Both as a result of the training activities conducted by IPSM Training, and though many and varied contacts with a wide range of projects and project workers (many of whom are members of the Institute or employed by corporate members of the Institute) we have become aware that a number of projects find difficulties in meeting their "hands and minds requirements"

Both persons and expertise may be needed for both short and long periods of time.

Particular periods in a project lifecycle where we have been asked to help, seem to be the "start up" period at the beginning of the project when analytical, problem solving and design skills are needed, and then the "adjournment" period – towards the end of a project, when the end is either known (or staff anticipate it) but there is still much to be done – yet people start to switch off or leave.

Some examples may help –

We were asked:

-by a national charity to provide an experienced project manager to help a relatively new management plan a project to close down a facility, including staff redundancy and transfer, disposal of buildings and equipment etc.

-to facilitate a "clear the air" meeting on a site development project where mismatched and unstated expectations between the "central" organisation’s project managers and the "local" staff and trustees had created an impasse.

-to help an "umbrella" organisation set up its training scheme from scratch, including helping with the development of the training co-ordinator and the systems and procedures

-to provide a project "completer / finisher" for a series of small projects to which a small organisation was committed, the organisation’s future funding was in doubt and key staff had (and who can blame them) secured their futures with other organisations – leaving our client with a distinct and urgent lack of "hands and minds"

The Project Management Network (PMN) is a flexible resource consisting of a number of IPSM members (both individuals and organisations) with a lot of project management and related experience. PMN is co-ordinated through PARC/CUIRN – the Institute’s strategic partner. CUIRN itself is a co-operative of management trainers and consultants, which has operated in the public, voluntary and community sectors since 1998 – usually as a "badged" sub-contractor.

At one end of the scale PMN can act like an interim management agency – helping you find someone to take on a task or role for a defined period, at another PMN can act as a consultancy – helping you set up your project, helping you develop your plans, and schedules. PMN can provide a mentor for a new or inexperienced project leader – a sounding board, someone to talk the early problems through, someone with whom to talk through progress. PMN can help commissioners produce Project Briefs, it can help them to select the right project delivery team, it can help them manage at arms length.

And PMN can do this either in a hands-on way – by coming into and working with you and your staff - or in a more arms length way – by providing coaching or training

We think PMN has a lot to offer particularly to smaller bodies, who don’t want or need long term contracts with expensive commercial consultants but who do want to provide the best support to their project teams and who do often face real problems in keeping projects staffed during adjournment (and similar) phases e.g. when you’re waiting on a grant renewal decision.

PMN people understand these situations, we’ve been there

Why not give us a call?

PMN

Tel: 01204 410458 or E-mail us here.