, where my assignment started before they signed the contract with Lloyds TSB; both assignments were for American companies, both were right at the start of the contract and both involved a lot of very professional people, so all in all, work is pretty stimulating.
Most of the people I have spoken to who have transferred over to IBM as part of the TUPE process seem genuinely excited abot the move, and see it as enhancing their career prospects, so they are good to work with too.
Solvency II is interesting to be involved in because it has far-reaching implications for all insurance companies, and work will need to be well underway in every company by early 2011.
Online protection is also very interesting, being complementary to my eCommerce work at Camelot last year.
Looks like being a good run up to Christmas and the New Year for me!
Friday, 13 August 2010
Green Shoots of Recovery?
Maybe the jobs market really is beginning to look up. I'm at least finding more appropriate contracts to apply for this month.
I'm waiting for the result of an interview I had yesterday, and expect to hear today if I have been selected for interview for a second role.
Both opportunities are roles I would relish.
Having said that, I'm not easing up on my search for an assignment; competition is too tough out there to take anything for granted.
When I'm not job hunting I'm now busy working on the Stakeholder Management section of the APM's next edition of the Body of Knowledge (BoK), so at least I'm keeping my brain ticking over.
I'm waiting for the result of an interview I had yesterday, and expect to hear today if I have been selected for interview for a second role.
Both opportunities are roles I would relish.
Having said that, I'm not easing up on my search for an assignment; competition is too tough out there to take anything for granted.
When I'm not job hunting I'm now busy working on the Stakeholder Management section of the APM's next edition of the Body of Knowledge (BoK), so at least I'm keeping my brain ticking over.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
The Power of the Internet
The internet seems to be an integral part of most people's lives these days. I know that I and most of my friends, family and colleagues are connected to it most of the day.
This gives the worldwide web great power, and sometimes I wonder if that is necessarily a good thing.
My wife and I went away for a golfing weekend last weekend. We booked it through our usual golf trip arranger, so we were confident it would be OK. I then did a bit of research about the hotel at the golf course, and, much to my dismay, I found one very damning review.
The writer clearly felt very strongly, as she had written a very long review, listing a whole catalogue of things wrong with the hotel, not least the lack of hygiene.
In counterbalance to that review, I read many that praised the hotel, its staff, the food etcetera, but needless to say, we arrived at the place somewhat concerned about what we would find.
We need not have worried. It was, as one reviewer said, a place of "faded grandeur", but the cleanliness, size of the rooms and quality of the facilities was absolutely fine.
More than absolutely fine was the service given by every single member of the staff, who were very impressive.
The food was a little mixed, dinner and lunch being very good while breakfast was less impressive.
The only point of agreement I found with the damning review was the poor quality of the mattress, and we were assured that is due for replacement.
So it just goes to show - one damning review could spread like wildfire and damage that hotel for years to come, and yet we had a great weekend.
It takes a long time to build up a good reputation but only moments to build up a bad one. Never was that saying more true than in these internet days.
This gives the worldwide web great power, and sometimes I wonder if that is necessarily a good thing.
My wife and I went away for a golfing weekend last weekend. We booked it through our usual golf trip arranger, so we were confident it would be OK. I then did a bit of research about the hotel at the golf course, and, much to my dismay, I found one very damning review.
The writer clearly felt very strongly, as she had written a very long review, listing a whole catalogue of things wrong with the hotel, not least the lack of hygiene.
In counterbalance to that review, I read many that praised the hotel, its staff, the food etcetera, but needless to say, we arrived at the place somewhat concerned about what we would find.
We need not have worried. It was, as one reviewer said, a place of "faded grandeur", but the cleanliness, size of the rooms and quality of the facilities was absolutely fine.
More than absolutely fine was the service given by every single member of the staff, who were very impressive.
The food was a little mixed, dinner and lunch being very good while breakfast was less impressive.
The only point of agreement I found with the damning review was the poor quality of the mattress, and we were assured that is due for replacement.
So it just goes to show - one damning review could spread like wildfire and damage that hotel for years to come, and yet we had a great weekend.
It takes a long time to build up a good reputation but only moments to build up a bad one. Never was that saying more true than in these internet days.
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Association for Project Management
Another good day with the APM last Friday - a feedback session for all those involved in the work we've been doing lately.
Everyone was very positive and things are moving forward at a good pace.
I'm hoping to be involved with the rewrite of the Body of Knowledge, and I should hear about that next month.
I enjoy my work with the APM; everyone is so professional and committed. I'm really looking forward to our project going public towards the end of this year.
Everyone was very positive and things are moving forward at a good pace.
I'm hoping to be involved with the rewrite of the Body of Knowledge, and I should hear about that next month.
I enjoy my work with the APM; everyone is so professional and committed. I'm really looking forward to our project going public towards the end of this year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)