January 2012
Feature Articles
Video
■ PMI Asia Pacific Events Offer Local
Learning and Networking Opportunities
Project milestones,
challenges and
achievements of GSP-6
Project discussed.
Watch video
■ Samsung Engineering Receives PMI
Distinguished Project Award for GSP-6
Project
What's New
Upcoming Events Highlights
■ Asia Pacific Events Calendar
Project Management Highlights
■ New Malaysian Standards Expected to
Improve Project Delivery
Marketplace
■ Improve Project Performance through
Earned Value Management
Asia Pacific Regional Service Centre
■ Updates to the Program Management
Professional (PgMP)® Credential Exam
■ New Videos Offer Certification Holders a Fast,
Convenient Way to Earn PDUs
■ You're in Good Company
■ PMI® Registered Education Providers (New
R.E.P.s)
Community Updates
■ 2011 PMI Community Awards Recognise Top
Communities and Volunteers
■ Contact Information
Past Events (November – December 2011)
■ Suggestions for the Editor
■ PMI Jakarta, Indonesia Chapter Holds Inaugural
International Symposium & Exhibition
Feature Articles
PMI Asia Pacific Events Offer Local Learning and Networking Opportunities
This was an exciting year for project practitioners in the Asia Pacific region because PMI was able to support
seven events that offered learning and networking opportunities in focused geographic locations. Professionals
not only learned tips to improve their performance but also learned about how PMI advocates for the profession
in the region.
Here is a snapshot of the 2011 Asia Pacific Regional events.
Date
Event
Chapter
City,
Country
Attended
by
Theme
5–7 July
PMINZ
National
Conference
PMI New
Zealand
Chapter
Auckland,
New
Zealand
350
Innovate to Succeed:
Explore the Possibilities
16–17 July
PMI Japan
Forum
PMI Japan
Chapter
Tokyo,
Japan
800
Evolution of Project
Management
- Development through
"Glocalization"
8–10
September
PMI India
National
Conference
Bangalore,
India
1000
Architecting Project
Management for Nation
Building.
16–17
SeptemberM
PMI China
Congress
Beijing,
China
1200
Project Management
Shifts the Future
24
September
PMI Asia
Pacific
Regional
Project
Management
Forum- Hong
Kong
PMI Hong
Kong
Chapter
Hong Kong
250
Impact of Cultural
Diversity in Project
Management: How to be
a Successful Project
Manager in a MultiNational and MultiCultural Environment
4–6
November
PMI Taiwan
International
Congress
PMI
Taipei,
Taiwan
Chapter
Kaohsiung,
Taiwan
350
Post-ECFA, The New
Era of Project
Management Connecting the World
14–15
November
PMI
Singapore
Regional
Symposium
PMI
Singapore
Chapter
Singapore
800
PMI moved from hosting one global congress for the entire region to supporting several localised events in
collaboration with its chapters in an effort to serve its membership more directly so cultural, language and
geographic barriers no longer deterred its them from attending.
By supporting regional events, PMI was able to provide relevant content in four languages; hold the events in
closer proximity to its membership concentrations; and actively participate in outreach efforts to the public,
business and academic sectors, who contributed to the success of the events.
In addition, directors of the PMI Board of Directors and representatives from PMI’s Executive Management
Group attended these events and took the opportunities to share insights and best practices on project
management excellence and competencies.
While events were each distinct in line with local needs, there were a number of recurring themes.
Project Management Success Across Borders
In Hong Kong, Brian Weiss, vice president Practitioner Markets, PMI, spoke on “Distributed Project Teams” and
highlighted the increasing use of mobile communications, Internet-based project management tools and social
networking software to execute projects. He also shared strategies on how these dispersed teams can
overcome the cultural and linguistic differences that may act as barriers.
The theme of cultural diversity was also touched on by several other speakers, including Raymond Cheng, chief
technology and services officer Asia Pacific of HSBC, who shared his knowledge about cross-cultural behaviour
and skills that he acquired throughout his time at HSBC.
The Japan Forum’s theme was “Evolution of Project Management—Development through Glocalisation.” For
the first time, the forum featured a global track with more than 10 sessions on topics such as global project
management strategies and global trends in project management training.
Regional Collaboration within the Greater China Region
At the Taiwan Congress, there was a panel discussion engaged on the trends and developments in the Greater
China region.
The panel examined strategies for collaboration between Taiwan and China in the post-Economic Cooperation
Framework Agreement (ECFA) era and shared the key roles expected of project managers and discussed what
challenges and synergies lie ahead.
Post-Disaster Recovery Management
Another interesting topic was post-disaster recovery management. The Japan Chapter translated PMI Project
Management Methodology for Post Disaster Reconstruction (PMMPDR) into Japanese and shared it with the
audience in light of the tsunami and earthquakes that hit the country in March 2011.
Mike Alford, senior director, Nimsoft & Cloud Solutions Division, CA Technologies Japan, Ltd., presented on
”Post-Disaster Japan, the Cloud and Critical Importance of Innovative PM in Restoring Japan to Global
Leadership.”
All the Asia Pacific regional events were a grand success. PMI is pleased to announce that the events will
continue in 2012. The details of the events will be posted on PMI.org when they are announced.
Advocation of project management in various Asia Pacific regions
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Samsung Engineering Receives 2011 PMI Distinguished Project Award for
GSP-6 Project
Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd (SECL) was recently
honoured with the 2011 PMI Distinguished Project Award for
its PTT Gas Separation Plant #6 project (GSP-6). The award
was presented by PMI President and CEO, Mark A. Langley
to Samsung Engineering’s President and CEO, Park KiSeok at an official ceremony on 1 December 2011 in Seoul,
South Korea.
Located in Rayong, Thailand, the GSP-6 project is the
world’s largest gas separation plant and recovers ethane,
propane, and other components from natural gas. The plant
Mr Langley presenting the award to the CEO and
powers Thailand’s growing petrochemical, commercial,
Vice President of Samsung Engineering
domestic and transport markets. Samsung Engineering’s
project team handled the project management, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning
work on a lump-sum turn-key basis.
Several challenges were identified, which placed safety, schedule and cost at risk throughout the project. One
of the biggest challenges included the shortages in labour, equipment and materials due to four ongoing
projects that were similar in scope, scale and construction schedules. The project was also suspended for 11
months after an injunction was issued by the Supreme Court of Thailand for an environmental and health
assessment.
With PMI standards, effective project risk management and project human resource management skills, the
team was able to successfully complete the project with 19,304,700 accident-free man-hours on time and under
budget.
“Samsung Engineering’s project clearly illustrates how project management standards and practices can fuel
innovation that enables successful completion of projects at all levels,” said Mr. Langley, “This demonstrates
best practice solutions that show ingenuity, tenacity and flexibility, as well as effective stakeholder engagement.
PMI commends PTT, Samsung Engineering and the entire project team for these outstanding results.”
How Samsung Engineering met these challenges
Approximately 70 percent of the project managers selected had
worked on projects similar to GSP-6 so as to minimise any
learning curve errors and mistakes that could occur in the areas of
cost, scheduling and design.
To prevent a shortage of manpower, a memorandum of
understanding was signed with the subcontractor a year in
advance so as to provide sufficient time in gathering available
labourers for the plant construction.
GSP-6 project is the largest gas separation
plant in the world
Managing communication between teams that are geographically
dispersed can be challenging. To facilitate smooth communication
between the teams in Seoul and Thailand, Samsung developed the “Project Portal,” an online tool that aids
project status visibility to the client, project managers, vendors and team members. The teams are able to
organise data, monitor procurement schedules, manage manpower as well as track progress and anticipate
issues that may impact the project.
In view of the tight schedule and potential delay of construction during Thailand’s rainy season, a large
removable tent was used to cover the plant and construction areas. This enabled construction to continue
despite six months of heavy rain. In addition, the engineering phase of the project was shortened to initiate
construction sooner to meet the aggressive 30-month schedule. This was done by employing concurrent
engineering, where several engineering teams of different disciplines proceeded simultaneously.
Leveraging all nine Knowledge Areas from A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®
Guide)—Fourth Editionas the foundation for its internal methodologies, Samsung Engineering used several key
project integration methods, such as combining project teams from GSP-6 and Ethane Separation Plant. The
integration of multiple construction contracts and subcontractors allows increased efficiency through sharing of
equipment, manpower and more.
Samsung Engineering cited project risk management,
project communications management and project human
resources management as instrumental in the successful
delivery of this project. The techniques, processes and
lessons learned from the project were recorded and
reviewed to ensure the same best practices are applied to
achieve success in future projects. With a strong foundation
of PMI's project management practices, Samsung
Engineering has been able to build a strong track record of
projects in Thailand and raise its profile in the region.
Honour the great work of your colleagues or organisations. Get recognised for your work. Please visit
PMI.org/Awards and join us in celebrating project management excellence.
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Project Management Hightlights
New Malaysian Standards Expected to Improve Project Delivery
Industry leaders believe that the introduction of the Malaysian Civil Engineering Standard Method of
Measurement by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) will improve project delivery and reduce
risks.
The document is set almost to the international standard and would guide the construction industry to be more
prudent in planning and cost management.
The full text is available through PM Port®. PM Port helps you keep in touch with your profession through PMI’s
online global news service powered by LexisNexis.
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Community Updates
2011 PMI Community Awards Recognise Top Communities and Volunteers
Recipients of the 2011 PMI Community Awards were honoured at a special awards celebration at the PMI
Leadership Institute Meeting in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA in October 2011.
PMI recognises the efforts of individuals, chapters and communities of practice who have displayed outstanding
commitment and leadership in supporting the excellent programmes, projects and activities that have led to the
continued success of the Institute and PMI communities around the world.
Asia Pacific e-Link shines the spotlight on the award winners from the Asia Pacific region.
PMI Volunteer of the Year
Chapter Category III: Amithanand D’Silva, PMP, of the PMI Mumbai Chapter
Mr. D’Silva put his talent to work when he led the team that planned and executed the PMI India Project
Management National Conference, an annual three-day professional development event catering to over 700
delegates, with 32 speaker sessions, four keynotes and two panel discussions. In this role, he displayed superb
leadership through collaboration, planning and dedication to a superior event experience.
Chapter Category IV: Sunanda Gundavajhala, PMP, of the PMI Pearl City, Hyderabad Chapter
Through her efforts, Ms. Gundavajhala implemented a programme that helps rural women understand the basic
skills for managing finances, investments, savings and basic bookkeeping and becoming self-reliant in
managing their small businesses. She developed a proposal to provide project management skills to be used
for setting up support systems to help women and students improve their economic status in a sustainable
manner.
PMI Community Award for Chapter of the Year
Chapter Category II: PMI Pearl City, Hyderabad Chapter
PMI Pearl City, Hyderabad Chapter leadership used strategic planning to grow the chapter and deliver value to
its community. Volunteer development, coupled with training and recognition activities, enhanced the
productivity of the chapter, attracting over 100 volunteers, which makes up 10 percent of the chapter
membership.
Local outreach meetings and a comprehensive calendar of events help to enrich all involved project
management practitioners. Chapter President Suresh Chandra, PMP, noted one of the chapter’s objectives is to
create a volunteer powerhouse comprised of at least 25 percent of our membership base. To provide various
opportunities to volunteers, we have launched society developmental initiatives in advocacy and
implementation of project management and leadership knowledge.”
Chapter Category III: PMI Mumbai Chapter
PMI Mumbai Chapter demonstrated its outreach commitment among different stakeholders in its region and
provided outstanding service to its membership. Volunteers established clear communication channels to their
membership through newsletters, brochures, press releases, its website, a Yahoo group, and the social media
outlets LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. The chapter’s business and operation plans aligned to PMI’s strategy
and its operational manual provided clear guidelines for chapter operations.
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What's New
Updates to the Program Management Professional (PgMP)® Credential Exam
The Program Management Professional (PgMP)® credential will be updated on 1 February 2012, based on the
results of the recent Role Delineation Study (RDS). The PgMP® RDS is the foundation on which this
professional credential is based. Learn more about the PgMP RDS.
What do I need to know about the changes to the PgMP credential and examination?
• The release date for the new PgMP exam has been changed from 1 January to 1 February, to
accommodate the testing needs of PgMP candidates currently in the pipeline. The last day to take the
current PgMP examination will be 20 January.
• As with any credential exam update that results from an RDS, exam reports will not be available to
candidates immediately after they take the new exam. Candidates who take the exam after 1 February
will receive exam reports by the end of May. This delay is required in order to validate the new exam
structure. Once the new exam structure is validated, candidates will again receive their results
immediately after completing the exam.
• To implement the new exam efficiently, candidates will not be able to sit for the PgMP exam between 21
January and 31 January. This period where the exam will be temporarily unavailable ensures Prometric
facilities are appropriately administering the new PgMP exam across all testing centres globally on 1
February.
Get more information about the PgMP exam update.
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New Videos Offer Certification Holders a Fast, Convenient Way to Earn PDUs
Does your busy schedule make it difficult to find the time to earn the professional development units (PDUs)
needed to maintain your PMI certification? Consider the new video-based PMI® Publication Quizzes — a quick,
inexpensive and entertaining way to earn PDUs!
In this interactive format, you watch a bundle of one, two or three short videos on project-related topics and
answer a quiz to test what you have just learned. Pass the quiz, and you will earn PDU credits! You may go
back to review the videos throughout the quizzing process.
These new video quizzes join the dozens of article-based quizzes also available through the PMI Marketplace.
The article publication quizzes feature PMI-published articles and papers from sources like PM Network®
magazine, Project Management Journal® and papers from events, including PMI® Global Congresses.
Purchase an article/quiz bundle, read the materials, then take an open-book quiz online. Credential holders
have three tries to complete the quiz.
At a cost of between US$10–20 for PMI members, Publication Quizzes are entertaining and budget-friendly.
They are part of PMI’s e-Learning on demand offerings that allow you to learn and earn PDUs from the
convenience of your computer. Take any quiz, anytime, anywhere with Internet access.
PMI Publication Quizzes cover a variety of topics in the fields of project and program management.
Browse the quizzes and take advantage of this convenient, affordable way to earn PDUs toward your credential
maintenance.
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Past Events
PMI Jakarta, Indonesia Chapter Holds Inaugural International Symposium &
Exhibition
PMI Jakarta, Indonesia Chapter recently hosted its inaugural
project management International Symposium & Exhibition,
SymEx 2011, from 7–8 December in Bali, Indonesia.
Over 150 delegates gathered at the Laguna Resort Hotel to
network and build on their knowledge with renowned experts and
other project management professionals.
In his opening speech, PMI Jakarta, Indonesia Chapter President,
Mohammad Ichsan, PMP, stressed the importance of project
management development for practitioners in Indonesia. Dr.
Achmad Hermanto Dardak, MSc, vice minister of Public Works of
Indonesia, said project managers have a fundamental role in delivering infrastructure projects that open
economic corridors for Indonesia.
Sharing of best practices to project
management practitioners of Indonesia
Delegates learned about how project management offices (PMOs) can more effectivelysupport the execution of
projects and programmes in the telecommunications industry and deliver substantial value to the project
manager.
The symposium also featured PMI Japan Chapter’s President, Hirotoshi Kamba, PMP, who shared the
chapter’s successful adoption of PMI Project Management Methodology for Post Disaster Reconstruction
(PMMPDR) to recover from the East Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster earlier this year.
Dr. Bambang Susantono, PhD, vice minister of Transportation of Indonesia, closed the event highlighting how
project management skills are vital in delivering successful transportation infrastructure projects in Indonesia.
Delegates have benefited through the project experiences that experts shared. As delegates have shared the
benefits of PMI and chapter membership, some non-member attendees have decided to join PMI and the PMI
Jakarta, Indonesia chapter.
PMI Jakarta, Indonesia Chapter is honoured to have the respective speakers, delegates, and sponsors at its
inaugural symposium and look forward to featuring more experts and discussions at the SymEx 2012.
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Marketplace
Improve Project Performance through Earned Value Management
Title:
Publisher:
Description:
Practice Standard for Earned Value Management — Second
Edition
Project Management Institute
Is work being accomplished as planned?
Is it costing as planned?
What is the remaining work likely to cost?
As a project management professional, it is critical to know the
answers to these questions.
It is even more critical to be able to identify where the problems
occur, how critical the problems are and what it will take to get the
project back on track.
This is where earned value management (EVM) methodology can
fill a vital need.
The Practice Standard for Earned Value Management — Second
Edition expands on the earned value information in A Guide to
the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)
— Fourth Edition. It incorporates project scope, schedule and
costs, and the process is applicable across many Knowledge
Areas and Process Groups.
This practice standard is intended for anyone who wants to better
develop his or her project management toolset and know how to
potentially improve project performance through the use of
earned value.
This book can be purchased at the PMI member price of US$44.75 at PMI Marketplace today. To purchase
from your favourite local and online bookstores, use the 13-digit ISBN (9781935589358) to locate and order this
title.
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You're in Good Company
There are 59,052 members in the PMI Asia
Pacific region as of November 2011,
representing over 15 percent of the total PMI
membership.
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New R.E.P.s in Asia Pacific
Welcome New R.E.P.s in Asia Pacific:
• Beijing Wow Project Management Consulting Co., Ltd (BWMC) – China, Mainland
www.wowproject.org
• CTC Technology Corporation – Japan www.school.ctc-g.co.jp
• ETM Consultancy and Training Pty Ltd – Australia www.etmmanagementtraining.com
• JEEES Enterprise Solutions – India www.icsl.in
• JSOL Corporation – Japan www.jsol.co.jp
• Karunya University – India www.karunya.edu
• Rich Consultants Ltd. – Taiwan (Republic of China)
• Softbridge Solutions India Pvt. Ltd – India www.softbridge-s.com
• Sony Global Solutions Inc. – Japan www.sonygs.co.jp
There are currently 303 R.E.P. organisations enrolled in the PMI R.E.P. Programme in the Asia Pacific
region.
Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s) are organisations approved by PMI to offer project management
training for professional development units (PDUs) to maintain your PMI credentials.
View the R.E.P. web pages on PMI.org to learn more about R.E.P.s or log in to the new CCR System to find
a provider of project management education activities and products in your country.
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Asia Pacific Calendar
If you are organising a PMI event in the Asia Pacific
region and would like us to list it in the e-Link, please
contact SoHyun Kang.
7–8 January
PMI Lahore, Pakistan Chapter Project Management
Symposium 2012
7–8 July
PMI Japan Forum 2012
Examination
PMI’s certification programme is an internationally
recognised, globally accredited programme that is
transferable between methodologies, standards and
industries; applies valid and reliable ways to assess
competence and is designed by project managers for
project managers.
All candidates for Project Management Professional
(PMP)®, Certified Associate in Project Management
(CAPM)®, Program Management Professional (PgMP)
24–25 September
PMINZ National Conference
®
, PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®, PMI Risk
Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® and PMI Agile
Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)SM must first meet
specific educational and experience requirements and
then pass an examination.
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Asia Pacific Regional Service Centre
Contact the PMI Asia Pacific Regional Service Centre at:
Email: customercare.asiapac@pmi.org (preferred method)
Telephone: +65 6496 5501
Fax: +65 6496 5599
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PMInstitute
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/PMInstitute
The Asia Pacific Service Centre is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Singapore time
(GMT +8).
The Asia Pacific Service Centre will be closed on the following dates due to public holidays in Singapore:
23–24 January: Chinese New Year
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"PMI", the PMI logo, "Making project management indispensable for business results", "PMBOK", "CAPM", "Certified Associate in Project
Management (CAPM)", "PMP", "Project Management Professional (PMP)", "PgMP", "Program Management Professional (PgMP)", "PMI-SP",
" PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)", "PMI-RMP", "PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)", "OPM3", "PMI-ACP", and "PMI Agile
Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)" are marks of Project Management Institute, Inc.
For a comprehensive list of PMI marks, contact the PMI Legal Department.