ESI International in conjunction with the Project Management Institute will present two seminars next month in Saudi Arabia to address and simplify the inherent complexities of programme management.

The seminars which will be held on March 6 and 7, in Jeddah and Riyadh respectively, will be presented by J Leroy Ward, executive vice president, of ESI International.

Ward is a leading industry professional and published author, with over 17 years experience in delivering project management programmes throughout North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, said a statement from ESI.

Ward, who is also a certified member of the International Project Management Association, said: “The seminars will focus on how large and complex programmes are an integral part of achieving an organisation’s key strategic objectives.”

“I will describe the latest Levin-Ward competency model, and inform attendees how to apply it immediately to help explore and reduce the complexity that is associated with programme management,” he said.

The Levin-Ward model highlights specific performance criteria that programme managers should strive to achieve, and identifies the types of evidence that demonstrates success in each aspect of effective programme management, the statement said.

He will also discuss a five-step action plan for implementing the model based on numerous previously conducted assessments by ESI International on behalf of a range of organisations big and small.

As the role of programme managers evolve in most organisations from that of managing multiple projects, to implementing business strategies through an integrated portfolio of projects involving the management of multiple teams of professionals, as well as executive-level stakeholders, the requisite components of proficient programme management need to be re-assessed.

“The need for competent programme managers has never been greater than currently. Many organisations are now refining their career paths in project management to emphasise programme management as the key to the next level of success,” Ward said.

“As such, the programme manager today requires a refined set of business and leadership skills that are vastly different from that of a project manager. By using the Levin-Ward model, you can identify your areas of strength and opportunities for improvement to manage programmes more effectively,” he added.

“As the project management industry continues to evolve, it is important for project and programme managers in the Middle East to stay ahead of the global competition by engaging with the latest developments in the field, which is what the Levin-Ward competency model aims to provide,” Ward concluded. - TradeArabia News Service