APMG International: Lifelong Learning: Implementing Best Practice In Business: Recent Episodes
APMG International
Implementing Best Practice In Business Podcast - OverviewAPMG talks to industry experts to get their valuable perspective on success in businesses today.Organisations invest in best practice in areas such as project and programme management, business relationships, change, cyber security, governance, IT, PPP, Strategy and more, but often don’t reap the benefits. Listen to APMG’s CEO, Richard Pharro speak to a range of senior leaders and practitioners who will share lessons learned through implementation and offer practical advice that can be applied by anyone to improve their work processes.
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks with Mike Battistella, President and CTO of Solutions3, an award-winning consulting and training organisation.
They discuss the critical misconceptions organisations have about cybersecurity, particularly the belief that passing a compliance audit equates to long-term security. Mike emphasises that compliance is merely the baseline, not the end goal. He highlights the importance of continuous improvement in cybersecurity practices, noting that organisations often neglect ongoing security measures once they pass an audit, leaving them vulnerable to breaches.
Richard asks Mike about the challenges of integrating cybersecurity in a fast-paced business environment driven by innovation and agility. Mike acknowledges the tension between speed and security, stressing the need for leadership to view cybersecurity as essential for business survival rather than just another cost. He also discusses the CPD (Create, Protect, and Deliver) model developed by the DVMS Institute, which aims to embed security into the entire lifecycle of digital business value.
The conversation touches on the need for executive sponsorship to ensure the success of cybersecurity initiatives. Mike advocates for a cultural shift within organisations, where cybersecurity is seen as integral to their operations, not just a technical requirement. This shift, he argues, is essential for protecting digital assets and maintaining customer trust in an increasingly risky digital landscape.
Listen in to discover why cybersecurity is more than just compliance.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Mike: linkedin.com/in/mikebattistella
🌐 Sollutions3 LLC: solutions3llc.com
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/our-services/certifications-solutions
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, engages in a comprehensive discussion with Terry Neal, distinguished expert in AI and cybersecurity training.
Richard opens the conversation by asking Terry for a simple definition of AI; Terry responds by explaining AI is a machine’s ability to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence.
Richard and Terry delve into the AI Practitioner Program, with Richard inquiring about its structure and objectives. Terry elaborates on how the program combines courses for AI prompt engineers and AI marketeers, culminating in a professional qualification. This program, rapidly adopted worldwide, aims to fill a critical gap in AI training and certification.
Richard also probes the societal implications of AI, questioning whether AI will replace human jobs. Terry asserts that AI will reshape rather than replace the workforce, enhancing productivity and creating new job opportunities. He underscores the importance of acquiring new skills in an AI-augmented world, including prompt engineering, data analysis, and human-AI collaboration.
The conversation further explores the potential risks of generative AI, with Richard asking about concerns like cybercrime and deep fakes. Terry acknowledges these risks, and stresses the need for governance and standards to manage AI’s impact responsibly.
This episode provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of AI and its profound implications for the future of work and society.
Tune in to learn about the transformative power of AI and how individuals and organisations can navigate this evolving industry.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Terry: linkedin.com/in/terryneal
📝 Find out more about how the AI Practitioner training and certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/artificial-intelligence-practitioner-certification-aip
🌐 Cyber skills: cyberskills.com
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/our-services/certifications
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, is joined by Robert den Broeder, managing director of OBM Dynamics B.V. and a seasoned coach and trainer.
Robert shares his journey from teaching service management to exploring the critical role of human behaviour in achieving management excellence. Through his extensive research and practical experience, Robert unveils how Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) can address common business challenges such as improving safety, compliance, quality, and productivity.
In our conversation, Robert discusses the significance of understanding and influencing behaviour to foster a positive organisational culture. He emphasises the importance of leaders recognising behavioural motivations and implementing simple yet effective interventions to drive desired outcomes. We explore the concepts of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and the emerging Experience Level Agreements (XLAs), and their impact on performance and customer satisfaction.
Robert demonstrates how OBM principles can transform leadership practices, enhance employee engagement, and ultimately lead to better customer experiences; he shares practical insights on developing leadership skills, setting precise behavioural expectations, and reinforcing positive actions to create a more motivated and productive workforce.
Tune in to learn how understanding and managing human behaviour can unlock the full potential of your organisation, making a significant difference in both employee and customer satisfaction.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Robert: linkedin.com/in/robertdenbroeder
📝 Find out more about how the Organizational Behaviour Management (OBM) training and certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/obm
📝 Find out more about how the Experience Collab Certification and Training can help you advance your career: www.apmg-international.com/product/experience-collab-certification-and-training
🌐 OBM Dynamics: obmdynamics.nl/
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/our-services/certifications
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks with Karla Micallef, a veteran in leading enterprise-wide transformations. Karla brings over 20 years of experience across various industries, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, organisational model redesigns, and digital transformations.
Recently elected as the global president chair of the board for the Change Management Institute, Karla is passionate about elevating the strategic importance of change management and believes that true organisational agility stems from building change capability and maturity at all levels.
Karla underscores the critical role of leadership in successful change initiatives. She points out that leaders often underestimate their influence on change outcomes, which can make or break the effectiveness of these initiatives. Training for leaders, she notes, is essential to help them understand and fulfil their pivotal roles in driving and supporting change.
The conversation further explores the evolving prospect of change management training. Karla highlights current trends such as microlearning, remote training, and the integration of agile methodologies.
She emphasises that for organisations to move up the maturity scale in change management, training must be comprehensive and practical, involving real-life scenarios to ensure immediate applicability.
Tune in to gain pragmatic insights on how organisations can better navigate the complexities of change management in today's dynamic environment.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Karla: linkedin.com/in/karla-micallef
📝 Find out more about how the Change Management training and certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/change-management
🌐 Change Management Institute: change-management-institute.com
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/our-services/certifications
In this episode, renowned ITSM expert Anthony Orr joins Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, for an insightful discussion on the intricacies of service level agreements (SLAs) and the evolution towards experience level agreements (XLAs).
They delve into the impact of SLAs on organisational behaviour, exploring both their benefits and shortcomings. Through thought-provoking questions, Richard prompts Anthony towards the broader implications of service excellence and the importance of understanding service value from a customer-centric perspective.
Anthony explores the industry shift from service level agreements (SLAs) to experience level agreements (XLAs), and the profound impact of customer-focus on organisational success.
As the conversation unfolds, they unpack strategic outsourcing in the post-COVID era, contemplating the shift towards prioritising quality over cost in supplier relationships.
Throughout the episode, they dive deeper into the intricacies of IT service management, leaving listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape and the imperative of placing the customer at the forefront of service delivery.
Tune in to gain invaluable insights into the complexities of ITSM and customer engagement.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyorr
📝 Find out more about how the Experience Collab training and certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/experience-collab-certification-and-training
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/our-services/certifications
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Sarah Hills, Change expert and Founder of Carpe Omnia Training.
They explore the intricacies of organisational change and the challenges of introducing best practices. Richard prompts Sarah about the behavioural shifts required for successful implementation, to which Sarah stresses the importance of establishing trust and openness with clients.
She elaborates on her consulting approach, emphasising the need to understand current organisational behaviours before delivering training solutions. The conversation takes a deep dive into the concept of agility within organisations, with Sarah highlighting the need for mindset shifts and effective governance.
Richard and Sarah discuss the role of sponsorship in driving successful projects and programs, shedding light on the delicate balance between agility and anarchy. The conversation moves to the STAR® Program, a management training initiative aimed at fostering employee engagement through assessment-based approaches.
Throughout the episode, Richard and Sarah explore the transformative potential of empowering managers to enable their teams and navigating the complexities of organisational change.
Listen in to actionable insights on manoeuvering organisational change and fostering agility.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Sarah: linkedin.com/in/sarah-hills-mullins-4826303a
📝 Find out more about how a Change Management certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/change-management
🌐 Carpe Omnia Training: carpeomniatraining.com
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/our-services/certifications
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks with Tibisay Vera, neuroscientist, and creator of the PEPE model – Neuroscience for Change.
Delving into Tibi's wealth of experience spanning over two decades in change and leadership, this episode uncovers the profound impact of neuroscience on managerial effectiveness and team motivation amidst the backdrop of today's dynamic work environments.
Tibi probes into the ways understanding neuroscience can empower leaders to navigate the complexities of modern workplaces. From unravelling the mysteries of the brain's response to stress and reward, to exploring the concept of authenticity through a neuroscientific lens, we’re provided illuminating insights that challenge conventional leadership paradigms.
The spotlight turns to practical tools for managers, with Tibi unveiling the ground-breaking PEPE model - a neuroscience-based framework designed to help individuals embrace change positively. With each domain – “Pain, Energy, Peaks and Valleys", Tibi elucidates a deeper understanding of how the brain processes and adapts to change.
Finishing the episode, Richard and Tibi discuss the nuanced terrain of organisational culture, psychological safety, and the age-old question of resilience across generations.
Listen in to gain invaluable insights and revolutionise your approach to leadership and change management.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Tibi: linkedin.com/in/tibisayvera
📝 Find out more about how a Neuroscience for Change certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/neuroscience-change-certification
🌐 Sparkling Performance: sparklingperformance.com
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/our-services/certifications
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Eileen Roden, Director and Co-Founder of House of PMO.
Delving into the heart of modern project management, this episode navigates the intricate terrain of PMOs' vital role in today's dynamic business environment.
On the implications of transitioning into a project economy, Eileen explains how PMOs can facilitate successful project delivery while ensuring benefits realisation. Through the lens of optimism bias, we explore how PMOs can serve as guardians of professional judgment, challenging assumptions and promoting evidence-based decision-making.
The conversation extends to the realm of integrated PMO models within government settings, as Richard references recent UK public sector project failures and the indispensable role of senior management support, in enhancing PMO effectiveness. Eileen shares profound insights into the emergence of PMO directors at Board level, highlighting their pivotal role in strategic project prioritisation and resource allocation.
Finishing the episode, Richard and Eileen discuss the imperative for PMO directors to strike a delicate balance between project demands and business-as-usual operations.
Listen in to gain invaluable insights and elevate your proficiency in modern project management practices.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Eileen: linkedin.com/in/ejroden
📝 Find out more about how a House of PMO Essentials certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/house-pmo-essentials
🌐 House of PMO: houseofpmo.com
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, welcomes Liz Herman, elected Vice President of the Society for Technical Communication and a Senior Manager in knowledge content training with Accenture Federal Services.
Richard and Liz discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on technical communicators and how the Society is leveraging support to its members throughout shifts in technology. Liz advocates for the importance of human collaboration with AI, referring to technical writers as "co-pilots" and emphasising the need for creative thinking skills, particularly those demonstrated by individuals with backgrounds in English, literature, or philosophy.
The discussion extends to how the Society is supporting members' professional development, especially amid emerging trends and challenges like remote work. Liz mentions the importance of in-person conferences, providing a platform for members to connect, share insights, and discuss challenges faced amongst members.
Touching on the Society's 70th anniversary, Liz further expresses a focus on sustainability and stability for the organization. Richard and Liz further discuss the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Liz accentuating the need for ongoing support to help members navigate remote and hybrid work environments.
Richard suggests that like the dotcom boom, there will likely be shakeout of the AI industry, “…It's not going to replace us any more than the high streets or the shopping malls weren't replaced overnight by online shopping”.
As the podcast concludes, Liz reflects on the Society's role in fostering a sense of solidarity among technical communicators, championing the importance of human connections, and expressing optimism for the Society's future.
Join Richard and Liz on this compelling journey through the evolving realm of technical communication and the delicate balance between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Liz: linkedin.com/in/lizhermanphd
📝 Find out more about how a CPTC certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/cptc
🌐 Society for Technical Communication: stc.org
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to thought leaders Melanie Franklin and Andrew Craddock as they delve into the evolution of Agile Project Management, discussing its impact on businesses and the broader context of cultural transformation.
Melanie Franklin, a seasoned expert in Change Management, and Andrew Craddock, a prominent figure in Agile methodologies, share their extensive experience, offering valuable advice and guidance for organisations navigating the complexities of delivering projects and fostering agility.
From the origins of Agile to its expansion beyond IT into various business domains, this conversation delves into the core concepts and principles behind Agile methodologies. Explore the importance of cultural change, the significance of Agile certifications, and the crucial role of collaboration and communication within teams implementing Agile frameworks.
Furthermore, gain insights into the integration of Scrum teams in non-software development projects, the impact of AI on Agile Change Management, and the evolving roles of individuals and teams in an AI-driven work environment.
Discover how Agile and Change Management converge to drive innovation and how they intertwine with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, reshaping the future of work and organisational dynamics.
Tune in for a compelling discussion that offers actionable insights, expert advice, and a glimpse into the future of Agile methodologies, Change Management, and the transformative impact they hold for businesses worldwide.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Melanie: linkedin.com/in/melaniefranklin1
🔗 Connect with Andrew: linkedin.com/in/andrew-craddock-6112bb
🌐 Agile Business Consortium: agilebusiness.org
🌐 Agile Change Management: agilechangemanagement.co.uk
🌐 Find out more about APMG Project and Programme certifications: apmg-international.com/category/project-programme-portfolio
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Neil Keating, founder of Experience Collab, to delve into the world of Experience Level Agreements (XLAs) and their significance in the IT industry. To begin, Neil distinguishes XLA’s and SLA’s and outlines how they can help improve the overall experience for IT customers, consumers and employees.
Neil then emphasises the importance our emotions play in consumer and employee experience. He explains Affective Science; how emotions are a physical factor that can be measured, for example experiencing a faster heartbeat, hairs standing up on your arms etc. However, feelings (which derive immediately from the initial emotion) are more logical and are the pinnacle factor that drive us to reach certain conclusions about an experience.
Neil emphasises that our experiences with a service are usually cumulative; our feelings and beliefs often build up over time. Next, Richard and Neil discuss how such beliefs can often establish loyalty to a particular brand, or conversely, can cause customers to stray. Neil stresses that this is why creating a comfortable customer experience is paramount to the success of a business and is what will keep customers returning.
Richard and Neil further discuss the rise of AI & automated services, and the impact this has on user experience. They discuss how AI has created a new demand to balance efficiency with personalised experiences, particularly because some people may prefer human interaction over automation, and vice versa. By understanding how people feel about their experience as a user - customer or employee - organisations can drive productivity and create a supportive work environment.
Listen in to discover how XLA’s can positively impact your network’s experience, as this week’s episode delves into the ever-evolving landscape of customer experience.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Neil: linkedin.com/in/neildkeating
🌐 Experience Collab: experiencecollab.com
🌐 Bright Horse: brighthorse.co.uk
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speak to Christina Sejr Pedersen, Executive Director of The Half Double Institute in Denmark.
Christina begins the episode by explaining the business problem Half Double embarks to resolve. Expanding on her 15 year-long career in Project Management, Christina highlights the pattern she observed from feedback given by the Project Management community. Often, colleagues would approach her announcing “I can’t do the project quite like our model says, but the next one I promise you I’ll get it to fit”. Christina states it dawned on her that perhaps the models themselves were the issue; “what if we’re trying to get something round to fit into something square?”
Christina then suggests that no other industry could live with a 35% success rate, and how she was driven to improve the tragic statistic. Further, Richard enquires how Christina synthesises the aforementioned problems within the PM industry, and how Half Double settled on impact, flow and leadership as central themes. Christina discloses the fascinating research that was conducted to pinpoint exactly what makes a project run successfully; by inviting 30 of the best Project Managers to be interviewed on what it is they do that makes a difference.
When asked about the origin of the Half Double name, Christina responds by stating they wanted the framework to be a “guiding star” and the importance of doing projects in half the time, with double the impact. Richard and Christina then discuss the conscious decision to exclude much of the traditional project management guidance within the Half Double framework, and how Half Double’s mission was also to be a hybrid methodology.
Finally, Richard and Christina discuss whether the Half Double guidance is dogmatic and end the episode contemplating how Christina would categorise success as her return of a Half Double Director; “one of the areas where I’m dreaming this will have a huge impact is the Green transition. We don’t have a lot of time to reach our targets […] we need double the impact. My big dream is that this model could help us in the transition to a cleaner world.”
Listen in to discover how you can use Half Double to improve project success in your organisation.
LINKS:
🔗 Connect with Christina: linkedin.com/in/christina-sejr-pedersen-21597b3
📝 Find out more about how a Half Double certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/half-double-certification
🌐 Half Double Institute: halfdoubleinstitute.org
🌐 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
📢 “You’ve just got to remember: it’s all about people and skills, no matter how clever we are with the technology.”
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Matthew Burrows, the president of SkillsTx and SFIA Accredited Consultant and Assessor about The Skills Framework for The Information Age.
Richard begins the episode by asking Matthew why he built an online platform to support its rollout. Matthew explains that what skills we have and what skills we need are changing at a faster rate today than they did just a few years ago; the platform allows customers to help themselves by dynamically updating skill profiles and skill requirements as needed.
Richard and Matthew reflect on how pervasive and enduring SFIA has been for the past twenty years. Richard asks Matthew how easy it is for an organisation to adopt SFIA and what the single most cited benefit is for its implementation. Matthew says, “it’s much easier than most people fear.” He asserts that knowing your skills and competencies is a great starting place; “…having accurate data allows you to make much more accurate decisions.
Next, Richard cites a Gallup survey which reported that 51% of employees are disengaged. He asks Matthew if SFIA could change these statistics. Matthew emphasises the point that organisations must, “avoid the common mistakes […] of people treating an individual as their current job description;” SFIA can allow employees to compare and update their skill profile and pave the way for focused development.
Richard then asks Matthew about how SFIA is structured. Matthew elucidates the framework’s seven level structure, using Service Desk Management as an example of how SFIA’s flexibility applies to many nuances within any given organisation. Matthew is sure to emphasise that you don’t need every skill at every level, and further, there is no requirement for you to automatically go up to the next skill/ next level.
Finally, Richard and Matthew discuss SFIA’s potential to help solve the tech industry skills gap; Matthew speaks about the importance of having a common language for describing detail, one that, “actually holds water internationally.”
Listen in to our leading expert of the week, Matthew Burrows, and discover how SFIA can help you excel both personally and professionally.
LINKS:
🔗Connect with Matthew: linkedin.com/in/matthewburrows
📝 Find out more about SFIA Digital Badges: apmg-international.com/product/sfia-assessments-and-digital-badges
🌐 Find out more about APMG Certifications:apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
🌐 Find out more about SFIA: sfia-online.org/en
🌐 Find out more about SkillsTx: skillstx.com/certify
📢 “Gains vs losses, it’s a rational framework. Very, very good. Thing is though, if you only present it with options that are a bit silly, then you get the least silly result at the end... But it’s still fundamentally silly”
In this episode Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, revisits the Better Business Cases scheme with Joseph Lowe, Co-Editor of the Green Book and Head of the Economics Branch at HM Treasury in his second appearance as a guest.
Richard begins the episode by asking whether Joseph ever imagined the certification achieving the success that it has, reflecting on the impressive milestone of 20,000+ exams in its 12 years of life. Joseph responds that he hoped that it would and expands: “it was a hope and a belief in its value”.
Fascinated by Joseph’s work within biodiversity, Richard then asks how Joseph applies the ‘science’ of business analysis to something as broad as biodiversity. Joseph compares the process to the diversity of expertise within the medical profession; “there are all kinds of minute subdivisions […] yet when an individual becomes ill, they may need a number of those professions to work together.”
Next, Joseph highlights the benefits of the 5 Case Model. Mentioning how it enables identifying long-run aims, Joseph expands on this, joking “people’s idea of the long-run can vary of course, from next year to 30 years”
Richard and Joseph go on to discuss the Options Framework, and how the Welsh Government & NHS trialled the methodology (before BBC was an established programme) in a strict version of its implementation to see what would happen; and how the results were a complete shock.
Richard and Joseph further discuss optimism bias; what Joseph thinks are the most important personal skills when developing a business case; and finishing the episode, Richard asks Joseph if he believes an AI such as ChatGPT could write a good business case.
LINKS:
🔗Connect with Joseph: linkedin.com/in/joseph-lowe-4953261b8
📝 Find out more about how a Better Business Cases certification can improve your organization: apmg-international.com/product/better-business-cases
🌐 Find out more about APMG Certifications:apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
📖 The Green Book: gov.uk/government/publications/the-green-book-appraisal-and-evaluation-in-central-governent/the-green-book-2020
📢 “There is a see-saw effect between quality and speed. We need a framework that improves both at the same time”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Dominic Harborne, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Coach, Trainer, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Chief Examiner of APMG’s Lean Six Sigma certifications.
Listen in as Dominic talks us through the origins of Six Sigma, how its function has evolved over time, and how both Lean and Six Sigma together form an “exceptionally powerful combination.”
Dominic offers an interesting thought experiment that demonstrates the fruitfulness of Lean Six Sigma. He explains that often, we see leaders asking people to work faster when the output is low, which results in more areas of defect and lower quality. On the flip side, when employees place all their attention on curating quality, everything slows down. Thus, a see-saw effect ensues, making it difficult for an organization to acquire a balance between quality and speed.
He suggests that this imbalance often results in employee’s “firefighting” workloads, which can lead to burnout. So, we can begin to understand the increasing demand for a Lean approach in order to prevent this common cycle.
Dominic further explains how Lean Six Sigma is a transferrable framework that can be applied outside of manufacturing and has been picked up by a whole variety of industries, but stresses: "you absolutely have to introduce it as a whole approach in an organisation"
Next, Dominic and Richard discuss how and why the UK in particular suffers poor productivity, and how Lean Six Sigma could help in addressing this.
Finally, Dominic reveals where to start if you want to implement a Lean Six Sigma approach in your organization.
Listen in to our leading expert of the week, Dominic Harborne, to learn all about what Lean Six Sigma entails, and the benefits of adopting it within your organization.
Links:
🔗Connect with Dominic: linkedin.com/in/dominic-harborne
📝 Find out more about how a Lean Six Sigma certification can improve your organization: apmg-international.com/product/lean-six-sigma
🌐 Find out more about APMG Certifications:apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
🌐 Find out more about LSSA: lssa.eu
📢 “Change is only what people make of it.”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speak to CEO of Notion, Dominic Ashley-Timms.
Dominic begins by explaining where the concept of STAR® came from. We learn that the initial inspiration came from Dominic's work with organisations struggling to cope with change. Dominic gained a better understanding of the various change approaches that can be implemented in an organisation as a result of this work. He explains that he and his team discovered that asking questions, rather than providing quick-fix solutions, seemed to stimulate a greater level of reflection and constructive thinking, and that this observation inspired the core methodology of STAR®: the enquiry-led approach; a technique you can expect to hear more about in the podcast.
Next, Richard and Dominic discuss why the UK performs poorly in international productivity studies. We learn that one of the main reasons productivity has suffered in the UK is a lack of managerial training, with approximately 20–30% of businesses admitting they don't provide any training for managers, and CMI reporting a staggering 70–80% of "accidental managers." Dominic shows that the lower levels of productivity in the UK are significantly impacted by the managers' lack of training, and that earning a STAR® qualification is useful for teaching and certifying management expertise.
Dominic and Richard discuss a variety of subjects, including Notion's outstanding selection as one of six companies (out of 189 applicants) to receive government research funding, and the fact that the London School of Economics has conducted in-depth study to support their methodologies.
To learn more about STAR® listen in to our leading expert of the week, Dominic Ashely-Timms.
Links:
🔗Connect with Dominic: linkedin.com/in/dominic-ashley-timms
📖 The Answer is a Question: store.apmg-international.com/study-materials/answer-question
🌐 Find out more about APMG Certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
🌐 Find out more about Notion: starmanager.global
📢 “As a non-expert you are the ideal person to communicate with other non-experts.”
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to veteran technical communicator and STC President Aiessa Moyna.
Aiessa and Richard begin by discussing STC reaching the impressive milestone of 70 years in operation, and discuss whether the STC membership is valued by members just as much now as it was then.
Aiessa explains that seventy years ago, the usual practice would be to remain a member throughout your first Technical Communicator role and stay with the society throughout your career, even into retirement. Present day, we discover that it's more typical to see members joining at transitional points in their career and aren’t always remaining members for decades.
We also learn that recent advancements in modern technology have enabled members to connect with their community virtually which wasn't a possibility during the conception of the society; it's an important development in bridging networking opportunities for technical communicators.
Next, Richard and Aiessa consider the impact AI developments like ChatGPT will have on the work technical communicators do. Aiessa explains that AI technology has been around for a long time, and so far, she believes there's no evidence to suggest AI is superseding the jobs of technical communicators.
Aiessa suggests that AI is great for repetitive processes and coming up with the first draft of content, but it may not be 100% accurate and therefore we will still need humans to quality check material before publication.
Finally, Richard asks Aiessa what attributes someone needs to be a good technical communicator. Amongst the list of attributes are “curiosity and inquisitiveness”, “good writing and editing skills”, and "organisation". Aiessa explains that while tools and platforms will always evolve, the set of core skills required to be a good technical communicator will always remain the same.
Listen in to our leading expert of the week, Aiessa Moyna, to learn more about STC, tips for being an effective technical communicator and much more.
Links:
🔗Connect with Aiessa: linkedin.com/in/aiessa-moyna
📝 Find out more about how a CPTC certification can improve your organization: apmg-international.com/product/cptc
🌐 Find out more about APMG Certifications:apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
🌐 Find out more about STC: stc.org
In this episode we speak to Eileen Roden, Director and Co-Founder of House of PMO and all-around PMO enthusiast - with a tattoo to prove it.
Eileen begins by discussing the history of House of PMO. She then shares how she defines the PMO role itself, and we learn that PMO’s can now be considered a career in its own right - or at minimum, a development opportunity. Eileen suggests that PMOs provide “incremental delivery of value into organizations.” She discusses how the role of PMO has moved from its original function as project support; and that in some organizations, PMOs operate at a strategic level. In Eileen's words the role is about “establishing best practice, and working with senior executives to ensure organizations are working on the right projects.”
Eileen further addresses some of the common challenges PMO'ers face. She reveals that one reoccurring challenge is the clarity of language across the industry, which she feels might be due to the varying nature of the role. Additionally, Eileen discusses the absence of discourse and training for all levels of PMO roles, which the House of PMO have resolved with their essentials suite of courses that range from Administrator to Director levels.
We also consider whether PMOs are only relevant to larger organizations. Eileen suggests that in today’s climate, it's arguably difficult to find organizations that aren’t working on projects, and as a result, the role of PMO is highly sought after in all organizations - both large and small.
Finally, Eileen reveals what she would've liked to have known when starting out in her career. Eileen states that “all PMOs have a half-life;” and that you cannot rely on the same approach in every organization.
Listen in to find out more tips from Eileen Roden, our leading expert of the week.
Links:
🔗 Connect with Eileen: linkedin.com/in/ejroden
📝 Find out more about how a House of PMO Essentials certification can improve your organization: apmg-international.com/product/house-pmo-essentials
📝 Find out more about House of PMO: houseofpmo.com
📝 Find out more about APMG Certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
📢 “Compatibility is the cornerstone of FitSM”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International speak to IT Governance Manager Michael Brenner.
Michael begins by discussing the origins of FitSM and the difficulties he initially faced when introducting it to organisations. He explains that the development of FitSM stemmed from frustration with the lack of a simple, lightweight framework amongst industry standards, particularly to benefit smaller organizations who do not need the complex, detailed approach that other standards offer.
Michael talks us through how FitSM separates itself from more complex service management approaches as a standalone, streamline framework; which unlike other standards, only covers the essential requirements and “need-to-knows” regarding service management best practice.
A quote that resonated with Michael and his team during the development of FitSM: "perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." - an approach still implemented by the team to this day.
This standard can be considered distinctive in virtue of its efficiency; its streamline structure allows for a unique time-saving capability that other standards may lack (the certification andtraining can take place in just one day)
Despite its concise structure, Michael discusses how FitSM still remains comprehensive and informative. It provides research organizations with the essentials of service management, as opposed to the organizations themselves having to ascertain the fundamental information from larger service management guides, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Finally, Richard asks Michael if ITEMO have any future plans to look at other approaches. Michael jokes: "my hands are kind of full with FitSM"
Listen in to our leading expert of the week, Michael, to learn more about the benefits of FitSM and why you need it in your organization.
Links:
🔗 Connect with Michael: linkedin.com/in/michaelsbrenner
📝 Find out more about how a FitSM certification can improve your organization: apmg-international.com/product/fitsm
📝 Find out more about APMG Certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
📢 “Surround yourself with smarter people than you. As a project or programme manager, you are the conductor, not the orchestrator.”
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Ross Bowyer, a highly experienced project manager who has overseen strategic development activities, capability development, and the overarching development of people.
Ross currently manages projects within the Department of Conservation in New Zealand. In this episode, we not only learn about Ross’ managerial experience, but also about the wildlife unique to New Zealand, as well as his personal philosophy regarding his work in conservation. Ross explains “benefit to the community or species will always be prioritized,” with particular consideration for endangered species.
Ross begins by talking us through his favourite investment in the PPM sector of New Zealand – Project Predator Free 2050. Predator Free 2050 operates with the purpose of safeguarding New Zealand’s native species from extinction, allowing them to thrive by eradicating threat.
In the same vein, we learn how Ross manages to build sustainability, like the example above, into commercial business cases, emphasising the importance of “increased engagement” and focusing on the “qualitative not the quantitative.” We also learn why Ross considers project and programme adoption to be an “investment” as opposed to an expenditure, and how this perspective can reap successful business outcomes.
Ross further offers his expertise regarding what it is that makes a successful leader, how to manage people effectively, and crucially, the three things he wishes he knew when he was first starting out in his career.
Listen in to gain some invaluable tips from our leading expert of the week.
🔗 Connect with Ross: linkedin.com/in/ross-bowyer-mapm-06896619
📝 Find out more about how a Project/Programme Management certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/agilepm and apmg-international.com/product/agilepgm
📝 Find out more about APMG certifications:apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
📢 “You cannot know where the world is going to be in five years’ time. The storm of change has grown, and organizations need a way to react to maintain a competitive advantage.”
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Andrew Craddock, a highly experienced practitioner, consultant, trainer, and mentor specialising in Agile approaches to manage business change.
Listen to today’s podcast to gain insight into Business Agility: what it is, what it means in practice, and why you need it within your organization.
Andrew begins by addressing how the Agile Business Consortium define Business Agility, providing us with a simple overview of its framework. He explains that at the core of Business Agility there is a focus on two primary components: the ability to adapt quickly and decisively to changes in the business environment, and to have a collaborative, people-centered approach to change.
Andrew then guides us through the problems inherent in more traditional approaches to running projects, arguing that the central problem derives from “predictive processes” which are based on the “assumption that the problem you are trying to solve is going to be stable.” In an everchanging world, stability is never guaranteed. As such, Andrew helps us grasp why Business Agility is such a valuable framework in today’s climate, with the recent COVID 19 pandemic being a prime example of unexpected change that organisations needed to adapt to - fast - in order to maintain a competitive advantage.
As Andrew demonstrates in this episode, we are simply unable to predict the state of the world in relation to the length of time our projects will take, and accordingly, Andrew sheds light on how the Business Agility framework prepares businesses for change in the best possible way, helping organizations to swim, not sink.
Listen on for more invaluable business advice from Andrew Craddock, our leading expert of the week.
🔗 Connect with Andrew: linkedin.com/in/robert-gregory-8660bb45/
📝 Find out more about how an AgilePM certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/agilepm
📝 Find out more about APMG certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
In this episode we speak to Rob Lockwood, Cyber Security Expert, about hacking, cybercrime, cryptocurrency, and everything you need to know to secure your systems.
We find out the challenges that arise as code and technology continue to grow into more complex networks and ecosystems, as Rob reveals the difficulty in building secure code and technology; secure systems are fruitless if we don’t have strong user protocols and accountability.
Defining some of the more technical challenges and software capabilities, Rob then tells us about zero-day exploits and the importance of patching.
We speak about the balance of technology and user before outlining the most important things that we as users can do to secure our software and virtual identities.
Rob discusses the intrusions that make him put his head in his hands. For him, cyber hygiene is built upon the naked foundations - before anything else you "need to do the basics very well and do them consistently”. Mentioning how user awareness training, incident response and multi-factor authentication can combat many common issues like phishing emails and human error, Rob further tells us what companies could and should do to secure their data. “It's about trust. Building trust into all the things that we use”.
Finally, we talk about diversifying the Cyber Security industry and how university is no longer the sole route into the world of infosec, before finishing up with Rob telling us what he wishes he had known at the beginning of his career in cyber security.
Don’t miss today’s episode if you want to protect your data, find your way into the cyber security industry, or simply feel secure online.
🔗 Connect with Rob: linkedin.com/in/robert-lockwood-2a256a 📝 Find out more about how a Cyber Security Certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/category/cyber-security📝 Find out more about APMG Certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
In this episode we speak to Rob Stinton, Charted Project Professional and Senior Program Manager, about the complexity of projects, stakeholder plans, maintaining momentum, and executing project delivery over a long timeline.
We begin by defining complexity in projects; Rob speaks from over 20 years of experience on how to recognize and handle a complex environment. For Rob, size isn’t what equals complexity; it’s the solution that does. He further explains until you get to this solution, the scale of change needed isn’t always realized.
Next, we ask Rob how he arrives at a manageable stakeholder strategy when there are so many interested parties, as he covers breaking down barriers to stakeholder engagement and constructing the right plan.
For Rob, Direct communication is key. “You need to get clear about project objectives from day 1”.
We discuss maintaining momentum - Rob highlights understanding where each stakeholder’s influence and interests lie is vital in projects with a long lifespan.
“How you communicate is part of your stakeholder management plan; to keep the momentum it is your responsibility to constantly remind them why you’re doing what you’re doing. What’s right today might not be right in a year’s time, and so it's your job as a Program Manager to check-in, adapt to, and communicate change."
Finally, we wrap up the episode by asking Rob what he knows now, that he wishes he had known when initially leading his first major infrastructure project.
This episode is a must if you want to level up your stakeholder engagement.
🔗Connect with Rob: linkedin.com/in/rob-stinton-chpp-3aaa7825 📝 Find out more about how a Change Management Certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/change-management
📝 Find out more about APMG Project, Programme & Portfolio
Certifications:apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
📢 “With untrodden territory, there’s no plan to show you how to get from A to B … every step is new”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Ket Patel, UK Collaborations Lead for the Change Management Institute, about how we can better navigate the untrodden territory of Change.
Listen in as we discuss barriers, drivers, leadership, and how to build the right environment.
We cover the major factors in creating successful change before Ket breaks down his surprising take on the distinction between ‘change’ v.s ‘transformation’.
Delving deeper into the part relationships have to play in change projects, Ket talks to us about how creating the right environment is one of the most essential things you can do to build a change culture. “Building trusted relationships with the people around you” enables you to feel safe to speak up and question the status quo.
In part, a large part for Ket, this comes down to leadership. Leaders are the ones who navigate the uncertainty when an organization goes from program to transformation, and for him it’s imperative to the success of a change project that leaders are able to deal with uncertainty.
Finally, we discuss how a how lack of “strategic priority” within leadership drives the collapse of change programs and the markers of transformation with Ket telling us “the more uncertain a project is, it is the more transformative it is.”
Ket’s belief is that for change to thrive, we need to keep questioning that status quo, and never just “accept things how they are”.
👉🏽 Listen in to this transformative episode and begin your change.
LINKS:
🔗Connect with Ket: linkedin.com/in/ketpatel-changeagitator 📝Find out more about how a Change Management certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/change-management
📝Find out more about APMG Certifications:apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
📢 “How are we going to make things better in the future for the environment? And how do we have more diversity, equity and inclusion?”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Mark Thomas about ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance); what ESG brings to organizations, the future it will create, and how it differs from other governance frameworks. Mark is the President of Escoute Consulting and a Governance, Risk, Compliance and IT Service Management consulting specialist who's on a mission to help organizations find practical solutions to their ESG challenges.
We begin the episode by asking Mark how the UN’s release of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals specifically lead to an increased awareness for ESG and how the current global move towards a sustainable, inclusive, future is shaping the markets.
Propelled by the sustainable development goals, Mark further tells us why ESG visibility has grown – and is forecast to stick – as we discuss what sets ESG apart from other frameworks. Moving on to the topic of goals cascade, Mark talks about the importance of looking at the whole supply chain. If your suppliers are ethical, but your supplier's suppliers aren’t, are you really making a difference?
Listen in as Mark talks about building individual goals and aligning these goals to the organization’s – and the suppliers – so there is consistency top to bottom. “Communication moves very, very, quickly, so tone at the top is going to be huge for those lean organizations”.
Finally, Mark walks us through how ESG fits with trends toward leaner organizations before talking about how we can avoid Environmental, Social, and Governance being seen as ‘just another’ framework, and in doing so ultimately build a better, greener, fairer future.
Links:
🔗Connect with Mark: linkedin.com/in/markthomas8🌐 Read more on Mark's expertise in the industry: markthomasonline.com📝Find out more about APMG Certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
📢 “A resilient business is one which is capable, not just of withstanding shocks but is also capable of harnessing them; taking that energy and using it in creative ways to propel itself”.
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speak to Serhiy Kovela and David Roberts about building resilience in business.
Serhiy and David explain why sustainability sets a resilient business apart. “What makes resilience different is that we are looking to the sustainability of the organization as well as its progress”
We cover their definitions of resilience and talk about developing a ‘pace’ culture, before asking them about how the business resilience framework they created fits with existing business practices.
We dive into the relationship between building a resilient business and executing a new corporate strategy before asking our guests if building a resilient business is either a marathon or a sprint.
If you want to discover what organizations can do to become more resilient and prepare for the future, listen in to today’s episode.
👉🏽 About Serhiy and David
Serhiy has over 20 years of experience in project management and business IT, helping organizations increase their efficiency through projects, programmes, and the effective use of IT. His mission is to equip organizations with tools and thinking to help them nurture a productive working environment and stimulate progress by building a Resilient Culture.
David has worked in corporate and public-sector organizations leading initiatives in corporate management, marketing, sales, PMOs and the IT transformations on a global scale.
Through this, he’s gained insights into corporate and professional needs for sustainable business approaches. Together with a team of like-minded professionals, David reviewed actions and practices, modelling what really worked in VUCA conditions to create a game-changing approach to Business Resilience.
What’s most important for a business long-term? For David and Serhiy: Re-invention.
Links:
🔗Connect with Serhiy: linkedin.com/in/serhiykovela 🔗Connect with David: linkedin.com/in/david-roberts-7476b8 📝 Find out more about how an APMG certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/our-services/certifications
📢 “Tailor your approach to the problem at hand”
In this episode Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talks to Adrian Dooley, Founder and Lead author of the Praxis Framework Ltd, about closing the Project and Programme divide, what the Praxis Framework offers, and why he created a Global Management Framework.
Hear Adrian explain the issues that lead him to take on this herculean project, and the motivation he took from seeing people constantly learning good practice, but never implementing that knowledge.
Not content with accepting the “either-or” of guidance regarding Projects and Programmes, Adrian started to identify the range of barriers that were stopping the implementation of good practice; then set out to create a unified solution.
Listen in as we discuss exactly what Praxis Framework has to offer as a completely free, integrated framework, for projects and programme management, and some of the backlashes Adrian has faced over the years - particularly with regards to the idea that something being free makes it ‘less valuable’.
With over 40,000 monthly visitors to the Praxis website, it's safe to say Adrian is proving people wrong.
Finally, hear Adrian tell us what he’d do differently if starting over; before we finish the episode by asking him the top three takeaways from a extensive career in Programme and Project Management:
🏆
- “Trust people to do the job” Micromanaging creates bad atmospheres
- “You’ve got to be part of the team”. Go above the job ‘on paper’
- Be agile, “Tailor your approach to the problem at hand”
Links:
🔗Connect with Adrian: linkedin.com/in/adrian-dooley-ab1a3223/
🌐 Explore the Praxis Framework™ Website: praxisframework.org/
📝 Find out more about how a Praxis Framework certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/praxis-frameworktm
📝 Find out more about APMG Certifications:apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
📢 “To decide NOT to invest is just as important as deciding TO invest”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Robert Gregory, ex-Deputy Director of Capital Investment in the NHS, and Management Consultant to discuss the A-Z of business cases.
For Robert, the biggest risk in business cases is “inefficient investment in people early on”, andhis principal message is that you do not ever just sit down and write a business case - the business case is the result of a process.
Hear Robert explain“all the good methods in the world won’t amount to much if you’re not putting the right people behind making them happen”.Robert and Richard further discuss the danger of subjectivity in measuring objective concepts and offer advice on how you can mitigate this by creating a strong quantifiablebaseline.
“To decide not to invest is just as important as deciding TO invest” says Robert – it’s the organisation’s safeguard against making a wrong decision. He gets candid about the times in his career when he decided not to proceed with a business case and explains that in total, he’s probably turned down as many business cases as he’s recommended for approval.
We finish the episode by asking Robert what 3 things he knows now, that he wishes he knew when he first started devolving business cases - his answers:
🏆
1. Nothing should be set in tablets of stone
-
The quality of a business case product is everything… not the volume
-
The business case itself is simply the endpoint of a set of processes
This episode urges us to make sure we’re asking the right questions when it comes to working in the ever-expanding digital age.
Links:
🔗Connect with Robert: inkedin.com/in/robert-gregory-8660bb45/
📝Find out more about how a Better Business Cases Certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/better-business-cases
📝Find out more about APMG Certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
#leadershipdevelopment #fivecasemodel #organizationalchange #podcast #career #strategy #projectmanager
📢 “If someone’s going to build a better world, you need to ask them two critical questions; One: for whom? And two: in what time scale?”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Adam Thilthorpe, Digital Specialist and Director for Professionalism at BCS, about using AI ethically, reshaping education, and the impact of technology.
The digital era has changed the trajectory of the future and Adam begins by explaining the skills we need to acquire, and the skills we can adapt, to be prepared for the digital age.
Richard and Adam talk about the challenges that come with the rapid scaling of technology and the unintended consequences of mass demoralization; with Adam drawing on cases like Snapchat’s sexual exploitation epidemic to show what can happen if we don’t ask the right questions when dealing with the expansion of technology.
Adam tells us that in the best-case scenario expanding technologies can “help us advance the human cause”, but this will only happen if we are asking the right questions… and installing the right limitations.
Listen in as Adam poses questions about data collection and speaks on how the data we share - and how we share it - will continue to shape the public sector. When speaking of the behaviour changes in the intersection of advertising monopolies, regarding accessing data, he asks “Why is it we don’t trust our local council but we do trust Facebook?
We finish the episode by asking Adam what 3 things he knows now that he wishes he knew when starting his career - he answers:
🏆
-
Don’t underestimate the pace of change
-
There are huge opportunities in the public task
-
Understand, and execute application
This episode urges us to make sure we’re asking the right questions when it comes to working in the ever-expanding digital age.
Links:
🔗Connect with Adam: linkedin.com/in/adamthilthorpe/
📝 Find out more about how an AI Certification can help you advance your career: apmg-international.com/product/artificial-intelligence-ai
📝 Find out more about APMG Certifications: apmg-international.com/services/certifications-solutions
#leadershipdevelopment #bestpractice #AI #Digitaltransformation #Dataprotection #Infosec #podcast #career #strategy #bigdata
📢“Data will not tell you anything if you don't ask questions”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Giovanni Lanzani, Digital Specialist and Leader of the GoDataDriven Academy, about where the value really lies in using data.
Listen in as we talk about the challenges businesses face when becoming data-driven, the development process, the importance of infrastructure, and how for Giovanni, forecasting with AI is the only financially smart future.
Those who make the switch to AI will outcompete the rest.
We ask Giovanni about the changing environment data analytics is creating, and how younger generations can prepare for this. Before dissecting the common problemthat unifies all companies when working with data, because if you don’t ask the right questions “Data will not tell you anything”.
Giovanni then speaks to us about the security issues surrounding Data and the urgent universal need to find new ways of solving problems. He believes the industry needs people who couple curiosity with a scientific approach: digital skills alone aren’t enough.
We finish the episode by asking Giovanni 3 things he knows now, that he wish he knew when starting his career - his answer?
🏆
-
People and Mindsets are more important than tools
-
The academic mentality doesn’t work well, doesn’t translate, into industry
-
Helping people to grow makes you a better leader
Discover more about Analytics Translation training and certification https://apmg-international.com/product/analytics-translation
Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/giovanni-lanzani-19561824/
Anthony Allcock - Chief Information and Digital Officer - British Airways
📢“Change is a constant in life. Strategy needs to be able to cater to change”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to, Anthony Allcock, Chief Information and Digital Officer of British Airways, a man with over 20 years of experience in executing £multi-million complex portfolios.
Although Anthony has a huge role, we are asking his personal perspective from years of hands-on and leadership experience. Listen in as we ask how he goes about creating a new strategic direction and discuss the intersection of business and IT, probing him for his top three tips on how to embed strategy into an organization, and make sure it’s implemented, rather than just discussed.
If you struggle with trying to get a strategy to land, listen in as Anthony tells us that the key is to “Keep it simple. Focus on three clear messages, and repeat them constantly”. According to him “Three is the magic number”.
Hear tips on developing a coherent strategy with regards to Big Data as we talk about everything from; how to drive better decisions through data, to how to cascade a change message through an entire organization.
We finish up by asking Anthony what he’s learned over the span of his career, and the top 3 lessons from his first strategy execution role would be - his answer?
🏆 1. “Be bold in Ambition” 2. Have clear accountability 3. Get early buy-in
Listen in to one of our most valuable, concise, episodes to date.
Links:
🔗Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn:
📝Discover more about APMG Certifications in Business Relationship Management, Change Management, Project Management, Strategy Implementation and more
#change #leadershipdevelopment #bestpractice #managementsystem #podcast #career #strategy #bigdata
Jan Willem Middelburg, Author, Enterprise Big Data Framework
📢❔💬 “Do you think it’s a good idea, or do you know that it’s a good idea”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Jan Willem Middelburg, CEO of Cybiant and author of The Big Data Framework.
Listen in as we ask Jan about his motivations for setting up the enterprise Big Data Framework, what inspired him, and what continues to inspire him. A vendor-neutral model based solely on capabilities – Jan tells us about how the Big Data Famework “was born because we experienced ' lack' ”, and about his mission to build a big data enterprise, regardless of what technology you are using.
We talk tips and strategies as Jan reveals how Big Data showcases the roadmap to build data visualisation capabilities over time, and how this increases profit and sign-ups in business’. Giving us examples of how building predictive models (based on past customer behavior), has led to business strategies being implemented that led to a 15% increase in customer retention, Jan illustrates how Big Data can contribute to a huge number in terms of profit.
Learn how data-driven decisions will excel the future of project management as we discuss how Big Data shapes how we run our organizations. Specifically, in being able to hone in on what actually gets results. For Jan. Big Data shines a light on tangible outcomes, his favorite question to ask people? “Do you think that’s a good idea, or do you knowthat’s a good idea”.
However, Big data doesn’t come without its warning lights. Join us as we discuss privacy scandals and hear as Jan explains his views on the danger of big data, and how the value we place on data privacy will divide the future into two.
⚠️ “If the service is free, you are the product”. ⚠️
Links:
📝Find out about the certification that can help you start or enhance your career in Big Data - Enterprise Big Data Professional or Analyst - Access FREE guidance to get you started
🔗Connect with Jan-Willem Middelburg on LinkedIn
📘 Jan's book
leadershipdevelopment #podcast #career #course #bigdata #businessleadership #projectmanagement #projects #project
📢 “You need to look beyond. Value for money is good, but it’s not enough”
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Jean-Christophe BARTH-COULLARÉ, Executive Director at WAPPP and Co-Founder European Champions Alliance, on the new ways to execute Public Private Partnerships.
Listen in as we speak to Jean-Christophe about the roots, definition, and objectives of WAPPP – The World association of PPP professionals – a ‘Full Impact Organization’ that was created to discuss the standard setting for PPP outside of just the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
For him, the real question is “How can PPPs stay relevant and deliver impact on the ground?”.
When creating the membership organization, the central focus was on “Delivering value for future generations”, and Jean-Christophe explains how a project often fails when “the needs of the users are not completely adjusted” and that happens when we fail to “look beyond” value for money.
➡️ “You not only need to look at value for money, you need to look beyond” “Value for money is good, but it’s not enough – 2022 what we need is climate resilience infrastructure”. 🌎
Hear him define how we can overcome this by creating more ‘next level PPPs’, and just what a Next level PPP is, before moving on to shaping the cultures of collaboration. To finish up we ask Jean-Christophe to explain the top 3 reasons PPP deals fall apart.
Links:
🔗 Connect with Jean-Christophe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbarth/
🎧 More about PPP and WAPPP : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQHnagBRZvg
📝 Find out about the accreditation that can help you start or enhance your career In PPP : https://ppp-certification.com/certification
leadershipdevelopment #podcast #career #course #PPP #businessleadership #projectmanagement #projects #project
Gintare Geleziunaite "If you want others to change, you have to be your authentic self. "
From being challenged to create a Change Management plan from scratch in a company spanning 108 countries worldwide, to ‘providing strategic direction, methodology and tools to a 250,000 people-strong organization’ in the Military, Gintare vowed to always stay true to her authentic working style.
Gintare Geleziunaite is Head of Change Strategy at Department for International Trade (DIT). Hear her key tips on getting senior leadership teams to engage properly with Change programmes as well as a host of other practical strategies including her recommendation to take Change Management training to improve knowledge and success.
Inspiring others and creating space for change in a sector known for its commitment to tradition, upon exiting her role in the military, Gintare had created and grown a change community from 3 to more than 700 people.
When we questioned her on how to create these ripple effects, she cited her critical techniques on creating energy, urgency, enthusiasm, and empowerment; asking us to think outside the box and begging the question “What non-obvious channels are available to spread your message?”.
“If we want to remain leaders, we have to develop solutions faster, we’ve got to experiment more. But you can only do that if you feel empowered.”
Now a member of a 22 strong community of government bodies that have rallied together to adapt and standardize Change Management across civil service, we couldn’t miss the chance to gain access to Gintare’s invaluable insights. So, we finished up by asking her for three things she wished she had known at the beginning of her journey in #ChangeManagement - the three keys to true Change.
Her advice?
-
“Every meaningful conversation, relationship, personal or professional, starts with listening.”
-
“Peer to peer power is a real thing and it’s incredibly powerful.” A good network can help you achieve anything you want.
-
“ Remember to be authentic to yourself. Then try and encourage it wherever you go”.
Links:
🔗Connect with Gintare on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gintare-g/
📖 More from Gintare:, https://apmg-international.com/article/change-management-government-practitioner-interview
📝Find out about the Change Management certification that really improved Gintare's Change journey: https://apmg-international.com/product/change-management
What makes a Project Manager a true craftsman?
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to, Andreas Trautner, Published Author, Project Management craftsman, and lifelong entrepreneur.
Starting as a fisherman, Andreas followed his curiosity to his PHD studying Agricultural sciences, when he got the opportunity to Manage a Project due to his 8 years of experience managing Denmark’s largest musical festival.
Join us as Andreas recalls the moments that have shaped his career and success, from that first failed university job as a Project Manager, to the moments that stayed with him: like the key to cancelling project ‘noise’.
Andreas goes into detail about how he realised he was part of the problem in his first failed project : In in his own words “Project management is as a craft”, and he was a poor craftsman.
The Author of: " The Six: why so many projects fail and how to succeed” Andreas introduces us to the 6 parameters of his book, his guide and the missing pieces of making PM your craft. Hear Andreas break down the lessons from 20 years experience and techniques we’ve never heard phrased before like: rehearsing your project both on paper, and in your mind, before planning.
We’ll finish by hearing Andreas disclose the three things he’d tell his younger self. The key? It’s simple: “You’ve got to want to succeed”.
Links:
Connect with Andreas
Discover APMG’s Project Management certifications
Andreas’ Books ;
- 2021 The Project Excellence Handbook (PEH) at DIS/CREADIS
- 2020 THE SIX: Why so many projects fail, and how to succeed
- 2003 On Soil Behaviour During Field Traffic
In this episode we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Jan Van Bon, Service Management Architecture pioneer, System Thinker, and Published Author/co-author of over 100 books.
Jan combines a deep understanding of systems thinking with a passion for original thought and challenging traditional thinking.
Join us as we explore how Jan’s career led him to a breaking point. Frustrated at the Service Management industry's stagnation and how the “same guys that came up with the old solution, come up with the new solutions” Jan knew there had to be a better way.
This realization culminated in him setting up a non-profit initiative, bringing his 40 years of learning to focus on a different way of doing things. Based on principles rather than processes, listen to Jan break down his "road towards the goal” of shaking up Service Management: Unified Service Management (USM).
A transformational approach that focuses on the “value links” and how they “form inter-operable chains within eco-systems”. Listen as he explains why we need to re-write what we’ve been taught and become ‘Inter-operable’ over simply ‘collaborative’.
Jan then details the benefits and paradigm-shifting lessons of USM that can apply to any line of business. He's so confident in what he is teaching, that of the 1000 students he’s challenged to find a flaw in USM, none have stepped forward to claim their prize.
We’ll cover everything from how to convince CFO’s and HR departments to switch their investments from traditional Best practice, to the main benefits of USM, and finish by asking Jan to distil his message and mission.
Links:
→ Discover more about Unified Service Management (USM) → Connect with Jan Van Bon
What makes us behave the way we do? How can we identify and influence the way others act? And how should an influential leader really behave?
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Robert den Broeder, a Coach and guru of behavioral change, to answer all these questions and more.
Robert is the Author of: "Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), an introduction" and the Managing Director at OBM Dynamics. Recognized as “The Science of Success”, Robert and Richard discuss everything OBM: from the most common behavioral issues, what triggers them, to how to get to the root of what motivates people.
Touching on foundational industry theories like Classical Conditioning and Emotional Bank-accounts, Robert explains the critical keys we need to unlock to “the specific value streams” of individuals and ultimately get to the root of their behaviors.
We finish up by asking Robert to divulge his tips for being an impactful, powerful leader and share what his three pieces of advice would be to any new manager wanting to successfully and subtly govern their team.
So, If you have a personal interest in knowing how to spot behavioral issues and want to develop the knowledge and skills to combat them, to become the best leader you can, join us as we extract the actionable secrets of Organizational Behavior Management from Robert.
Links:
To find out how you can apply the scientifically proven OBM, or “Science of Success”, to your department or team look at our OBM Foundation course
Connect with Robert on LinkedIn
Robert's Book: Organizational Behavior Management – An Introduction
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talks to the knowledgeable and ever-enthusiastic Hannah Cooper, who is a Business Relationship Manager (BRM) in the National Lottery Community Fund. She started in the beginning and was instrumental in building the role from the ground up.
Shaped by her strong partner-focused style, Hannah explains to us the importance of the BRM role in ensuring Relationship Management isn’t just transactional: warning us of the loss of organic conversation, and what that does to the heart of a business. Checking in with people doesn’t just strengthen your relations as a manager but provides key holistic insights as to how the organization is doing.
We hear her debunk the common misconception that you need to be a subject matter expert to become a BRM: even though Hannah came from a background of IT, she believes in terms of technical skills, they are not compulsory in order to do the job well.
It’s about knowing who you have around you, knowing how to redirect work, and knowing the context. Hannah’s biggest takeaway is; don’t throw solutions at people, but listen with the intention of understanding their needs and concerns: ultimately you’re the one responsible for seeing where proposals fit into the strategy.
Finally, we hear Hannah explain why the BRM role is key in challenging the norm on the crucial topics of today, from Data Management, Environmental, to co-benefits, for her, it’s about changing the employee mindset. In keeping with this, Hannah ends by giving us her top three bits of advice to anyone starting in the role and tells us the key to having an agile, courageous, mindset is to acknowledge “that you won’t and can’t always know everything”.
To find out more about the thing’s discussed in this episode and Hannah herself, follow the links below:
More information
Business Relationship Management Professional Training and Certification
BRM Institute
Hannah Cooper LinkedIn
In this episode, we hear Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, talk to Liz Herman, the Senior Manager at Knowledge Content Training for the Accenture Federal Services in Washington DC.
A skilled technical Communicator who puts people at the heart of what she does, Liz recently won the ‘Winner of the Service to the Citizen award’, for her work in transforming complex knowledge (such as federal policies in healthcare and finance) into accessible content, providing services that impact the publics' lives for good.
A writing enthusiast and champion of the industry, Liz lets us in on the appeal of working in Technical Communication, and how she both derives, and adds value, through her work. We see her outline the role of a technical communicator, from the diversity of the role, what she loves in the community to the work/life balance of the job.
‘The guardian of transactions’ we delve into how Liz sees the relationship between AI intensifying and the role of Technical Communicators. In her words, there’s no reason to be scared of her job being taken over as there’s “always a technical communicator behind the curtain” feeding content into AI.
We’ll ask Liz where young technical communicators should start in terms of their career and what they should aim for…as unfortunately, the job of a Chief Writing Officer doesn’t exist yet.
We finish up by asking Liz to divulge her tips for improving writing for clarity and to finally explain what the actual definition of Knowledge management is. A must-listen for anyone already in, or wanting to discover the role of technical communication or Knowledge Management.
Discover more about CPTC - Certified Technical Communication Professional Training and Certification
Discover more about STC Society for Technical Communication
Connect with Liz Herman on LinkedIn
Find out more Service to the Citizen award
You can't handle the truth! In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG talks to Stacey Barr, The Performance Measure Specialist and founder of PuMP training and certification as she talks through how to 'measure the immeasurable' (intangible, qualitative and vague goals).
If you create KPIs or are developing your Evidence Based Leadership and Delivery - this is a must-listen episode.
Stacey is a pioneer in performance leadership and her passion is to get leaders to take ownership of the truth, dispensing with woolly, 'weasely' goals that tell the story they want to convey as opposed to the fact-based decision-making and transparent, honest results that are essential to an organisation's success. She urges leaders to identify clear, simple, understandable KPIs - then stand by the results good or bad.
During the interview she gives some superb examples and key takeaways that anyone creating KPIs can start with immediately.
She recommends two great books ' Watson's Dictionary of Weasel Words' and 'Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths and Total Nonesense: Profiting from Evidence-Based Management' quoting "Leaders need to make a fundamental decision - Do they want to be told they're always right or do they want to lead organisations that actually perform well?"
When Richard asks her if she can demonstrate ROI on her PuMP methodology - she laughs, answering 'It would be ironic if I couldn't' and relays the situation and solution for a one company that was able to measure the reduced time they took to place failed flight controllers into new positions - the results were an average improvement of 47 days (from 67 to 20) and the savings totalled $500,000 over 7 months using PuMP . They had invested $12k over that period to determine what had initially seemed immeasurable - and this equated to a hugely impressive 4,000% ROI!
Stacey also shares examples of hard-to-deliver KPIs vs measurable metrics and provides 3 practical tips to get started in creating - as well as details of a free video and 10 further top tips to get you started.
More information on PuMP Training and Certification
Implementing Best Practice In Business Podcast
How Public Private Partnerships PPP help with innovation in healthcare
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International is joined by two guests - Natalia Korchakova-Heeb, Global Lead for PPPs and Greenfield Hospitals and Renas Rechid Global Head of Sales Enterprise Services at Siemens Healthineers.
They discuss sustainable healthcare and highlight the key ingredients that need to be considered to make projects successful; Value for Money, Value for People and Value for Innovations.
00:00 Introductions
02:45 There are two global challenges; UN17 sustainable goals and the fact that the global public sector can't afford all the infrastructure it needs - One solution is to engage the private sector using PPPs - Is this a long term sustainable equitable solution or a short term stimulus?
05:23 How are Siemens Healthineers responding to the SDG agenda and PPPs?
07:45 Do you think the goals were realistic when they were set or were they always too ambitious?
09:00 You mentioned to a carbon neutral piece of technology (carbon neutral radiology imaging service). How do you assess the carbon usage - How far down the supply chain do you go?
10:18 With this new technology, can existing medical professionals just adopt it or do they need training to maximise the benefits - How do you implement this globally?
12:12 Do you think the benefits and risks of PPPs are understood by project promoters generally or are more education programs needed?
16:35 They talk about best value in construction, but it always comes down to best price. How do you value someone's expertise and track record against someone with less expertise at a lower price? How do you judge the value for money?
19:24 I have read a lot about project data analytics and digital twins, with Siemen's technical expertise are you bringing these leading edge techniques to your PPP and greenfield hospital projects?
21:09 So it is like building a prototype of a hospital before you have to commit to putting any physical infrastructure or buildings a digital virtual reality twin of a hospital?
21:32 How long does it take to build a digital twin of a new hospital?
22:10 Within a calendar quarter, you could engage with a client you could build a representation of the key elements of what they are trying to procure and let them walk around it?
22:40 Do you run into the dreaded GDPR laws on the information you can and can't hold on a patient? Is that a challenge for you?
24 What would success look like for you at Siemens Healthineers - What attracted you to the role - what would you be most proud of achieving in 2025?
More information:
Siemens Healthineers
PPP Public Private Partnerships training and certification
Connect with Natalia Korchakova-Heeb on LinkedIn
Connect with Renas Rechid on LinkedIn
PPP Training and Certification
Implementing Best Practice in Business Podcast is hosted Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International
Our guest in this episode is Timothy Esposito, who talks about implementing best practice Technical Communication at Oracle. Timothy is the Manager of Logistics Documentation at Oracle Corporation where he supervises an international team of technical writers. He’s been a member of the Society for Technical Communication since 2005 and has held various roles including Chapter President in Philadelphia, and currently serves on the Board of Directors as the Secretary.
Timothy is a strong advocate of personal organization in life and work. He promotes the need for thoughtful design of interfaces and process simplification based on detailed analysis. Away from work, he advocates the adoption of retired Greyhounds.
Questions
00:53 Why Greyhounds? (Why do you choose to adopt Greyhounds specifically?)
01:51 How has the role of a technical communicator changed as we move from what was
an analogue world into a digital one?
03:40 How do you manage consistency within the organization, what approach to
governance do you take? How do you make sure the advice is up to date and
accurate in such a fast-moving world?
08:55 How important are fonts in the current digital age?
10:18 How is AI going to affect what you do and how you serve the consumer?
12:52 How can you track shipments so accurately? At what point is the tag read?
14:19 Professional bodies have always played a very important role in disseminating
knowledge – but as information becomes more freely available, how will STC maintain
and enhance the value proposition to the members?
17:57 You have over 3000 documents (topics) that you and your team look after, is that
correct?
20:42 With your career in technical writing, what are the three things you know now that you
wish you had known at the start of your career?
More information:
Society for Technical Communication stc.org
Certified Professional Technical Communicator Training and Certification CPTC
Connect with Timothy Esposito on LinkedIn
In this episode of Implementing Best Practice in Business, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, chats to Jesper Schreiner.
Jesper has over 25 years’ experience in programme and project management. During his career he became fascinated by the uncertainties in projects and management and completed a master’s thesis on the subject.
Prior to his innovative work with the Half Double institute, he was the managing director of the Danish Project Management Association. In this episode, as well as discussing with Richard uncertainties in projects, they talk about:
1. The motivation for creating the Half Double methodology, when there is already a considerable amount of Project Management guidance
2. The three guiding principles of this methodology - Impact, Flow and Leadership
3. The research that has proven that Half Double projects are as much as twice as likely to succeed
4. How Half Double can co-exist with other Bodies of Knowledge
5. What three things Jesper would have loved to have known at the start of his career in Project Management
Discover more about Half Double training and certification -> https://apmg-international.com/product/half-double-certification
In this episode, Richard Pharro speaks to Kamil Mroz, who has been listed as a PMI Future 50 honouree - a group of leaders who are transforming the workplace through collaboration, inclusion, and purpose
Hear his thoughts on future trends in Project Management and what he hopes to learn from the speed of major projects that have been delivered during the Pandemic.
Kamil ‘s experience in people management and project leadership has involved leading of multicultural, diverse, and technical teams composed of both direct reports and cross-functional matrix teams.
He is now focussed on creating value through agile project/program management excellence in the field of immunology and neurology to serve patients in need. Which he achieves through Coaching, and mentoring, to help people reach their full potential.
Kamil considers himself to be a servant leader honed while working on several high-impact philanthropic projects in Europe.
His services to the profession include chairing the inter-regional ISPE (International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering) BeNeLux Steerco on Project Management.
He has been recognised for Outstanding leadership, communication and project management excellence by both the IPMA, and PMI.
**A truly global PPM professional
Questions
1.** Antonio Rodriguez talks about the project economy and the importance of strategy execution through projects. He believes this so strongly, he has established the strategy Implementation Institute, is this link already embedded in your thoughts about the next generation?
2.There is a lot of interest in project data analytics how will this impact the PM tools we have been using for 50 years?
3. How can next generation project managers support the urgent need for more sustainable projects?
4.. understand you started a PhD last year exploring how project management capabilities can be exploited in a VUCA world?
More information ->
-> AgilePM Training and Certification https://apmg-international.com/product/agilepm
-> Half Double Training and Certification https://apmg-international.com/product/half- double-certification
-> Strategy Implementation Professional https://apmg-international.com/product/strategy-implementation-professional-sip
-> Kamil Mroz on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamil-mroz-pmp-31b37621/
-> #NextGenPM https://www.pmfair.org/nextgenpm-lead-the-way-in-the-project-economy/
Margaret Heffernan Book - Unchartered - How to Map the Future Together https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-Imperfect-Ha-Margaret-Heffernan/dp/1471179788
In this episode, Richard Pharro talks to John Humphries, who provides advice across a number of disciplines including Risk, Agile PM and BA, Change Management, Proposal Management and Better Business Cases.
He is a consultant, Trainer and Author and has co-authored and contributed to a number of publications .
John works at the centre of Government as a risk management facilitator and instructor with the Houses of Parliament.
Following the launch of Better Business Cases, John jumped at the chance to become an accredited trainer to help clients carefully consider and manage risks associated with their initiatives earlier rather than later as is so often the case.
Over the past 21 months, virtual classes for Better Business Cases have been much in demand. John has risen to the challenge of virtual events , has adjusted his style to an environment conducive to participant engagement, so that everyone gets value from the sessions.
QUESTIONSDeveloping a good business case is fundamental to ensuring value for money and benefits delivery but I don’t think this is common practice, would you agree?
- What type of people attend your courses; project managers; business analysts?
- What do you think are the main strengths of the 5 case model?
- If you only had half a day to draft a business case what would you focus on?
- Can you measure the RoI of a quality business case?
MORE INFORMATION
More about Better Business Cases Training and Certification -> https://apmg-international.com/product/better-business-cases
John is an accredited trainer for Training Bytesize - Visit their website here -> https://www.trainingbytesize.com/
Connect with John Humphries on LinkedIn -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/humphriesjohn/
FREE BBC Programme and Project Flowchart Download -> https://apmg-international.com/files/document/bbc-project-and-programme-flowchart-training-bytesize
In this episode Richard Pharro talks to Milvio Di Bartolomeo, the first person globally to concurrently hold the Strategy Implementation Professional, Managing Benefits and Better Business Cases Practitioner certifications. As a Delivery Office Manager in the Queensland Public Sector in Australia providing assurance, benefits, governance and risk management advice for a portfolio of programmes and projects, Milvio’s role involves providing advice to a plethora of portfolio projects. He is a prolific student and avid writer and blogger on strategy execution. Join us in listening to Milvio explain what motivates him to take on so much work, constantly take on new projects, exams and innovate.
Just listening to Milvio you can tell how embedded his knowledge is, however for Milvio knowledge alone is redundant – it’s about applied knowledge. He believes you have to have ‘skin in the game’ to be an effective sponsor and the right culture to drive projects successfully.
Resources mentioned:
Connect with Milvio on Linkedin; https://www.linkedin.com/in/milvio-d-b37b4113/
Check out one of Milvio’s many articles; https://apmg-international.com/article/top-tips-managing-benefits
Books mentioned; The Project rots from the head, by Colin D. Ellis and The Lean Start-up Audiobook - By Eric Ries
Praxis framework https://www.praxisframework.org/
Managing Benefits https://apmg-international.com/product/managing-benefits
Economic world forum Milvio mentioned - https://www.weforum.org/focus/skills-for-your-future
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International listens back to series one of Implementing Best Practice in Business and recalls some of the moments that resonated with him.
This is a must-listen for anyone in the project, programme, portfolio or change disciplines Hear a wealth of knowledge, expertise, key learnings and experience from thought leaders and practitioners amongst our incredible community.
Ep1 Mark Thomas - Governance and leadership
Ep2 Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez - Project Economy and Strategy
Ep3 Joseph Lowe - Better Business Cases
Ep4 Pez Kooner - Business Relationship Management
Ep5 Melanie Franklin - Agile Change Management
Ep6 Eddie Obeng - Change Management, Project Management and QUBE
Ep7 Ricardo Santos - Programme, Project and Change Management
Ep8 Eddie Borup - Leading remote teams
Ep9 Sergey Samolis - Public Private Partnerships
Ep10 Jo Stanford - Change and Project Management in the NHS
Listen to the full series on Spotify
Discover APMG Accredited Training and Certifications
In this episode of Implementing Best Practice in business, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG talks to Jo Stanford who has a wealth of experience leading teams through projects, change and the educational development of those within the NHS (which Jo reminds us is not just one organisation but hundreds of individual organisations that it is made up of).
Jo is a Chartered Project Professional and Fellow of the Association for Project Management Jo is currently Head of the Corporate Portfolio Office and Project Profession at Health Education England. Having worked in project, programme, and portfolio, in the NHS, government, private sector and in the arts over 25 years.
With a driving passion to make the NHS sustainable for current and future generations, Jo has been leading a collaborative network in the development of the project profession for the NHS; joining professionals and practitioners across organisational and regional boundaries to share, learn, collaborate, and improve capability across the sector.
More on Change Management training and certification
Connect with Jo Stanford on LinkedIn
Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, and special guest Sergey Samolis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PPP Expertise Eurasia, discuss how to change a country’s infrastructure for the better, the real world impact of the CP3P course and how private funding isn’t just synonymous with money, but efficiency.
In this conversation, we follow Sergey’s journey from a simple Economic degree to now, where he lets us in on industry secrets and talks about the only globally acknowledged body of knowledge for PPP; CP3P. A course taken by Deputy Ministers, Sectorial Ministries, and consequently entire Countries.
With incredible anecdotes, he details the course's real life transformational impact, and how, in one case, high ranking CP3P participants were called upon by their own country's Head of Public Private Partnerships after every lesson, comparing what they had learnt to the current framework in place. The positive impact of CP3P was almost instant.
Richard and Sergey discuss why this impact and real-life application is more relevant than ever if we are even to begin closing the 5.5 trillion Infrastructure gap.
Sergey then explains what 3 golden pieces of advice from CP3P he would give a country's Minister of Infrastructure if he only had 5 minutes, revealing the importance of the background 3rd party behind PPP – the Lender, and how this is the key for moving your tender from proposal to approval.
To conclude, Sergey talks about the importance of building resilience, and more crucially; dynamic adaptability within a project, leaving us all with the secret keys to ensuring trust and gaining private investment.
LINKS
Find out more about CP3P Framework training and certification: https://apmg-international.com/product/cp3p-apmg-public-private-partnerships-ppp-certification-program
Sergey Samolis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergey-samolis-9a78b116/?originalSubdomain=uk
McKinsey link referenced on bridging the infrastructure gap; https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/bridging-infrastructure-gaps-has-the-world-made-progress
Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, and special guest Ricardo Santos, Senior Programme Manager, Irish Rail.
Ricardo who is a large project specialist and pioneer in varied project management, shares the importance of constant change, how to move a whole team toward the bigger picture and how Praxis Local enabled him to take on a never-seen-before project with no management blueprint.
The conversation covers his rare experience in seeing a capital project from inception to completion, why safety is paramount and how - to Interviewer Richards surprise – Ricardo believes change and project management aren’t separable.
Ricardo then explains how Praxis local helped him provide a bespoke management framework and meet a sceptic CEO’s demands, whilst stating the importance of change and constantly innovating in order to stay competitive.
To finish up Richard ask Ricardo what three things he would have liked to have known at the start of his career, with some interesting and unexpected insights.
→ Blog/Q&A Project and Change Management: One and the same? https://apmg-international.com/article/project-and-change-management-one-and-same
→ Praxis local PowerPoint (free of charge framework) praxisframework.org/en/library/praxis-local
→ Find out more about Praxis Framework training and certificationapmg-international.com/praxis→ Change Management training and certificationapmg-international.com/change-management→ Ricardo Santos on LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/ricardoot3pm/
In this episode of Implementing Best Practice in Business, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG talks to Eddie Borup, an experienced senior manager who specialises in delivery within portfolio, programme and project management.
Hear Eddie's approach to supporting a 1500-strong global, remote team (long before the pandemic) and the simple techniques he uses to ensure everyone is working efficiently and transparently.
Although Imposter Syndrome has played a negative role in his thought process, we get candid insights as to how he has overcome this and he shares his strategy to gain confidence during this fascinating conversation.
Having worked in over 40 countries, managing projects and programmes across a wide range of sectors including private, public, international NGO’s - performing a range of different roles, he is currently helping to build capacity in several organisations. Prior to this Eddie was Head of Programme for a UN agency in South Sudan during the first 18 months of the civil war.
Eddie will graduate in spring 2022 having just been awarded a distinction in his MSc within the field of Programme and Project Management. Recently achieving the Praxis Framework Professional, he is applying for Chartered Project Professional. He was one of the first accredited PPM Consultants and his first company was also one of the first Accredited Consultancy Organisations.
More Information:
Read Eddie's blog >> https://apmg-international.com/article/how-lead-projects-programmes-and-remote-global-teams-effectively
Browse APMG Certifications >> https://apmg-international.com/certifications-solutions
Find out more about the Praxis Framework >> https://apmg-international.com/product/praxis-frameworktm
Connect with Eddie on LinkedIn >> https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddieborup/
In this episode of Implementing Best Practice in Business, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International is in conversation with Melanie Franklin, whose career making an impact in Change Management spans over two decades.
Melanie is the author of the Agile Change Management handbooks and Chief Examiner of the Agile Change Agent course and certification. Her experience and knowledge in the agile and change domains is second to none and she talks Richard through a range of subjects including;
- Identifying your star performers
- The difference between the change and project management responsibilities
- How to get staff on board with a change - when they are fearful and leadership is way ahead of the curve
- When sponsors need to commit
- Building confidence with certification
- Handling change in an agile way
- What the roles and responsibilities are in managing a change initiative - who is responsible for welfare and outcomes
- What three things Melanie would have loved to have known at the beginning of her career
Discover Agile Change Agent training and certification -> https://apmg-international.com/product/agile-change-agent
Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, and special guest Eddie Obeng, Professor, Author & Theorist, discuss whether Project Leadership is a role or a mindset; the difference between Change and Project Management; and how Eddie's QUBE platform enabled his clients to continue “as normal” through the pandemic.
Richard asks Eddie what he would say to a Board if he only had 30 minutes to convince them to take action to improve their success rate, and why exactly the Project Management profession have failed to improve their product (successful projects) for 50 years - why is this so hard?
Described by the Financial Times as a 'leading revolutionary' and 'agent provocateur', Eddie is a professor at the School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Henley Business School, founder and Learning Director of Pentacle The Virtual Business School, and a leading business theorist, innovator and educator.
→ apmg-international.com/changemanagement
→ apmg-international.com/agilepm
→ eddieobeng.com
Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, and special guest Pez Kooner, Global Head of IT at Rolls Royce Civil Aerospace, discuss the role of IT Partners and Business Relationship Managers; how an organisation like Rolls Royce keeps pace with technology; and the difference between a Business Relationship Manager and a Project Manager.
They further discuss some of the roles that feed into business relationship management - such as Business Analysts - and Pez describes his perspective on the kind of person that makes a great relationship manager including understanding the business, understanding technology, being a problem solver and of course, great at relationship management.
The Practice of Business Relationship Management embodies a set of competencies (e.g. knowledge, skills, and behaviors) to foster an effective, value-producing relationship between business functions and their business partners.
BRM Institute has partnered with APMG to promote wider adoption of world-class Business Relationship Management training and facilitate widespread availability of BRM Institute professional certifications.
→ apmg-international.com/product/brm
→ rolls-royce.com/products-and-services/civil-aerospace.aspx
Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, and special guest Joseph Lowe, Editor of the Green Book & Head of Economics Branch at HM Treasury, discuss common problems in developing a business case; how to measure the ROI on a quality business case; and how to utilise the 5 Case Model in a time crunch.
Change initiatives often fail at the first hurdle as the business case fails to convince senior management of the return on investment. Creating effective business cases and spending proposals is therefore critical to securing funding and management buy-in.
Better Business Cases training and certification is based on the ‘Five Case Model’ – the UK government’s best practice approach to developing spending proposals and enabling effective business decisions.
→ apmg-international.com/bbc
→ gov.uk/government/publications/the-green-book-appraisal-and-evaluation-in-central-governent
Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, and special guest Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, author & thought-leader, discuss changes in the Project Economy; the success rates of projects over the last 50 years; and the new Project Management Handbook as written by Antonio in partnership with Harvard Business Review.
Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez is a global champion of project management. He is the creator of concepts such as the “Hierarchy of Purpose” featured by Harvard Business Review, and the “Project Economy”.
Antonio’s research and global impact in modern management has been recognized by Thinkers50 with the prestigious award “Ideas into Practice” and is ranked #17 in the global gurus top 30 list. He was the global Chairman of the Project Management Institute in 2016.
Harvard Business Review: Project Management Handbook launches on the 19th October 2021. A must-read for the Project Professional.
→ apmg-international.com/sip
→ antonionietorodriguez.com
→ strategyimplementationinstitute.org
→ apmg-international.com/article/new-harvard-business-review-project-management-handbook
Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, discusses the recent interest in Governance and how to tell if investments are really creating value for an enterprise, in this second episode of In Conversation with Richard Pharro.
Featuring international expert on Governance Risk and Compliance, Mark Thomas, he gives us his perspective on the importance of governance in Digital Transformation.
apmg-international.com/events/importance-governance-mark-thomas
Organisations invest in best practice in areas such as project and programme management, business relationships, change, cyber security, governance, IT and more, but often don’t reap the benefits. Listen to APMG’s CEO, Richard Pharro speak to a range of senior leaders and practitioners who will share lessons learned through implementation and offer practical advice that can be applied by anyone to improve their work processes.