Nearly 400 people gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 9 February for the opening session of PMI^® Global Congress 2009—Asia Pacific. PMI congresses are important gatherings for project professionals to gain knowledge and new ideas, and this event was no exception.

Fredrik Härén, founder of interesting.org and author of The Idea Book, provided a positive start to the congress when he told attendees to be more creative and tap into innovation. In his study, Mr. Härén revealed that 98 percent of people think that being creative is important in their job. 41 percent think that they are creative. Two percent think that their company is doing enough to support creativity.

Mr. Härén described an idea as taking two established things and combining them in new ways. He illustrated this point through examples such as combining a parachute with a ship, a design that is now in use by leading-edge transportation companies to reduce oil consumption.

Idea generation, he said, can be expressed with a simple mathematical formula:

He pointed out that the population is growing and that we have more access to knowledge than before, even in developing countries. Mr. Härén also identified that people living in developing nations are able to embrace both their own culture and the culture of the West. People in developing nations have three significant advantages over those living in developed nations: they can see rapid change, they are consuming knowledge more quickly, and they still use their imaginations.

People in developing nations understand their own culture and the culture of the West.

For the first time in Olympic history, medals designed for the winners of the Olympic Games held last summer in Beijing combined the gemstone jade with the traditional metals of gold, silver and bronze. For many people, this symbolised the combination of East and West.

Change, however, remains a problem, said Mr. Härén. People all over the world, and throughout history, are terrible at seeing change. We all recognise that we should change, and want to change, but we cannot; we're stuck.

The point, said Mr. Härén, is that adults must make an extra effort to tap into the innovation mindset.

"Don't let what is impossible today stop you," he said. "Most of what was impossible 20 years ago is possible today. There has never been a better time in history to innovate."

In a Q&A session with Greg Balestrero, PMI President and CEO, Mr. Härén pointed out that the problem is people are spending more time figuring the answer than understanding the problem. He asked project managers to "be more curious, spend more time in defining the problem, so that ideas have something to hook on to." At the end of the session, Mr Härén advised attendees to "do things just a little differently and you will be successful."

After the opening general sessions, attendees broke out for the different educational sessions, which covered more than 10 areas of focus. Advanced project management skills and communication skills proved to be popular topics among the attendees.

During the first timers' orientation at the PMI^® Global Congress 2009—Asia Pacific, Ricardo Vargas, MBA, PMP, chair of the PMI Board of Directors, pointed out the proof of the value of project management lay in US$12 trillion that were tied up in fixed capital projects worldwide. He urged all attendees to see that there is an urgent need for project management expertise in the world.

Attendees in discussion at PMI Global Congress 2009—Asia Pacific

At the opening general session, Mr. Vargas noted in his speech, "In this current economic challenge, now is the time for us to show the value of project management. Now is the time for good project management; there is no time for sloppy work."

"Project management is the building and constructing of new things, which can't happen without new ideas."

Keynote speaker, Fredrik Härén called for attendees to make an extra effort to tap into the innovation mindset. He advised everybody to keep up with the changing world. Remaining creatures of habit is a limitation to innovation.

PMI President and CEO, Gregory Balestrero urged the attendees to "sharpen your tools; get your job done. Project managers need to be creative about re-thinking your plan. Now, more than ever, we'll be challenged. Now, more than ever, we'll have the opportunities to change."

After the opening general session, attendees broke out for over two days of educational sessions spanning more than 10 areas of focus.

Featured breakout sessions included the results of the three-year landmark study Researching the Value of Project Management, presentations by the PMI Malaysia Chapter on "The Case for the Adoption of Project Management in Malaysia" and the Tokyo, Japan Chapter on the results of their research on project management offices (PMOs).

In her presentation, "Collaborative, Cohesive Teams: Do You Have One?", long-time volunteer, Brenda Treasure, PMP, explored tools that allow a project manager to recognise the motivation that lies behind a person's behaviour. She showed attendees how to improve relationships and personal effectiveness of team members.

Young Min Park, MSPM, PMP, painted the future of project management by mapping the project practices adopted in the planning and execution of a 200 year-old project to A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge^®.

The multi-cultural audience present was well-catered to with a talk by Robert Higgins, PMP, on "Multi-Cultural Presentations".

SK Khor, PMP, also delivered a highly interactive session in "East Meets West: Stakeholder and Conflict Management in Action."

Kazuhiko Okubo, PMP, a repeat attendee from Japan, was very satisfied with the knowledge shared at the congress. He said, "I always learn new ideas/things at the congress that I can bring back to share with my students. I also valued the information sharing between peers including those in Japan who I don't have the opportunity to meet otherwise."

Attendees networking at PMI Global Congress 2009—Asia Pacific in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Gilda Gates, PMO consultant, a congress first-timer from Singapore, echoed the thoughts of many other attendees: "I really enjoyed the networking sessions, and sharing with practitioners from all over the region."

PMI Mumbai Chapter recently held their Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) on 8 January. Kalyanraman N, chapter vice president, Finance, began by updating the members on the chapter's modified by-laws.

Raj Kalady, managing director of PMI India, was also present at the meeting, and released Pralkap, the chapter's annual publication.

He was followed by Mayank Gandhi, a steering committee member of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). CTBUH, based in Illinois, USA, is the world's largest not-for-profit organisation for urban planners, architects and urban consultants.

There are nearly 20,000 old buildings in the island city of Mumbai, built in the late 19th and early 20th century. These decaying buildings have caused loss of lives and properties over the past few years.

The Remaking of Mumbai Federation (RoMF) has been appointed as country leader to rehabilitate Mumbai as a world class city. To achieve that, RoMF has signed an MOU with CTBUH to bring together all of the disciplines involved in creating the urban environment.

RoMF will be in a position to bring the best planners, architects, developers and consultants for rejuvenating Mumbai into a world class city, emulating the cities of Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai.

Mr. Gandhi explained the project that would lead to the remaking of Mumbai.

Considering that the problems of Mumbai are due to haphazard, incremental and awkward growth, RoMF's suggestion was to have a holistic, integrated planned process which would comprise of two main features:

1) The first step was to form the City Planning and Monitoring Company, a joint venture company which would involve 50 percent participation from the private sector and 50 percent from the government. Experts from these bodies work together under one corporate governance.

2) The next step is a sector by sector development scheme. This scheme implements the master plan prepared by CPMC with the help from competent urban planners. The implementation of this scheme may lead to a definite target of saving the lives of lakhs* of people and giving them the life style of any other world class city.

Mr. Gandhi also spoke about the pilot project that was launched in Ward C, one of the oldest and most populated sectors of Mumbai. Buildings in the ward were surveyed, clustered and detailed, thus identifying the areas that most required redevelopment. The need for new infrastructure was also identified.

Through the project, RoMF developed a strategy for redeveloping and creating commercial and residential areas. Mr. Ghandi elaborated further on the strategy. RoMF proposes to develop temporary accommodation for a large section, while constructing taller and newer buildings.

Going vertical and creating a master plan on a holistic and integrated basis will allow the redevelopment of the entire area of around 233 acres with increased and augmented infrastructure and allow for sustainable development process.

* A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand (100,000)

Gautam Gangoli, PMP
Chapter Member, Communications Committee
PMI Mumbai Chapter

Every year PMI bestows its professional awards on the best of the best in project management.

This year, in the midst of the economic crisis that has produced massive layoffs and affected whole industries globally, it is especially important to demonstrate the impact of project management on organisational bottom lines.

You know that project management is what contributes to the success of organisations that execute effectively against their strategy. We believe now is the perfect time to bring project management and those who move it forward to the centre stage of attention.

We are asking for your help in making project managers aware of this outstanding opportunity to honour their peers and project teams for their service to the profession and PMI.

Recognise excellence in project management and move the profession forward by nominating and applying for 2009 PMI Professional Awards.

Honour those who manage successful and innovative projects, conduct research, publish excellent books and articles, conduct outstanding training and create superior educational products.

Recognise those who help their communities prosper through the use of project management and make other outstanding contributions to the profession and PMI.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Email awards@pmi.org.

There are 41,922 members in the PMI Asia Pacific region as of January, representing over 14 percent of total PMI membership.

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.

There are currently 206 R.E.P. organisations enrolled in the PMI R.E.P. Programme in the Asia Pacific region.

View the R.E.P. web pages on PMI.org to find a provider of project management education activities and products in your country.

Welcome New R.E.P.s in Asia Pacific

Korea – JS Factory Co., Ltd.

Singapore – Knowledge Method Pte Ltd

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, Asia Pacific component relations coordinator .

PMI credentials involve a rigorous process designed to ensure the highest possible professional standard. All candidates for Project Management Professional (PMP)^SM, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^SM, Program Management Professional (PgMP)^®, PMI Scheduling Professional(PMI-SP)^® and PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)^SM must first meet specific education and experience requirements and then pass an examination.

73 Bukit Timah Road, #04-01, Rex House, Singapore 229832

Tel: +65 6496 5501
Fax: +65 6336 6449
E-mail: customercare.asiapac@pmi.org

The Asia Pacific Service Centre is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Singapore time (GMT +8).