Good News from PMI’s N.A. Congress
PMI held an OPM3 info session on Saturday, October 18, in Denver, and this time actually had some DATES for achievement of OPM3 marketing goals. Although, they seemed too far away for me. At least they had dates this time! IT was clear from the Focus Group held in Phildelphia, Sep. 15 2008, that users are very upset with the lack of movement by PMI to promote OPM3 in the market place. (A draft summary of the focus group findings is circulating now for acceptance by the focus group attendees - today is November 10, Hmmmmm.
The PMI conducted OPM3 users Forum was held Sunday, October 19 in Denver. Attendance was not as high as registrations showed. (I checked other sessions and found the same thing. I guess a lot of companies decided to save some money and cancel attendance, due to the world wide financial melt down.)
So we had about 10 people (users) in 5 different groups that were given a business scenario to trace through OPM3 second edition - establish business objectives and then provide an abbreviated business plan for improvement, using the second edition. Everyone got into their business cases and provided valuable feedback at the report out.
MOst teams got pretty much the same results as the first time PMI did this in Seattle 2007. Only the forum attendee evaluations will tell how much the users got out of it. I think PMI should take a more creative approach next time they try to provide users with an ‘orientation’ or ‘use session’ for OPM3. How about case study from assessment through implementation. Maybe comparing the Online tool and PRoductSuite. OR just use ProductSuite for a case study.
MAybe my pessimism is showing. It has been 8 years since the first release Of OPM3.
I also attended PMI sponsored ‘thank you’ sessions, where we received kudos from Greg Balestrero and Brian Weiss. Brian is a god send, he gets it and is working to get OPM3 out there. I forget his title but he and Larry Bull are working together to move toward market accweptance. Clearly, PMI has made a comittment to making OPM3 a serious contender in the organizational maturity improvement.
November 10th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I support Jim’s view of the events in Denver. I attended both the Saturday and Sunday sessions. I was not present at the kudo sessions.
I too am pleased PMI is involved, and it was great Larry Bull changed his schedule and traveled to Denver to be with us on Saturday from Europe. I was one of the most frustrated there, and his presence helped a lot in answering questions and in showing concern for each of our issues. I hope for more involvement and would like to see the information provided to the Focus Group.
At the session, we learned that a RFP was to be issued for the development of the entrance/introduction course for OPM3. I expressed interest in this during the session and learned later it was on the REP site. I checked with a friend who is a REP who did not find it. I then contacted Larry and others and learned it had been on the site but closed on October 24. Truly, it would have been nice to have known about this opportunity.
I believe a number of us expressed our frustrations, but in general we are looking for more communications and believe this will improve with Larry, Brian, and others. Since then, more items have been posted to the web site, which is positive.
I hope for the best and just paid my consultant renewal fee.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
This year was the first time in several years that I skipped the OPM3 User Group meeting. Thanks for the recap.
I hope that PMI is truly going to put in the work and time to realize the promise of OPM3. I remember earlier user group meetings with over 100 people in the audience and lots of frustration expressed by the attendees. It would be wonderful if the tool can begin to live up to the high expectations that were set years ago when the first version came out.
I am still glad that I decided to wait before getting the assessor or consultant certification. I think OPM3 has a lot of promise, but it is not at all certain whether that promise will ever be realized. I hope someday it is.
–Alex
http://www.alexsbrown.com
November 11th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Bernie Hill found Brian Weiss’ job description on linkedIn:
VP Product Management, PMI, July 2007 - present
LEadership, planning and oversight of PMI’s world wide product management. Includes certifications, standards, online applications (OPM3, Career Framework, etc.) and global seminars and congress program….
Impressive guy with a big PMI job.
Jim