PMIAK (Project Management Institute Alaska Chapter) and UAA MSPM (University of Alaska Anchorage Master of Science in Project Management) Program are the two main entities which support, promote and advance project management in Alaska. They are committed to excellence and the continuous improvement of the profession.
The PMIAK – UAA MSPM Program Relationship Synergy Framework Project is an initiative led by Josiane Ballin. It is an innovative and collaborative approach used by the two entities, which, by joining forces, can become stronger and expand their activities for the benefit of project management communities – chapter, students, local organizations and nonprofit agencies. The study produced a framework and process workflow to facilitate identification and successful execution of projects between PMIAK and UAA MSPM Program students and faculty. It enables students to support the implementation of some projects within PMIAK and members’ organizations or nonprofit agencies which are incomplete due to time, resource and capacity limitations. At the same time, UAA students benefit from opportunities to apply project management as part of their MSPM academic coursework. By creating a partnership between PMIAK and the MSPM Program, more resources can be leveraged to complete projects with positive outcomes, students’ learning experiences can be enhanced, and a synergistic relationship that benefits members’ and students’ professional development can be sustained. The framework has attributes that make it accessible, replicable and sustainable. It was tested in two pilot projects. Results, best practices and lessons learned are currently being shared with other PMI chapters and universities’ project management programs. The exhibit displays the summarized benefits (or gains) for the participant entities of the synergistic relationship.
The framework and process workflow were presented to PMIAK Membership in Anchorage, AK, on March 13, at the chapter monthly meeting. It was also presented at the PMI Region 1 Leadership Institute Meeting in Portland, OR, to 16 chapters and 3 branches. When Josiane Ballin travels to the South of Brazil in the summer of 2018, it will also be shared with project management communities and universities of that area.
Two students of the program are working on pilot programs – implemented to test the framework and process workflow proposed by the synergistic relationship.
Josiane Ballin, PMP, MSPM
Currently PMIAK VP of Volunteers and PMIEF Liaison
PMIAK Past President (2016 and 2017)
Native Brazilian, Josiane has lived in many places in Brazil and internationally. She is a proficient translator certified by Cambridge, UK, earned a Bachelors’ Degree in Languages in Brazil, and is a 2018 graduate from University of Alaska Anchorage Master of Science in Project Management Program. Josiane is multilingual, has 2 grown-up sons and currently resides in Anchorage.
For more information about the initiative contact Josiane at [email protected] or [email protected].
Additional Information
About PMIAK - chapter plays a key role in advancing the profession and supporting individuals who choose PM as a profession through collaboration, networking, and professional development. PMIAK is a vibrant and dynamic chapter of 480 members, and its leadership team is committed to deliver value to members as they expect from their PMI chapter community.
About UAA-MSPM – it is a leading program in Alaska and is committed to excellence in its role of provider of knowledge. Professor LuAnn Piccard, UAA Associate Professor and Department Chair of Engineering, Science and Project Management, and Chair of PMI GAC Board of Directors, commented in an interview in 2017, “UAA’s MSPM program is considered a leader among other programs around the world. We are often asked to share our best practices to help other PM programs develop their curriculum and provide ideas on how to enhance their students’ learning outcomes”.
This synergy project (as the work becomes known by local practitioners, the name has been shortened by them) was undertaken propose the improvement of the two entities’ relationship synergy and so that they expand their activities to:
- Provide assistance to projects which are not planned and executed due to time, resources or capacity limitations.
- Offer students opportunities of exposure to real project experience.
- Collaboratively work to reach the goals established for a synergistic relationship that is replicable and sustainable.
Key Established Goals
The main goals that guided the creation of the relationship synergy framework were: Creation of Opportunities for Sharing and Gaining Knowledge; Quality Improvement; Expansion.