PM Point of View

“Innovation: When 100% is not the Goal” with Oliver Schlake and Michael Hannan

“Innovation.” A simple word with so many characteristics: Evolutionary versus revolutionary, open versus closed. Innovation reaches far beyond the common concept of new technology or “innovative approaches.”

It comes from culture, diverse team design, leadership, encouragement, risk and accountability. The innovative environment can be harnessed, linked to strategic planning, and ultimately, planned for – and PMs play a big role in making innovation real in their organizations.

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Project Management Point-of-View (PM-POV), a podcast series produced by the Washington DC Chapter of the Project Management Institute, allows our membership and the public at large to listen to brief and informative conversations with beltway area practioners and executives as they discuss various perspectives on project management-- its uses, its shortcomings, its changes, and its future. Listens can send comments and suggestions for topics and guests to: [email protected].

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You can earn 0.25 Category "A" PDUs for each PM-POV podcast you listen to.

Use the following information in PMI's CCRS system to register the PDUs for this podcast:

• PDU Category: Cat A: Registered Education Provider/PMI Component
• Activity Type: "Report a Component 1-2 PDU Event"
• Provider Number: C046
• Activity Number: 04272015PC

» More PM-POV Episodes About the Speakers Oliver Schlake Robert H. Smith School of Business Clinical Professor Dr. Oliver Schlake is a Clinical Professor at Robert H. Smith School of Business, a senior business consultant, entrepreneur and researcher. His publications and research on scenario-based strategic planning and innovation strategy have been featured in leading academic and practitioner journals worldwide. Oliver has been an international management consultant and strategic advisor for leading companies and government agencies in Europe and North-America. Prior to joining the Smith School he was Assistant Professor for E-Business at National University, San Diego and CEO for German based consulting firm Scenario Management International (ScMI AG). Michael Hannan, PMP Fortezza Consulting, LLC Principal Consultant & Founder

Mike Hannan is Founder & Principal Consultant at Fortezza Consulting, a management consulting firm whose innovative techniques help organizations achieve dramatic improvements in project portfolio performance. Mike brings nearly 25 years’ experience as a Consulting Executive, IT Project Portfolio and Program Manager, Process Engineer, and Software Architect, and still doesn’t know what he wants to do when he grows up. His background in Project Portfolio Management (PPM) started at NASA in the early 1990s supporting large, complex initiatives such as the International Space Station and High-Performance Computing & Communications (HPCC) programs. Since then he has managed and consulted on $500M+ project portfolios, and trained CIOs and other senior executives in Federal Civilian, Military, and Commercial environments. He is also the author of the recent best-selling book, “The CIO’s Guide to Breakthrough Project Portfolio Performance.”

Featuring Lisa Blumerman, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Associate Director for the Decennial Census Programs, this episode takes us on a tour of the portfolio of projects that lead up to the US Census, conducted every ten years. Harnessing the power of constantly evolving technology, along with strong PM and portfolio practices, the Census Bureau strives to reduce costs while maintaining the rich value and accuracy of the data it collects. It’s part of the foundation of our democracy, and at its core, it’s a project.

Project Management Point-of-View (PM-POV), a podcast series produced by the Washington DC Chapter of the Project Management Institute, allows our membership and the public at large to listen to brief and informative conversations with beltway area practioners and executives as they discuss various perspectives on project management-- its uses, its shortcomings, its changes, and its future. Listens can send comments and suggestions for topics and guests to: [email protected].

PDU Information

You can earn Category "A" PDUs for each PM-POV podcast you listen to — over 6.25 PDUs by listening to the entire series!

Use the following information in PMI's CCRS system to register the PDUs for this podcast:

• PDU Category: Cat A: Registered Education Provider/PMI Component
• Activity Type: "Report a Component 1-2 PDU Event"
• Provider Number: C046
• Activity Number: PMPOV0021
• PDUs for this episode: 0.5

» More PM-POV Episodes About the Speaker Lisa M. Blumerman U.S. Census Bureau Associate Director for Decennial Census Programs

Lisa Blumerman is the U.S. Census Bureau’s Associate Director for the Decennial Census Programs. She provides executive leadership and direction for the 2020 Census, the American Community Survey and for the Census Bureau’s Geographic Programs.

From 2008 through 2013, Blumerman was Chief of the Governments Division at the Census Bureau. She was responsible for overseeing data collection and the development and release of statistics on the characteristics and key indicators of our nation's federal, state and local governments. In this capacity, Blumerman directed and managed the Census of Governments and 25 annual and quarterly surveys that measure government activity.

Blumerman has worked at the Census Bureau since 1997. She has served as chief of the Customer Liaison and Marketing Services Office; deputy chief of the American Community Survey Office; the administrative records coordinator in the Policy Office; and chief of the Population Estimates Branch. Before coming to the Census Bureau, she served as a senior research analyst for the American Public Welfare Association.

Blumerman is a recipient of the Arthur S. Flemming Award for exceptional achievement in federal government service. The U.S. Department of Commerce has honored her contributions by awarding her a silver and two bronze medals for distinguished service in the federal government. She holds a master's degree in demography from Georgetown University and a bachelor's degree in sociology with a concentration in population studies from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

The 9/11 boat lift in New York City and the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-56 were both hugely successful projects, with important lessons for Project Managers. The leaders did speedy but effective planning and set clear goals. They hit all the milestones, and adapted as they went along. They communicated effectively and strategically. They were alert to risks and responded swiftly and decisively. In this episode we hear from two project managers who have studied these historic events through a project lens.

Listen, learn, and get a free PDU! PDU Information

Use the following information in PMI’s CCRS system to register the PDUs for this podcast:

• PDU Category: Online or Digital Media
• Provider Number: 4634
• PDU Claim Code: 4634SUUQ11
• Activity Number: PMPOV0075
• PDUs for this episode: 1

About the Speakers:

Mike Hannan is a leading-edge thinker and renegade who believes that we all must do more to unleash our boundless potential and solve increasingly complex global issues. He envisions a community-centric, expert-guided “power-to-the-edge” solution to most of these issues. He is a frequent speaker at annual corporate conferences, PMI events, and in the Agile & DevOps communities, with extensive experience coaching & training portfolio executives, PMO leaders,and PMs, and is lead author of the best-selling book, The CIO’s Guide to Breakthrough Project Portfolio Performance.

Shaun M. Simms, PMP, SAFe, PMO-CP, CSSGB, constantly seeks to find an individual's strength to empower them, and in the process improve organizations. An award winning project manager with a portfolio over $1B, his favorite projects are those that bring equity to our society. He is intrigued by the power of projects to change the world, and the unity it can bring teams. Shaun is currently on the Board of Directors for PMI Metro St. Louis, and the Advisory Board for Missouri State University's CX Certification.

Where do projects go wrong? What tendencies or approaches of Project Managers are NOT helpful to executives? What do they want their PMs to focus on more? How can PMs move up the ladder? In the second part of our 2-part series from the C-Suite, we get the scoop directly from a group of executives, representing a wide swath of enterprises.

Listen, learn, and get a free PDU!

PDU Information

Use the following information in PMI’s CCRS system to register the PDUs for this podcast:

• PDU Category: Online or Digital Media
• Provider Number: 4634
• Activity Number: PMPOV0082
• PDUs for this episode: 1

About the Speakers

Jeffrey Goldman is the CEO of GoldSentinel, which he founded in 2015 to address the growing need for better decision making through insight discovery. Prior to his current position, Jeffrey launched and led GoldBot Consulting, Inc., growing the company to a thriving multi-million dollar software development and analytic business.

Tom Klaff is a passionate entrepreneur and angel investor who has founded, led and sold six technology startups over a 25-year career. He is currently co-founder and CEO of Revolution Cooking, LLC, a technology platform company that designs, markets, and sells high-speed cooking appliances powered by its proprietary InstaGloTM Fast Heating System.

Ken Loy has been CEO at Hensoldt, Inc. since its inception in 2018. As a Defense Industry veteran, Ken led engineering development programs and business development accounts for Lockheed Martin Corporation, Engility Corporation and Georgetown University.

Jeff Mascott is CEO at Adfero, a communications agency with an entrepreneurial mindset. Prior to launching Adfero, Jeff co-founded Fireside 21, a leading provider of CRM and web services to the U.S. Congress. He formerly led digital strategy for Congressman J.C. Watts, Jr., Chairman of the House Republican Congress.

Erin Pitera is the CEO of FMP Consulting, a strategic management consulting firm that delivers evidence-based workforce and organizational management solutions. As CEO, Erin Pitera provides strategic leadership and direction over FMP’s organizational performance by driving long-term business growth and providing exemplary client service.

Jeff Powell is the CEO of Strongbridge LLC, a government IT services provider. Mr. Powell has over 30 years of experience in government contracting, having led both small and large businesses in bidding, winning, and operating IT infrastructure and software development projects.

Pat Sheridan is co-founder and Managing Partner of Modus Create, a global consulting firm that helps global 1000 businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Founded in 2011, Modus Create has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the United States for the past five years in a row.

Trevor Willby founded T-Rex in 1999 with a focus on long-term value creation powered by successful client delivery and employee successes. T-Rex Solutions is a proven mid-tier business, delivering next generation IT solutions for large enterprise transformation and modernization Cloud based efforts.

Steve Williams is president of Pentagon Strategies, LLC. He has decades of experience in defense and aerospace, and is an expert in global teaming, multi-national programs, and government-industrial relations. As a CEO, Steve grew a private Transatlantic company to qualify as a top 100 global defense firm and named the F-35 Fighter Aircraft Supplier of the Year.

What's the difference between preparation mindset and performance mindset? Did you ever consider that accountability should run horizontally as well as vertically? What's the point of constantly drilling on the basics? (Once you know them can't you simply move on?) What does it mean to hire for enhancement, and can one plus one actually equal three? Alan Stein, Jr., a former basketball coach, keynote speaker, and author of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets of the Best of the Best, and Brian Levenson, podcaster and mental performance coach, discuss what it takes for individuals and teams to reach peak performance.

Listen, learn, and get a free PDU!

PDU Information

Earn education PDUs in the PMI Talent Triangle for each podcast.

Use the following information in PMI’s CCRS system to register the PDUs for this podcast:

• PDU Category: Online or Digital Media
• Provider Number: 4634
• PDU Claim Code: 4634QX4BDR
• Activity Number: PMPOV0062
• PDUs for this episode: 1

About the Speakers

Alan Stein, Jr. is a coach, speaker and author with an expertise in improving organizational performance, cohesion and accountability. He spent 15+ years working with the highest performing basketball players on the planet, including NBA superstar Kevin Durant.

He now travels the world teaching organizations how to utilize the same strategies in business that elite athletes use to perform at a world-class level. Alan’s new book, Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets of the Best of the Best, is a must-read for executives, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Brian Levenson obtained his Masters in Sport Psychology from John F. Kennedy University, completing his thesis on home court advantage in the NBA. The research provided him the opportunity to interview NBA players on the differences between playing at home and on the road. That experience helped form a foundation for his work with clients on the challenges of transitioning to new environments. As a coach, Brian believes in working with the client to continue to strengthen their strengths and to turn their weaknesses into strengths.