Author: Isabelle Noverraz, PMP

As part of our Social Impact activities, we provide free project management training, mentorship, and coaching to NGOs, based on their specific needs. In June 2024, Mafalda and I had the privilege of conducting 4 hours of project management mentorship for The Project Suicide (Pakistan).

This rewarding experience underscored the transformative impact of our Social Impact Team's initiatives.

The Project Suicide, in Pakistan, is a crucial endeavour aimed at combating the rising suicide rates in the country. The initiative focuses on raising mental health awareness, providing education and resources to students who become ambassadors, and fostering a supportive environment for those facing mental health challenges.

In attendance, were more than 70 dedicated students, from over 10 regions of Pakistan, representing various fields, such as life sciences, humanities, social sciences, and management.

Our training covered foundational project management concepts, agile frameworks, mega trends, the future of work, and AI applications in project management. The Power Skills were also highlighted as essential in mastering project management today.

A few weeks later, we conducted an additional session to tackle the specific challenges faced by the students and provided templates to assist them in organising and managing their activities effectively. This hands-on approach made the training tangible, as it utilised real-life examples. We explored various project management areas, including scheduling; resource management; data collection; and reporting, whilst also addressing some of the human challenges that project management can solve. Drawing from our professional and volunteer experiences, we provided concrete examples to demonstrate the practical application of these techniques in everyday situations.

Supporting an organisation dedicated to the saving of lives infused profound meaning, and the sense of making a positive impact, into our commitment within the Social Impact Team.

To learn more, or to evaluate how your non-profit or humanitarian organisation could benefit from our project management mentorship program, contact us at Social Impact

Author: Joanna Keller  

Dear PMI Members and Friends,

Time is running out... there's only 1 week left to secure your early bird tickets for the PM Conference 2024! Dont' forget to register on or before July 31^st, to benefit from the CHF 50 early bird discount. PMI Switzerland Chapter members receive an additional CHF 50 discount.

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising the world, transforming industries, and redefining how we approach challenges. As a project manager with over 14 years of experience, I have seen first-hand the incredible impact of AI on project management. It is vital to stay up-to-speed with these changes, to remain competitive and effective. AI can enhance decision-making, optimise resource allocation, and streamline processes. By understanding and leveraging AI, we can elevate our projects to new heights of efficiency and innovation.

If someone asked me why they should attend the PM Conference, I would say that this event is not only an incredible opportunity to deepen your knowledge on how AI is transforming project management, but it is also going to be a lot of fun. For instance, you can join one of the workshops, such as "Elevating Data Literacy to Drive AI Effectiveness in Projects" and discover how improving data literacy can maximise the impact of AI in your projects. Then there's my personal favourite, our exclusive LinkedIn PM Conference Networking Group and "Brain Date" session, which will help you form valuable professional connections before and during the event.

Additionally, you can participate in innovative new formats like:

• Ask me Anything - Engage with a panel of speakers from the event
• Unconference - Bring your own topics for open, dynamic discussions
• PechaKucha - Enjoy rapid-fire presentations on innovative ideas

If you're ready to join us for an event that promises both learning and valuable connections, here's what you need to know:

• Date & Venue: September 23^rd, 2024, at the Aquatis Hotel, Lausanne
• Theme: "AI Unveiled: Transforming Projects and Organisations with Smart Innovation"
• Sessions: 20+ engaging talks, workshops, and panels on AI in project management
• Keynote from Capture (Gold Sponsor): "AI-Driven Transformation: Can AI Replace Traditional Managerial Roles? Shift to Individual Organisation Styles"

Get your Early Bird Tickets before July 31^st here, and for further details on the event's programme, please visit the events programme page.

Best regards,

Joanne Keller

PMI Switzerland Team

Interviewer: Lisa Gryzagoridis, PMP, DASM

Interviewee: Pia Henzelmann, Events Experience Director  

On the eve of June 20^th , I was fortunate to meet with the PMI CH PM Conference 2024 Lead, Pia Henzelmann. Pia has been an invaluable, and extremely active, volunteer since 2020 in the PMI Switzerland Chapter. After having joined the chapter, she rose rapidly through the ranks, from Senior Events Member to Events Director (2021), to VP of Events (2022). Currently she fulfills the role of Events Experience Director, wherein she mentors and gives professional advice to the events teams across Switzerland.

As September 23^rd is rapidly approaching, many are inquisitive about what this year's PM Conference has in store for participants. Without diminishing the element of surprise, the below interview offers a sneak peek into the event proceedings.

Lisa: Pia, we're all really looking forward to the PM Conference, and who better to inform us on what's to come, than the Lead herself. To begin with, could you elaborate on the theme AI Unveiled: Transforming Projects and Organisations with Smart Innovation, and how it is particularly relevant in today's context?

Pia: Originally the theme was Innovation in Project Management, another pervasive theme in the domain of Project Management, however, the steering committee realised that there is a big demand for AI, along with many opportunities for advancing AI in project management. For example, how the utilisation of AI tools and applications can benefit individuals and organisations in driving efficiencies. We wanted to leverage those ideas and make sure that we can offer that value to our attendees.

Lisa: So, with the demand being so high for AI, what sets the PMI Switzerland PM Conference apart from other conferences?

Pia: What makes this conference so unique, is that it is organised by project managers who know the field, and who are in the best position to select the best speakers on the topic. Within PMI, there is a wide range of events, covering a broad scope of topics, so we are able to harness that expertise to benefit the conference attendees.

Lisa: That's fantastic! PMI project managers certainly are well-positioned in terms of access to pioneering and leading-edge knowledge and skills. Could you tell me more about the content and speaker selection process?

Pia: We had a very robust, and exhaustive application process. A stringent set of guidelines was developed to evaluate each applicant, and those guidelines also supported the identification of the top speakers and optimal mix of content. Shortlisted applicants were then interviewed, reviewed and selected by the committee.

Lisa: If I heard correctly, there has also been a significant number of applicants this year. Has the interest really been that high for the opportunity to present at this year's conference?

Pia: Yes! We had 40 applications. It was unbelievable. We had to close applications early, so that we could manage the volume. Some people were still reaching out after the application closure, to ask whether they could still submit.

Lisa: With so many applicants, I could imagine that it would be challenging to fit so much into a single-day program. Has the format of the conference already been planned?

Pia: At this stage, I can only give you a small sneak peek... We will definitely have one or two keynote sessions, along with a few workshops in separate rooms, and a panel discussion. We are aiming to make it a fresh experience for people, so the events team is also looking into integrating a special section for novel event formats, but I'll have to keep you in suspense a while longer on that.

Lisa: Leaving me on a cliffhanger, are you? Well, I eagerly anticipate the new format introductions. Beyond the fresh experience, what would you like attendees to take away, or gain, from this experience?

Pia: The best measure of success would be the overall satisfaction of the attendees. If they are able to take something from any of the various sessions, and apply it within their daily work, we would consider that the greatest achievement of the event. Another measure of success is future conference attendance. Conference attendee retention and growth is key.

Lisa: In relation to attendee satisfaction, I recall that there were immediately available surveys during the course of the day at last year's conference. How will you be eliciting feedback from attendees this year? And will there be any further opportunities for attendee engagement post-Conference?

Pia: We intend to continue with the survey form to gather instant feedback. Additionally, following the conference this year, we are planning to offer an AI Masterclass. Individuals who wish to do a deep-dive into a certain topic on AI, will have the opportunity to do so in that Masterclass.

Lisa: I'll be sure to register for that as soon as it has been published! Okay, so we have already established that this is a Project Management Conference, but could this benefit individuals outside of project management roles?

Pia: Definitely! Beyond project managers, of any experience level, the content of this conference would also benefit any individual who is enthusiastic about learning and applying AI in their work, or even diversify into the project management field.

Lisa: Is there anything else that attendees can expect?

Pia: Participants can expect networking opportunities, both before and after the event. Ahead of the PM Conference, an exclusive LinkedIn networking group will be published, where people can connect and discuss various topics, through numerous threads. The team is also considering a working session at the end of the event, for people who would like to increase their professional footprint.

Lisa: And I'm willing to bet that the post-event Apero will be just as impressive as last year.

Pia: You can count on that! Before I go, I would like to let everyone know that the full Program will be available in July, and that those who are interested should take advantage of the early bird ticket pricing.. available now! Looking forward to seeing you all at the PM Conference 2024!

Author: Alpha Ziman, PMP, PBA 

The PMI Switzerland Chapter was delighted to welcome Antonio Morisco, Program Manager at Swissquote, to the Agile Community of Practice event. At this event, hosted by Swissquote on June 27th, Antonio delivered insights on Value Stream Management (VSM). As organisations pursue greater efficiency in their agile transformations, the understanding and optimisation of value streams is crucial. Antonio's expertise and practical insights offered attendees a solid foundation to apply VSM in their own contexts.

What is Value Stream Management (VSM)?

Value Stream Management is a lean business practice, focused on the improvement of the flow of value to customers, through the management and optimisation of the sequence of activities involved in producing a product, or delivering a service. Examination of an entire lifecycle (from concept to delivery), through the lens of VSM, assists organisations in the elimination of waste, enhancement of efficiency, and ensures that every step in the process adds value.

Key takeaways from Antonio Morisco's presentation:

1. Holistic View of Value Streams - Antonio emphasised the need to view value streams as end-to-end processes that cross departmental boundaries. He also highlighted the need to extend from a team-level to an organisational level approach to support true agility. Successful implementation of these would ensure alignment with the overall business objectives.
2. Identifying and Eliminating Waste - A core principle of VSM is identifying non-value-adding activities, or waste. Antonio shared strategies for identifying inefficiencies and bottlenecks within value streams, which would allow teams to streamline processes, mitigate or eliminate delays, and reduce time-to-market.
3. Enhancing Collaboration and Communication - Effective VSM requires transparency across the entire workflow, as well as robust collaboration and communication across all organisational levels. Antonio highlighted tools and techniques that could enhance alignment and coordination between teams, which would foster a culture of continuous improvement.
4. Metrics and Measurement - Antonio discussed the importance of metrics in VSM. By tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as 'Cycle time', 'Lead time', and 'Throughput', organisations can benefit from data-driven decisions and quantify the impact of activities.

Conclusion

Antonio Morisco's presentation on Value Stream Management was a significant contribution to the Agile Community of Practice, equipping members with knowledge and tools from Lean, Flow and Theory of Constraints, to support their agile transformations. Through the adoption of VSM principles, organisations can achieve a more streamlined, efficient, and customer-focused delivery process.

Stay Connected

Stay tuned for upcoming events and webinars for more expert insights and knowledge than can be applied in practice, to advance your agile journey.