This is part 4 in our 9 part series. We’re continuing our search for alternatives to MS Project by looking at our fourth project scheduling software option, Phoenix Project Manager.

Phoenix Project Manager

Company: Phoenix Project Management Systems

Synopsis: Engineers and construction project managers will appreciate Phoenix Project Manager for its robust project plan and project scheduling capabilities.  Not only does Phoenix Project Manager provide a platform for developing cost effective plans (which we all know is important), but the software’s attractive graphics and powerful functionality enable streamlined communication.  It is available in two formats, Professional and Express, giving you the power to select the best option for your scheduling and project management needs. And of course, it’s touted as a Staff Pick on Apple.com.

Key Features: You’ll find that the creators of Phoenix Project Manager were focused on ease of use, as the software is built on the “two clicks to complete” concept.  Equipped with a built in CPM checker, Phoenix Project Manager aims to inspect quality into schedule creation, and integrates with well with popular products such as Primavera and Microsoft Project.

Cost: $599.00 for one license of Phoenix 2.0 Express and $1,599.00 for one license of Phoenix 2.0 Professional.  You can test drive the software free for 30 days here.

Have you tried Phoenix Project Manager? Be sure to comment on this blog post and share your opinions!

I had the opportunity to interview fellow GWU MSPM graduate, Matthew Levy (@TheSocialPM on Twitter), to discuss his career transition from film student to project manager. He was kind enough to share his thoughts on similarities between film production and project management, how his Master’s Degree has impacted his career, and his favorite (and not so favorite) films.

The Green PM: What inspired you to make the transition from film production to project management?

Matthew Levy: Film school (for me) was more about a well rounded education in something I was interested in and might have some ability in. My education in film making covered old school film production (plan, film, edit, show), film theory, video production and very early computer assisted film production. Upon graduation, I did not feel a strong drive to go into the film industry, and ended up joining a start up in the broadcast news industry, that was attempted to deliver digital versions of satellite feeds, in an archived mpeg 2 format. This was in 1994, so it was a very big deal at the time. While not formally stated, everything we did there was project oriented. We were ahead of our time, in both being a start-up and then 3 years later going out of business. After that, I began a long career in IT and business operations that has led me to where I am today.

The Green PM: What similarities do you see between the two disciplines?

Matthew Levy: To my thinking, there are many similarities. All film projects are unique, have a start, middle and end (in spite of the fact that 4th Spiderman is being planned). They have specifically defined deliverables, objectives and constraints. In fact, the triple constraint fits them perfectly. I think it is highly debatable whether or not the forth constraint (quality) is applicable. What is more interesting to me, is that the old way of  editing film has aspects of a metaphor for project management. Once you develop your film, you cut it physically into segments and (depending on the length) hang it on a all and label the segments. You then spend a good deal of time considering how to splice them together. I am reminded of this process during the creation of the work breakdown and Gantt charts.

The Green PM: What was the biggest challenge that you faced when making the career switch?

Matthew Levy: I suppose that as I moved from that initial start-up and it became clear I was going to be mainly in IT and the business world, I had to give up the notion that I was going to get back to that other work. This was a emotional process for the most part. Otherwise (and because film is process oriented), I think the change was not that big a deal for me. When I eventually got around to grad school, realizing that I should have paid a lot more attention to mathematics (as I started grad level stats) was the worst part of that change.

The Green PM: How do you see project management being accepted as a viable career in the film industry?

Matthew Levy: Honestly I don’t know, since I never worked professionally in film production, but I suspect it is well accepted, though it might be at a subconscious level. In general, I think project management is seen in most industries as something that is clearly vital, but also often resented as ‘overhead’. The acceptance of project management as a serious and deeply needed role, is something I am committed to.

The Green PM: How has your Master’s in Project Management aided your career as a Project Manager?

Matthew Levy: I think and Master of Science is respected, regardless of the field. I believe pursuing and obtaining the MSPM clearly communicates my focus and expertise. In conjunction with my PMP and my experience, it sets me up as an expert source in my organization. I can not say that everything I learned has a place in the practical business world, but the MSPM has given me the internal knowledge and resource to bring not only the best project management to a project, but also the right project management for that project.

The Green PM: What do you feel makes a good project manager?

Matthew Levy: Honesty, ability to accept the role of the one who has to tell things as they are. Someone who wants to make sure there team is setup to work and then gets out of the way. Above all, someone who can take their ego out of things and make sure that communication is the center of all their work.

The Green PM: How do you see project management evolving over the next 5-10 years?

Matthew Levy: I see the world acknowledging me as the King of PM. OK, maybe not. This is very hard to say. I hope that in 5 to 10 years most small and mid-size organizations will have accepted project management as the replacement for the middle management structure (other than Operations). I hope that larger organizations and government will move more into Portfolio Management, where the right projects are being selected, not just technically successful ones. I think that virtual, cross cultural projects and team will continue to grow.

The Green PM: If there is one piece of advice that you could give a novice project manager, what would it be?

Matthew Levy: I’m not sure this is particular to PM, but I would tell them to listen to that little voice in their head that is nervous about something they are doing (or not doing). I can’t tell you the number of times (when things have gone wrong) that I realized I knew what was coming and could have stopped it if I had listened to my gut. Also, always get everyone’s opinion. You are not an expert in everything, but your team might be (as a team) and you should take advantage of that. Also, learn a new language if you don’t already speak 2 or more.

The Green PM: I hear you have a blog about project management. Tell me more about it.

Matthew Levy: At the moment it is dead, but at some point in the future I might restart it. I think I am more interested in doing some kind of podcast, since we live in this fantastic city, with all these amazing projects and professionals in it.

The Green PM: Finally, what is your favorite film and why?

Matthew Levy: This is an impossible question. I don’t like the same music I liked 5 years ago, and films are much the same for me. I think The Graduate has held up pretty well.  The extended cut of Apocalypse Now is even more disturbing than the original (maybe over the top). Alien and Blade Runner are still perfect. Blade Runner in particular is a surprise, because the ‘future’ has changed so much. I like films that capture a moment in time, that is they are accidentally a cultural record of a time. Salvador is great for that, I like The Odessa File as well, for that reason. The Year of Living Dangerously has a little bit of that. The first 15 minutes of Joe Versus the Volcano is a hilarious homage to Metropolis and the following 15 minutes are a sad but amusing comment on working in an office for a living (the film implodes shortly after that). The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is an amazing silent film, which was totally ripped off by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Sweet Smell of Success is a great none standard noir film. Burt Langcaster is fantastic in that one.

If you’re interested in IPMA’s certifications, don’t fret! I plan to have a mind map of those available soon.

After the jump, click on the graphic below to see the mind map on a larger scale.

1. Systems Engineer
2. Physician Assistant
3. College Professor
4. Nurse Practitioner
5. IT Project Manager
6. Certified Public Accountant
7. Physical Therapist
8. Computer/Network Security Consultant
9. Intelligence Analyst
10. Sales Director

What are your thoughts about this list?

Join us on Sunday, March 7th at 3:00pm Eastern Standard Time to follow the Twitterview live!  Please use hashtag #thegreenpm to follow the discussion or to ask a question. We encourage you to submit questions to us ahead of time by sending an email to info@thegreenpm.com. Don’t forget to include your Twitter handle!

We look forward to seeing you then. Feel free to check out Geoff’s website and blog and connect with him on Twitter.

Event: Project Managers on Twitter (#PMOT) Tweetup

Date: Thursday, February 18, 2010 @ 6:00 p.m.

Where: INOX Restaurant, 1800 Tysons Blvd Suite 70, McLean, VA 22102

INOX Restaurant Website: http://www.inoxrestaurant.com/

Twitter: @InoxRestaurant

Projector

Company: App4Mac (@app4mac on Twitter)

Synopsis: If you’re looking for project management software that makes it easy for you to calculate project costs and keep track of individual tasks, Projector is your solution. Although Projector was designed with ease of use and simplicity in mind, even the largest projects can take advantage of the software’s power and versatility. You can monitor resources, tasks, milestones, and processes with a user-friendly interface that is familiar to Mac users. The software is available in English, French, and German, and was listed as a Staff Pick on Apple.com.

Key Features: Some of the most important features of Projector are its slick, visual Gantt charts for project scheduling, crisp reporting, and “To-Do” list capabilities. You will also receive free technical support for 90 days with your purchase of Projector in case you need additional assistance. As a Mac user, we appreciate app4mac’s “free upgrades for a lifetime” feature, which allows users to remain up-to-date with new versions of Projector are released (WIN!).

Cost: 69 euros or $94.47 US dollars for a single license by direct download. Get it on CD for an additional fee.  Want a test drive? Download a trial of the software on app4mac’s website.

Have you tried Projector? Be sure to comment on this blog post and share your opinions!

I would encourage any professional that is exploring a career in project management to check out these programs. While formal education is only one component of many for success as a project manager, a project management certificate can help form a strong foundation in the basic principles and methodology.

Top Project Management Certificate Programs in the US and Abroad

1. INSEAD International Project Management Program (PROM): INSEAD offers executive education through the PROM program, a five-day program that would like to develop their skills in project management. The program focuses on improving team collaboration, building leadership skills, and assisting executives open to executives in mastering complexity versus uncertainty. PROM is offered from June 6-10, 2010 and you can enroll at http://bit.ly/74STUR. I would recommend speaking to your employer about corporate sponsorship, as the tuition is 8,200 € or approximately $11,234 USD.

2. The University of Chicago Project Management Strategy Certificate Program: The University of Chicago offers a basic and advanced certificate in project management in response to emerging needs for trained project managers. Participants should already have familiarity with the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). PMP certified professionals can also earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) for the program. Courses are taught in downtown Chicago. Each course in the certificate program is $1350 for early registration.

3. Stanford Advanced Project Management Program: The Stanford Advanced Project Management Certificate Program offers advanced education for project and program managers to execute business strategies. Participants will take 3 core and 3 elective classes, covering topics such as Converting Strategy Into Action, Financial Mastery for Projects, and Leading Effective Teams. Upon earning your certificate, you will be granted the Stanford Certified Project Manager credential. Online courses in the program are available for $950/course and $2600/course on campus.

4. UC Berkeley Certificate in Project Management: If you are a current project manager or aspire for a career in project management, this program is for you. This program offers both an online and campus component for instruction. While there are no prerequisites for the program (bachelor’s degree is recommended), students will be required to complete 6 courses to earn their certificate. The estimated cost of the certificate is $4200 – $4700.

5. University of Virginia Certificate in Project Management: At the University of Virginia, project and program managers can build their project management competencies while sharing best practices with fellow students.  The 8-course certificate is available online or at the Northern Virginia Center, and focuses on building a solid project management foundation while introducing courses such as IT systems project management and the PMBOK review. Cost information for this program can be obtained by contacting the Program Director, Russell Lentner, at rlentner@virginia.edu.

6. Georgetown University Certificate in Project Management: Georgetown University offers the Certificate in Project Management as a Registered Education Provider with PMI. This certificate program is built upon the principles of the PMBOK while blending real-world practices required of project managers. If you are looking to take earn your PMP credential, this certificate will satisfy the 35 contact hour requirement for the application. Admissions to the program are available on a rolling basis. Cost information can be obtained by contacting the Program Director by sending an email to ccpeprojmgmt@georgetown.edu.

Although we have highlighted a few of the available project management certificates available worldwide, we encourage you to research other programs and choose the one that is right for you. For more information on project management certificates and degrees, feel free to follow me on Twitter @TheGreenPM – Fresh Perspectives on Project Leadership.

Here are some of my takeaways from the show that I believe are directly applicable to successful project managers and leaders today:

1. No job is too small or too big: Project managers can get their hands dirty too (literally in the pilot episode).  Sometimes to fully understand the level of effort required of your team members to get the job done, a project manager must step into their shoes.  On the flip side, wouldn’t it be interesting to have some of our project team members serve as project manager for a day? What would that look like?
2. Recognize the work of unsung heroes: At one time or another, I’m sure every project manager’s had that one team member who always stayed late to help complete a deliverable, assisted other team members when they need help, or volunteered for less desirable tasks? Sometimes, recognizing the work of team members is more than just a hand written thank you note. Try to go above and beyond to show appreciation for those unsung heroes that continually exceed team member expectations. What I enjoyed about this episode was that Mr. O’Donnell had the opportunity to experience what his employees endure every day which gave him a holistic picture of real life at Waste Management. He was able to make commitments to change the culture at his company, and even offer a promotion and raise to those employees that deserved it. Employee engagement is the key to project success.
3. Be visible and available: “I have a project manager, but I never see her.” I remember one of my co-workers complaining about how absent their project manager was and how her absence gave their project team a negative impression.  Responses to email requests from the project manager took up to three weeks and returned phone calls were impossible. As project leaders, there’s more to leading and managing than delegation.  Simply walking around your office floor and chatting with your project team isn’t enough, and certainly isn’t project leadership. Be available when your project team needs you, and vice versa.

On the other hand, how do you think the CEO of your company would fare as a project manager on your project? What did you think about Undercover Boss? Comment on this blog post and share your opinions!