Archive for January, 2011

PMI Statistics Through December 2010

– January 31, 2011Posted in: Project Management

The December Project Management Institute (PMI) statistics are in. The PMI now has over 412,503 active Project Management Professionals (PMPs) and 334,019 members. So, what’s new?

Again, the one bit of data I took note of was the PMI membership numbers. Over the last year, the data being displayed in PMI Today has changed. It used to be, you could see how many new people got their PMPs. The Fact File now shows only Total numbers of each credential. It does, however, still show New (PMI) Members.

The February 2011 issue of PMI Today (page 4) indicates there are 7,803 new members. In fact, there is an overall increase of just 2,322 members. 5,481 PMI Members chose not to renew their membership in December. Though I don’t have data to support it, I believe people are signing up for PMI memberships, with the intent of getting a PMP accreditation. If they don’t reach their goal, they don’t renew their membership.

PMI needs to do a better job of selling people on the value of the PMI membership, not just an accreditation or certification.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
New PMPs (Net)	3,714	3,713	5,344	4,718	3,985	4,630
Total Active PMPs	367,619	371,014	375,959	381,111	385,096	389,726
Total PMI Members	314,721	315,106	317,962	317,787	317,989	318,421

	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
New PMPs (Net)	3,687	3,965	2,681	3,161	5,939	3,344
Total Active PMPs	393,413	397,378	400,059	403,220	409,159	412,503
Total PMI Members	320,388	323,220	327,180	330,001	331,697	334,019

So, what do you think? Why do you think there is an ever-growing gap between PMI membership and the accreditations or certifications they offer?

Source: PMI Today

Popularity: 2%

Tags: Metrics, PMI, PMP

Week Retrospective 110130

Derek Huether

– January 30, 2011Posted in: Agile, Project Management

Posts this week

I was a guest of AgileScout Live. I really enjoyed myself. Check out my video interview and retrospective.

I wrote about how I’m always looking for ways to communicate with team members, vendors, and customers. When trying to understand the range of communications, I recently reassessed what I thought the opposite of communications was. I no longer believe it is silence. See some of my examples on why the opposite of communications is manipulation.

I loved this 10 minute video by Mike Cottmeyer, I had to write a post for it. Though I frequent the LeadingAgile website, I had to do a little more than just retweet a link in support of this post. For those who are new to Agile, Scrum, or Kanban, you need to carve out 10 minutes and watch this video on blending Scrum and Kanban.

After we published our first Scrum Posters, I was asked if we were going to create Non-Scrum Posters. The answer is YES! This week, we completed our (first) one-of-a-kind Pictofigo Project Management poster. The Project Management Process Groups poster is now available!

Like so many this year, I got snowed in. Unable to go into the office, I instead blogged about how our HOA handled the situation compared to the great snow storms of last year.

I recently read a pre-published copy of the Scrum Pocket Guide: A Quick Start Guide To Practical Agile Software Development by Peter Saddington of AgileScout. I’m giving away one free PDF copy of the book. Find out how to get registered to win.

Want to use the blog image for free? Find this drawing at Pictofigo

Popularity: 1%

Tags: Kanban, Posters, retrospective, Scrum, Video

Free Copy of Scrum Pocket Guide

Derek Huether

– January 28, 2011Posted in: Agile, Project Management

PDF Version of the book (iPod and my hand not included)

I recently read a pre-published copy of the Scrum Pocket Guide: A Quick Start Guide To Practical Agile Software Development by Peter Saddington of AgileScout. Prior to reading it, I was told any level of ScrumMaster or Project Lead could utilize it to refine and develop their facilitation and Agile knowledge. I confirmed that statement to be true. It was a very easy read, full of great information.

To add to that, upon seeing the published copy, I would say the final copy is even better.

I noticed Peter is running a contest, giving away 3 free copies of his book. Well, I would like to increase your chances of winning a free copy.

I will also give away one free PDF copy of his book. Not sure you even want a free copy? Well, just download the Introduction to the book and example chapter on High Performance Teams [here]. I think you will want a copy.

Don’t want to wait? You can also purchase a copy for $17 at ScrumPocketGuide.com. Just to let you know, I am not being paid by Peter for writing this post or having this contest.

So, how do you enter my giveaway? I’ll give you two ways of entering. You only need to do one.

Click the TWEET button above so I can see it on Twitter.
Leave a comment to this post.

What’s important is I have a way to [1] know you entered and [2] have a way to contact you if you won.

I will pick (at random) the winner in 2 weeks (02/11/2011). Why two weeks? That ensures the post stays on my blog homepage for the duration of the contest.

I added a link to the book in the right navigation of my site. If you purchased a copy after clicking that link, I do get paid. Otherwise, I am not being compensated by this blog post or any links within it.

Popularity: 1%

Tags: book, Contest, Free, Scrum

Plan to Fail

Derek Huether

– January 27, 2011Posted in: Agile, Project Management

We live at a lake property so we’re pretty far in the sticks. We have an HOA, which contracts work for snow removal and stuff like that. Last year we had several snow storms in the Washington DC area. The HOA was not prepared for several snow storms in succession and we found ourselves stranded for 4 days. Yes, 4 days! But, it wasn’t all bad. After the first storm got us, I reached out the HOA and recommend they keep the community informed of what was happening. Though we may not see a plow for a day or 2, we would at least know it. Each time we had a storm, the HOA got better at informing us of what they were doing.

Here we are, a year later. The forecast was for 6-12 inches of snow. I was curious if the HOA had refined their communications and snow removal practices from the year before. I kept thinking to myself. People don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan.

We certainly did get the snow. It’s close to 12 inches. I left the office early to get home before the snow (thunderstorms) arrived. As the snow stacked higher and higher, we began hearing reports of people abandoning their cars on the roads leading to our house. (They clearly failed to plan accordingly) We even saw one of our neighbors get stuck at the bottom of our hill, blocking the plows from getting to our neighborhood.

So, how did the HOA refine their communications process from last year? Did they fail to plan accordingly? To the contrary, I feel they did a great job. They designated community representatives. We are encouraged to have an open dialog with them. The HOA did send out emails informing everyone when the plows were going to arrive. This year they took it one step further, by creating a feedback loop. When our neighborhood was not plowed, due to the abandoned car, I contacted my community representative. Though I had to leave a voicemail, she called me back within 30 minutes. She assured me our neighborhood will be plowed this afternoon. Without the feedback loop, they would have not known there were any issues. And so, our HOA process improvement continues.

Communications vs. Customer Satisfaction

Communications Level	Customer Satisfaction
0-Way (None)	Very Unsatisfied
1-Way (Email distribution)	Satisfied
2-Way (Telephone conversation)	Very Satisfied

Popularity: 1%

Tags: Communications, Feedback, Snow, Washington DC

Process Groups Poster

Derek Huether

– January 26, 2011Posted in: Project Management

After we published our first Scrum Posters, I was asked if we were going to create Non-Scrum Posters. The answer is YES!

Today we completed our (first) one-of-a-kind Pictofigo Project Management poster. The Project Management Process Groups poster is now available to purchase from Cafepress. There are links below and a new link in the header of this site. If you wish to apply this image to your own products, just go to Premium Pictofigo and purchase the high resolution file.

Are you studying for, or have recently passed, a popular project management exam? PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCESS GROUPS captures five process groups and playfully details several of the activities of each. Includes Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitor & Controlling, and Closing.

Mini Poster (Size: 17″ x 11″) just $14.99

Small Poster (Size: 20″ x 13″) just $19.99

Large Poster (Size:34.5″ x 23″) just $24.99

Popularity: 2%

Tags: Pictofigo, PMP, Process Groups