Building Project Managers for Tomorrow

1
Building Project Managers for Tomorrow

• Ron Schroeder, MBA
• DST Systems, Inc.
• Co-Presenter Dudley Nevins
• DST Systems, Inc.
• PDS02 Project Management for Kids

2
Agenda

• Purpose
• Why PM for Kids Baby Boomers Retirement
• Kansas City PM Project
• Implementation
• Student Projects
• Lessons Learned
• How to Implement Programs

3
Purpose

• To bring awareness of the upcoming labor shortage
  and the potential impact on Project Management.
• Grow Project Managers for tomorrow.

4
Baby Boomers Exit

• Represents 43 of Americas workforce (Garten,
  2005)
• Need to fill skilled labor positions
• Need to transfer their experience, knowledge, and
  skills to the younger generation

5
Are we ready?
1 Cicero, David and Sauer, Jennifer H. AARP
Arizona Poll of Employers Perceptions of an
Aging Workforce Trend. Washington D.C. Feb. 2007
lthttp//www.aarp.org/research/gt
6
Project Management for Kids

• What did we do?
• Community Project
• 7th 8th Graders
• 9 week course
• Inner city charter school funded by Gates
  Foundation
• Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy (LATCA)
• Expeditionary Learning School (ELS)

7
Managing the Project

• Chair selected to organize and manage committees.
  
• Curriculum
• Funding
• Program Manager
• PMs assigned to each PMI knowledge area
• Weekly status meetings
• Onsite school visits
• Close interaction with the project sponsor
  (School Principal)

8
Committee Roles/Responsibilities

• Curriculum Committee
• Curriculum design
• Lesson plan development
• Assessment criteria (assignments, quizzes, and
  final project)
• Funding Committee
• Request for funding
• Kansas City Mid-America Local Chapter of PMI

9
Implementation

• Program Manager facilitated courses
• Planned transition to school business teacher
• Administration and teachers meetings
• Teachers selected 12 students
• Pilot program first 9 weeks
• Improvements and recommendations
• Implementation next 9 weeks

10
Student Projects

• Planning for the Supply Store
• 3 teams / 3 departments
• Project Objective
• Project Scope
• Human Resources
• Work Breakdown Structure
• Cost Procurement
• Quality Risk
• Project Closure

11
Preparing for Presentations

• Parent and Administration Invitations
• PowerPoint Presentation Development
• Certification Awards
• Party Planning
• DST Team Support

12
Class Presentations
13
PMI Methodology

• Development of Scope Statement
• Research of cost of materials required
• Identification of quality standards
• Identification of associated project risk factors
• Identification of human resources required
• Development of communications matrix
• Identification of procurement vendors
• High level milestone scheduling

14
Assessment

• Course Quizzes
• Team Projects
• Uniform Department
• School Supply Department
• School Paraphernalia
• Final Team Presentation

15
Positive Lessons Learned (Pilot)

• Project team commitment
• Onsite to facilitate the initial classes
• Curriculum preparation and planning
• Early interaction with school staff
• Effective communication with all stakeholders
• Principals support and commitment
• Student class success

16
Lessons Learned Improvements

• Onsite teacher commitment (adequate workload and
  motivation to teach PM)
• PMI member onsite to teach future classes with
  other PMI volunteers
• Schedule appropriate class time for students
• Changed class structure to (2) days per week for
  1 hour 15 minutes per class
• Encourage school participation in project
  meetings
• Consider project meetings onsite at the school
• Check the school calendar
• Scheduled makeup sessions on different days

17
Whats Next?

• Future of LATCA Classes
• PMI KC Mid-America Chapter ongoing support
• Principal to budget for part-time instructor
• Onsite PMI member to facilitate course with
  assistance from other volunteers

18
How to Implement in the Public School System?

• Im Just a Bill.
• Pilot Program
• Sponsor
• Principals meeting http//www.school-house-rock
  .com/Bill.html

19
Project Related Programs

• Expeditionary Learning Schools (ESL)
• Project-Based Learning (PBL)
• Project Lead the Way (PTLW)

20
What Can Be Done?

• Offer to speak to students about PM careers
• Setup PMI tables on career day
• Implement programs in secondary schools
• Develop the volunteer project team
• Contact local chapters and SIGs for funding
• Contact the principals of the schools
• Offer to start the program voluntarily
• Follow-up and monitor ongoing success

21
What to Do!

• Select a school to target
• Establish communications with the school
  principal and gain verbal approval for the
  program
• Identify and request funding (if required)
• Identify the project team (solicit for
  volunteers)
• Develop project plans and schedules
• Develop or modify existing curriculum
• Implement pilot to identify improvements
• Production implementation

22
What Does it Take?

• Dedicated individuals set out on a purpose
• Achieve a defined goal
• Opportunity for additional schools is present.
• Desire
• Commitment

23
Contact Information

• Name Ron Schroeder
• Co-Presenter Dudley Nevins
• Email rds4547_at_hotmail.com
• Co-Presenter dudley.nevins_at_argushealth.com
• Phone [phone]
• Co-Presenter 816.843.5746
• Session PDS02 Project Management for Kids