Developing Project Managers

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Developing Project Managers

• John A. Scott
• President COO

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Parsons

• Engineering, Construction,
  and Technical Management
  Solutions
• Founded in 1944
• ESOP
• About 14,000 worldwide
• Top 500 entry-level employers
• Primary Markets
• Defense
• Infrastructure
• Industry

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Why Consider In-House Development

• Resource Shortages in All Related Technology
  Sectors and Industries
• Qualified People Are in High Demand
• Project management
• Engineering
• Project controls
• Quality management
• Construction management
• Operations

• Attracting and Retaining New College Graduates
  and Early Career Professionals is a Current Focus
• Future industry leadership
• Offsets for mature workforce
• Improved diversity
• Advanced Opportunities for Career Development is
  Essential to Attract and Retain Talent

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PM Development Path
Advanced PM Workshop

• Evolved
• in Stages

Experienced PMs

• Initiated in 2004
• 2-1/2 day workshop
• Focus on PM competencies
• Award of 2.0 CEUs

Parsons PM Certification

• Initiated in January 2006
• Based on best practices guidebook
• On-line quiz for each chapter
• Comprehensive take-home exam
• Skills interview by Senior PMs
• Award of 3.0 CEUs

Parsons MS in Project Mgmt
Foundations and Fundamentals for Project Mgmt

• Initiated in Fall 2006
• 3rd class being selected
• About 10 new students each year
• Web-based on-line curriculum
• 100 paid by Parsons

• Planned start summer 2008
• Wider availability
• Target developing PMs / PM track
• Award 9.0 CEUs

Career Development
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Foundations and Fundamentals for PM

• Foundations for Project Management
• Safety
• Quality
• Project controls
• Contracts and procurement
• Finance and accounting
• Fundamentals of Project Management
• Organizational relationships
• Risk management
• Resource management for projects
• Misc. project management skills

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Texas AM Masters in PM Program

• Collaborative Program with Texas AM
• 100 Distance Learning
• Concurrent with on-campus students
• Lessons Learned Captured from Prior Two Years of
  the Program
• Currently have 15 Students Enrolled
• Expect to have 40 in Program at Steady-State
  and Full Load
• 100 Paid by Parsons
• Not tuition reimbursement

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MS Program Curriculum
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Our PM Certification is Comprehensive

• Three Primary Elements
• Parsons PM Certification Guidebook delivering
  with associated on-line quizzes
• Comprehensive written exam (open-book,
  time-limited, take-home essay format)
• Skills Assessment Panel interview by business
  unit senior PMs and executives
• Estimated PM Time and Effort to Complete
• 3.0 CEUs (30 hours) for successful completion of
  manual with on-line quizzes, and essay exam
  (all self-study)
• Skills Assessment Panel Interview conducted in
  major offices with candidates collected
  regionally

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We Have Pre-Requisites for Certification

• Each PM Must Complete the Following Prior
  to Completion of the PM Certification Process
• Parsons Safety, Health and Risk Program (SHARP)
• Parsons Supervisory Training in Accident
  Reduction Techniques (START)
• Parsons Leadership and Management Program (LMP)
• Subsequent to Certification, PMs Can Register
  for the Parsons Advanced PM Workshop

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Certification is Based On Best Practices

• Risk Management
• Health and Safety
• Quality
• Contracts
• Project Finances
• Cash Flow
• Project Reporting
• Project Initiation
• Project Organization

• Schedule Development
• Budget Development and Control
• Earned Value Management
• Technical Control and Change Orders
• Project Closeout
• Leadership

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Vision for the Future

• Parallel PM Degree Program Through the Business
  School for Non-Technical PM
• Network with Other Companies and Industry
  to Further Develop the Program
• Investigate Relationship with Other Universities
  for Expansion of the Program
• Continual Improvement of Existing Program

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