‍[Upcoming Events]

[Editorial]

Dear readers,

In this newsletter we’re pleased to share a review of the exceptional 13th PM Conference, AI Unveiled: Transforming Projects and Organizations with Smart Innovation, which was just held this past September 23rd, in Lausanne. Mubarak Muritala’s report highlights the conference’s key takeaways and practical strategies for integrating AI into project management.

To consider how you can rapidly bring yourself up to date on AI in project management, this month’s newsletter also offers views from business professionals, experts and partners, who provide ongoing opportunities for you to increase your knowledge and obtain training within the PMI Switzerland community.

On the heels of our successful PM Conference, comes our offer to join the International Project Management Day. Read in this newsletter about how we’ll celebrate IPM Day with you, across Switzerland!

We’re looking forward to continued engagement with you at these events and on our social media.

Philip SPRINGUEL

[Article]

AI Unveiled at the 13th PM Conference 2024

Dear PMI Members and Friends,

On September 23rd, 2024, Lausanne’s Hotel Aquatis hosted the 13th Project Management Conference, themed "AI Unveiled: Transforming Projects and Organizations with Smart Innovation." With 131 attendees and a remarkable 95% turnout, the event included 16 expert speakers, 29 onsite volunteers, and representatives from 8 sponsors and partners, marking one of the most impactful PM conferences to date.

A significant 30% of the attendees were experiencing their first PMI event, underscoring the growing interest in AI’s influence on project management. Behind the scenes, 33 dedicated volunteers ensured the event's seamless execution.

The conference highlighted AI’s growing role in modern business strategies and how intelligent solutions are reshaping project management, decision-making, and organizational growth.

[Article]

The Hidden Potential of Generative AI

‍Generative AI is often used for answering questions, but in project management, it can be a powerful tool for solving complex problems and challenging your thinking. Here’s how project managers can use AI beyond simple inquiries.

Problem-Solving Partner

Instead of using AI to gather information, present it with project management challenges. Whether you're facing a tight deadline, resource constraints, or risks, AI can help break down these problems. For example, describe a project timeline and ask AI to identify potential bottlenecks, suggest risk mitigation strategies, or recommend resource optimization. The AI can analyze your project’s scope, dependencies, and risks, offering solutions you may not have considered.

[Article]

Navigating Project Management in Switzerland: Key Insights for 2024 and Beyond

As digital transformation accelerates across industries, project management has become more vital than ever. In Switzerland, several key trends are reshaping how businesses approach project execution. The rise of hybrid work models, the increasing demand for agile methodologies, and the growing complexity of IT projects are driving the need for highly skilled project managers. Below are some critical insights into these evolving dynamics:

• Swiss Economic Landscape 

Switzerland’s economy is feeling the weight of global pressures, with the strong Swiss franc complicating things for export-heavy sectors like manufacturing and finance. As the franc rises, international competitiveness takes a hit, especially in industries sensitive to currency fluctuations. Despite these headwinds, Switzerland's GDP continues to grow modestly. However, uncertainty is making companies more cautious about investing in growth and expansion.

[Article]

Sponsors & Partners Web Pages Updated

‍Dear PMI Switzerland Members,

We are thrilled to announce a major update to our Sponsors and Partners webpages, part of our ongoing efforts to improve our website experience! This exciting initiative, spearheaded by Martin Härri, and with support from Mariia Fufaeiva, Lisa Gryzagoridis, Philippe Soupart and supported by our dedicated team, the new webpages are designed to enhance our engagement with existing sponsors and partners while attracting new opportunities to grow.

Why These Updates Matter for You

Our sponsors and partners play a vital role in advancing PMI Switzerland's mission. From supporting member-driven events to offering valuable resources for project management professionals, their contributions are key to our chapter's ongoing success. As a non-profit organization, we rely on the support of sponsors who contribute to our activities and partners who offer a wide range of support. 

[Article]

Swiss Project Management Challenge on IPM Day

‍Imagine walking into a room buzzing with excitement, filled with Teams of Project Managers ready to take on the ultimate challenge. This year on International Project Management Day (IPMD), the PMI Switzerland Chapter (https://pmi-switzerland.ch/) in partnership with STS (https://www.sts.ch), the Project Management Training Company, invites you to join us on 30 Octobrer for an unforgettable SimulTrain® competition across three Swiss cities: Zurich, Basel, and Lausanne.

1. A realistic simulation experience 

From the moment you sit down with your team, you'll be immersed in the world of SimulTrain®, a leading multimedia project management simulator. This isn’t just another training session; it's a full-scale simulation that puts you in the role of a Project Manager facing the highs and lows of a real project. You’ll be making rapid decisions on budget allocation, managing risks, meeting tight deadlines, and navigating team dynamics—all in real-time. The simulation creates an atmosphere that mirrors real-world project environments, complete with unpredictable scenarios and the pressure of immediate decision-making.

[Article]

AI-Driven Transformation: Can AI Replace Traditional Managerial Roles? Shift to Individual Organization Styles

‍In my presentation, I introduced a ServiceNow-based AI solution that streamlines WBS generation and skill-driven resource management. Beyond improving project-level tasks and allocations, AI enhances data quality, essential for portfolio-level decision-making. Reliable, granular data from individual projects enables better resource allocation, risk assessment, and strategic planning, transforming how we manage project portfolios.

This particular use case was inspired by the conference theme and brought to life specifically for this event. It aims to demonstrate AI's capabilities when properly integrated with our existing project management tools. The functionality presented can work in several different use cases, but for now, we are focusing on this one.

The AI model has been pre-configured, trained, and tailored to assist in this demo. This is an internal proof of concept to validate our envisioned future vision.
I will describe the material presented and how AI Assist can improve resource allocation.

[Article]

Learn how to solve project challenges as a team and win valuable prizes

‍For many years now, it has been a tradition at PMI Switzerland to celebrate International Project Management Day (IPMD) with a very special event with our community. This year is no exception!

I am extremely thrilled to be able to organize the IPMD with a new event format this year - a Switzerland-wide PM Challenge, which will be held simultaneously on 30. October in Basel, Lausanne and Zurich. 

It is a unique team experience in which all members of a team have to agree on a common problem solution, and at the same time, the different teams compete against each other for the title of Swiss PM Champion. More details here: https://pmi-switzerland.ch/events/events-list/pmi-special-events/2024-10-30-ipmd-basel

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‍The PMI Switzerland Chapter is a non-profit professional business organization, and is a chartered chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI), Newtown Square, PA, USA.

Views and opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and, unless otherwise stated, do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the chapter or PMI or imply partnership.

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