Conference Presentation Key Points...
Posted by Paul Williams at 6/1/2008 3:48 PM and is filed under innovation management,Project Management,Idea Management 
I am just about finished with the final presentation walk-throughs for the upcoming ProjectWorld/World Congress for Business Analysts Regional Conference in San Diego.
Since most of you won't be there...here are the key points that I will reiterate at the end:
Since most of you won't be there...here are the key points that I will reiterate at the end:
'Integrating Innovation in Project Portfolio Management' Presentation Key Points:
- Each step along the overall organizational creativity and innovation process requires management of a set of tasks, resource availability/time, issues and risks, decision points, etc.
- In essence, project/program/portfolio management skills
- By combining the skills of a project manager with the skills of an idea generator, we have the ingredients for successful innovation
- A dreamer...matched with a doer
- By combining the discipline of project management with the free-wheeling excitement of idea generation, we have increased the odds of innovative success
- Unbridled enthusiasm...matched with a set of tasks leading to an end
The idea of matching up a dreamer (the idea generator) with the doer (project manager) is interesting but one key constituent is missing and that is someone (or some body) who determines if it is the right project to do in the first place.
Project managers are focused on doing projects right, but a true portfolio management discipline is about doing the right projects. The dreamer who will be too "in love" with his/her own idea to be objective cannot take on this role and a project manager who is not versed in understanding risk, finance, strategy, etc is also not best equipped to select the right projects.
I'd suggest then that a 3rd 'entity' needs to be involved and that is someone with the requisite skills and dispassionate outlook to determine which of the numerous ideas being presented are in fact the appropriate ones to do.
Regards,
Anand
http://www.brilliont.com
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Anand:
Great comment and one that hits exactly on the mark.
Unfortunately, without the benefit of hearing the entire presentation and just viewing these "conversation starter" key points could lead one to that conclusion.
The points you make in your comment about effective portfolio management are key and actually, include many, many more considerations.
As with any large conference setting, I am speaking to people of all skill levels/maturity levels in project management, portfolio management and innovation management. Not "dumbed down," but made appropriate to the audience for which it is intended.
Thanks for pointing out one of the many key considerations in successful innovation portfolio management for everyone and, more importantly, thanks for participating and sharing your thoughts!
Paul
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