News

PMI OVOC Breakfast Seminar - June 12, 2013

"PRINCE2® and the APMG Family of Best Practices for Managing Projects, Programs, and Portfolios"

PRINCE2 is starting to appear on federal government requests for proposals, and the PRINCE2 accreditation is appearing more often as a required credential for PMs.  Is this a threat or an opportunity to practitioners?  Will PRINCE2 displace the PMP certification?

This presentation will give an overview of the PRINCE2 methodology for managing projects.  We then introduce two related methodologies for managing programs (MSP) and portfolios (MoP) and cover the basic concepts and benefits of each.
 
Attendees will come away with an understanding of these three best practices and how they relate to, and co-exist with, the PMBOK framework.  There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion after the presentation.

Register through PMI-OVOC. 

SOMOS is pleased to announce that we are now part of a bigger family of companies!  After regulatory approval, a transaction will see SOMOS acquired by Smart Employee Benefits Inc. (SEB) (TSXV:SEB).  SEB is a technology, solutions, and services company with specialty practice areas in supply chain solutions, Microsoft BizTalk and CRM, PeopleSoft, SAP, and health care systems.  Operations of the SEB Group also include smart-sourcing relationships in India and China.

Read the details in the offical news release.  

With this change, SOMOS will continue to provide the same excellent service to our customers, consultants, and associates. The SEB relationship now provides SOMOS with a much broader service and solutions offering for our customers, consultants, and associates and allows us to bring our services to a larger customer base. SOMOS' growth strategy also moves beyond organic initiatives to include acquisitions.

All of the familiar faces will be here to serve you going forward, and you are welcome to call any of us for more information.

We look forward to working with you in 2013 and beyond!

In this newly created role, Adam Jasek will oversee business operations, sales & marketing, and strategic partnerships. 

Adam knows a thing or two about professional services having worked for more than 30 years in professional services firms. Prior to joining SOMOS, he was with ADGA Group as the Chief Executive Officer of ADGA Information Technology Engineering Services, responsible for consulting operations in Toronto and Ottawa. Adam was founder and CEO of AJJA Information Technology Consultants, successfully growing the operation to over 400 consultants as a major supplier to the Federal Government before selling the company to Brainhunter in 2005 where he continued as a Board of Directors member. Before starting AJJA, Adam was a Senior Technical DataBase Consultant and Trainer and one of the original members of Systemhouse when the company started in 1974.  

We are thrilled to have Adam on board!  He can be reached in our Ottawa Office.

SOMOS Consultant, Russ McDowell, will be presenting a webinar to the PMI^® Consulting Community of Practice on June, 19^th, 2012.  The presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of key areas in the field of Organizational Project Management (OPM). It will examine where OPM fits in the context of an organization, what are the boundaries to consider and identify some of the key components within the "OPM Envelope". The information will be situated within Russ's personal experience in the development of many of PMI's related standards and supplemented by his knowledge of complementary best practices from Treasury Board and the Cabinet Office of the UK Government (responsible for PRINCE2^®, MSP, and ITIL).

Those participating will gain an overview of what Organizational Project Management encompasses, including an understanding of how the various components relate to each other to ensure results of "projectized activities" provide the anticipated benefits to an organization.

Russ McDowell's consulting practice specializes in program/project management and business development.  Russ has been responsible for the set-up or management of numerous project offices, the definition of project management frameworks, as well as the management of many successful projects for private sector and government clients.  

Certified by PMI as an OPM3 Consultant, a PMP since 1996, and Past Chair of PMI’s worldwide Community of Practice for Organizational Project Management, Russ is a frequent speaker at PMI events.  Three PMI^® Standards credit his roles in the initial development of key standards in the area of Organizational Project Management, cited in both the PMI’s Portfolio Management Standard and the Program Management Standard as a “significant contributor”.  His involvement in the development of the OPM3 standard was followed by an invitation to be part of the “Extreme Review Team” for OPM3.  He is one of PMI’s original instructors for its SeminarsWorld course on “OPM – Where do Good Projects Come From”?  

Mr. McDowell has a Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer.  As a Senior Member of the IEEE he has served on the Executive at the Section, Council, and National levels.   He is also past chair of the local ACM SIGCHI Chapter and a founding executive member of the local chapter of the System Safety Society.

He has earned Practitioner certifications in PRINCE2, Management of Successful Programmes (MSP), Management of Portfolios (MoP) and ITIL standards from the Cabinet Office in the UK. Russ is also a contributing author of the book “Organizational Project Management – Linking Strategy and Projects” published in 2010.   

This webinar is scheduled for June 19^th.  Exact time will be confirmed when posted on the PMI website (http://consulting.vc.pmi.org).

Those interested must be PMI members to participate.

On February 21, 2012, Mayor Jim Watson joined co-chair Jeff Westeinde and local entrepreneurs to officially open Invest Ottawa, the flagship of the City's $5.5-million annual economic development strategy.

Invest Ottawa, which replaces the Ottawa Centre for Regional Innovation (OCRI), will foster start-up enterprises, attract new investment, and help existing businesses located in Ottawa expand beyond our borders. While OCRI was established in 1983 to leverage the emerging high-tech industry, the development of Invest Ottawa re-focuses the organization on further developing knowledge-based sectors such as green energy, defence and security, photonics, digital media, film and television, and life sciences.

"One of my priorities in this mandate was to establish Invest Ottawa to help attract more investment and foster greater economic growth in our nation's capital," said Mayor Jim Watson. "Recent headlines surrounding public service job losses underscore the need to diversify our local economy, and Invest Ottawa is going to help us do just that. Invest Ottawa is a clear commitment to inspire more entrepreneurs to build our prosperity to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow."

"I feel like Ottawa has a renewed interest in growing exciting businesses again." said Bruce Lazenby, Invest Ottawa's President and CEO. "We are now providing incubation services for startups, rapidly forming effective collaborations between the city's economic stakeholders to increase entrepreneurial activity, and hiring sector-specific business development executives tasked with measurable growth goals."

"This region's educated and talented workforce, outstanding amenities, and high quality of life make Ottawa an attractive location for any potential investor," added Mayor Watson. "Invest Ottawa is going to help us communicate this to potential investors, and I look forward to seeing the results."

"Invest Ottawa and our many partners want to bring a new attitude to economic development in Ottawa," said Mr. Lazenby "Backed by more resources, and the City's commitment to helping our next generation of entrepreneurs succeed on a global basis and create great local jobs as they grow, Ottawa will just keep getting better."

Invest Ottawa's launch occurs as the most recent Statistics Canada jobs report stated the region added more than 8,300 jobs in January and more than 20,000 jobs over the past year. This pushed the Ottawa and area's jobless rate down to 5.9 per cent, well below the national figure of 7.6 per cent.

Professor Richard Florida, the award-winning author of "Who's Your City?," rates Ottawa as the "Best Overall" city in Canada on a "Creative Class Index" based on the 3Ts of economic development – Technology, Talent and Tolerance.

About Invest Ottawa:

Invest Ottawa delivers economic development programs and initiatives that increase entrepreneurial momentum, wealth and jobs in the City of Ottawa and its surrounding region. Its goal is to make Ottawa the best place in Canada to start and grow a knowledge-based business. Invest Ottawa services include start-up incubation and mentorship, acceleration for existing companies, global business attraction and local business retention, targeted sector development, commercialization, and marketing Ottawa's diversified economy and high quality of life.

For more information on Invest Ottawa, please visit investottawa.ca

On Friday, January 27, 2012, PMI^® notified its EVM Community of Practice (EVM CoP) subscribers that "PMI and CPM have mutually agreed to separate their organizational structures after 12 years of operating together."

PMI President, Susan W. Wood, issued the following communiqué:

As of Wednesday, February 1, 2012, CPM will be an independently chartered not-for-profit organization in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We mutually and amicably agreed to separate from PMI for a number of reasons that both organizations recognized were challenges to achieving CPM's full integration into the PMI Virtual Communities of Practice.

I want to emphasize that both organizations tried very hard to make our transition work. But after a year of operating as the EVM CoP, we found that certain key success factors in CPM's long history could not be supported within PMI's concept of virtual communities. One such factor is CPM's unique mission of outreach to the EVM and project management community as a whole, beyond PMI only.

As stated in PMI's notification, "although PMI and CPM have agreed that the best path forward for both organizations is to part ways, EVM and project management (PM) are interrelated disciplines; and both organizations recognize the benefits each offer and the natural dependency each discipline provides. As a result, both organizations look forward to opportunities for future collaboration on EVM initiatives."

CPM is dedicated to the integrated implementation and application of EVM within the Project Manager's toolbox. EVM is and has been intended to be used and reconciled with other PM support techniques, such as cost estimating, scheduling, risk management, technical performance measures (TPMs), etc. We truly look forward to working with PMI and other project performance related organizations as we go forward.

The Future of CPM

On behalf of the CPM Board, I want to stress that we are committed to continuing the mission of CPM to become "the internationally recognized forum for EVM and project planning and control standards, research, and education, and to promote the exchange of theory, development, and application among project management professionals." In doing so, we will continue to provide the benefits you have grown accustomed to in the past and will strive to improve future offerings. Specifically, we will continue to:

• Support the CPM legacy website at www.mycpm.org -- includes CPM Board contact information, public access to forum for exchange of information, the EVM electronic library (past conference presentations, papers, etc), conference info and registration, sponsor advertisements, etc.
• Host the EVM World Conferences (go to www.evmworld.org for information for EVM World 2012, to be held at the Naples Grande, Naples, Florida from May 30 to June 1, 2012)
• Co-host the International Integrated Program Management Conferences (IPMC) jointly with the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and the Society for Cost Estimating and Analysis (SCEA)
• Provide and enhance the CPM Professional Education Program and the EVM Training Certificate Program
• Support international EVM Conferences and Events
• Publish The Measurable News Develop and/or maintain relationships with third party associations and/or organizations to further our global mission and objectives
• Support the CPM Awards Program and recognize those individuals who have made considerable contributions to the advancement and implementation of EVM
• Conduct EVM specific research projects Strive to enhance our offerings with webinars and forums for the exchange of information

The CPM office will remain at 101 South Whiting Street, Suite 320, Alexandria, VA 22304 with Gaile Argiro as our Executive Administrator. Gaile can be contacted at ExecAdmin@mycpm.org or (703) 370-7885.

We will keep you informed as we go forward with highlights of our progress and will provide more information at the EVM World 2012 general session on Friday, June 1. Together we will map our way forward. There is much to do and your continued support is greatly appreciated! Please don't hesitate to contact us with your questions, suggestions and offers to volunteer!

Sincerely,

Susan W. Wood

President, CPM

SOMOS is proud to be a sponsor of Canada's First Showcase Highlighting Best Practice Methodologies in Project, Programme and Portfolio Management.

APMG-International, the official accreditor for PRINCE2®, ITIL®, MSP®, M_o_R®, MoP™, MoV™, and P3O®, will be hosting their premiere North American Best Practice Showcase on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at the Starwood Sheraton Hotel in Ottawa.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

8:30 - 5:00 pm

Ottawa Canada

Full Day Delegate Registration Available Now for $100

Breakfast, Lunch and Networking Reception Included

The theme of this intensive one-day session is:

"Improving Return On Investment Through Effective Project, Programme and Portfolio Management"

For more information, and to regsiter, visit www.bestpracticeshowcase.ca

SOMOS is delighted to announce that one of our Registered Consultants - Peter Milsom - has been elected to APMG's ACO Exam Board as a Global Representative.

Several vacant positions were filled in this same round of voting, with results for all positions for Representatives now having been counted and verified.  Those elected have accepted their invitations to the board.  They are:

• Global MoP^TM  ATO Representative - Susan Ferguson (AFA, UK)
• Global MoV^TM ATO Representative - David Roberts (Cupe, UK)
• Global ACO Representative - Peter Milsom (SOMOS Consulting, Canada)

Congratulations to the successful Representatives on their appointments.

OTTAWA, CANADA – September 28, 2010 - SOMOS, a leading project management consulting and services firm, today announced that it has become the first organization in North America to receive the designation of Accredited Consulting Organization (ACO) for the PRINCE2 Project Management Methodology.

PRINCE2, or PRojects IN Controlled Environments, is a process-based approach for project management that provides an easily tailored and scalable method for the management of all types of projects.  Developed in the United Kingdom, PRINCE2 is the de facto standard for project management in the U.K. and is practiced worldwide.

“The PRINCE2 Consulting Accreditation will enable SOMOS to provide tremendous additional value to our clients,” said Alan Boyce, President of SOMOS. “Our consultants are now aligned with the world standard in project management practices.  This allows us to bring our clients the best possible solutions and to set them up for greater success in their projects.”

Designation as a PRINCE2 ACO recognizes SOMOS as an organization that reliably delivers quality results to its customers because of its solid management practices and its highly qualified consultants. 
 
“APMG is delighted to welcome SOMOS as an Accredited Consulting Organization for PRINCE2.  This is an elite group, and it is a significant milestone to be the first ACO in North America,” said Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG.  “PRINCE2 is rapidly gaining adoption in North America as companies look for a proven best practice for managing projects.  The attainment of the ACO designation by SOMOS is a testament to their mastery of both the knowledge and application of PRINCE2 with their clients.”

About SOMOS

With 20 years' corporate experience as project management specialists, SOMOS helps turn complexity into clarity, chaos into plans, and action into results. SOMOS offers management solutions, professional services, and software tools that help its customers define a clear path and achieve their business goals.  As a PMI Global Registered Education provider, and a PRINCE2 Accredited Consulting Organization, SOMOS can truly bring industry best practices to benefit its customers.

SOMOS has delivered management and technical solutions for customers in a range of industries, including Information Technology, Aerospace and Defence, Product Development, Energy, and others.  SOMOS possesses the depth of knowledge, the breadth of experience, and the caliber of professionals to drive success. SOMOS helps its clients find and follow A Clear Path to Results.

About PRINCE2 and APMG

APMG-International is a global examination institute accredited by The APM Group, OGC's official Accreditor.  APMG’s portfolio of qualifications includes ITIL®, PRINCE2, MSP®, M_o_R® and P3O®. APMG’s Accredited Organizations have gone through the most rigorous assessment process in the industry. APMG’s commitment to high standards means that all candidates can be assured that the certification they have earned is consistent with every other candidate.

For more information, please visit, or contact:

Alan R. Boyce, P.Eng., PMP, PRINCE2® Practitioner
President, SOMOS Consulting Group Ltd
613.592.5050

Ronn R. Faigen
General Manager
APMG-US
781.275.8604

PRINCE2, ITIL®, MSP®, M_o_R® and P3O® are Registered Trade Marks of the Office of Government Commerce in the UK and other countries.

OTTAWA, CANADA - June 8th, 2010 - SOMOS, a leading project management consulting and services firm, today announced that it has been named a "Microsoft Certified Partner" in Project and Portfolio Management. This designation signifies SOMOS' proven experience in delivering world-class solutions that enable its clients to effectively manage their projects, programs, and portfolios.

In order to achieve the Certified designation under the Microsoft Partners program, SOMOS had to prove a high level of competency among their consultants in the area of Project and Portfolio Management, as well as demonstrate a series of client projects involving successful installation and configuration of Microsoft Enterprise Project and Portfolio Management solutions.

This designation solidifies SOMOS' position as a leader in Enterprise Project and Portfolio Management (EPM) solutions and services. "Being a Microsoft Certified Partner will greatly enhance the range of high quality services that we can provide to our clients," said Alan Boyce, President of SOMOS. "This designation highlights our demonstrated expertise with the Microsoft PPM Suite, and will enable us to continue to provide cutting-edge Project Management and Portfolio Management solutions to a broad range of customers."

The certification also means that SOMOS' services and support are backed up with access to direct, 24x7 support from Microsoft and Microsoft's most current and market leading software offerings.

About SOMOS

With 20 years' corporate experience as project management specialists, SOMOS helps turn complexity into clarity, chaos into plans, and action into results. SOMOS offers management solutions, professional services, and software tools that help its customers define a clear path and achieve their business goals. As a PMI Global Registered Education provider, and with extensive consulting experience in the PRINCE2® Project method, SOMOS can truly bring industry best practices to benefit its consulting and training customers.

With offices in Ottawa, Toronto, and Edmonton, SOMOS has delivered management and technical solutions for customers in a range of industries, including Information Technology, Aerospace and Defence, and Product Development. SOMOS possesses the depth of knowledge, the breadth of experience, and the caliber of professionals to drive success. SOMOS helps its clients find and follow A Clear Path to Results.

About the Microsoft Certified Partner Program

Microsoft Certified Partners are independent companies that can provide the highest levels of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and hands-on skills. Microsoft Certified Partners encompass a broad range of expertise and vendor affiliations and their real world perspective can help organizations prioritize and effectively deliver their technology solutions.

For more information, contact:

Alan Boyce
President, SOMOS