April 12 at 6:15 p.m. "Learning Lessons On Lessons Learned" by Dr. Loran Walker Register Now >>

Further Information

It has been said that “Lessons Learned” is one of the most important and “value added” aspects of the Project Management Lifecycle. However, it has been reported that it is often the most ignored part of finishing a project. Various reasons have been offered for this phenomenon. This presentation will show results of a follow up survey on project managers’ use of “Lessons Learned” and will walk through the prescribed steps of a “Lessons Learned” meeting. After which the discussion will be opened up to the floor of participants for suggestions on how to improve the process so that it would be difficult not to complete this part of the project plan. Dr. Walker has worked in the Computer Science and Information Systems fields for over 27 years. He has been an Adjunct and Full-time professor in information systems and the social sciences. He specializes in consulting and teaching High-Level Programming Languages (C, C++, Java, and .Net Technologies), Systems Analysis & Design, Project Management, Web Design, Programming Technologies and Enterprise Architecture. Currently he serves as a Core Faculty member for the Project Management Program in the School of Undergraduate Studies (SOUS) at Capella University. He also contributes to the Project Management Center of Excellence website for the university at: Bonus topic: Our companies don't seem to understand this project management thing, and - to a certain extent – it's our own fault. Our perception of project management will inevitably drive the perceptions of executive management. But there can be a serious disconnect in this model. PM job descriptions are all-too-frequently merely copied from an Internet site. Hiring personnel simply read requirements from a generic interview list. Many projects are already partially operational before we're invited to participate. Somehow we've reached a point where corporate stakeholders expect the project to wholly compensate for “just plain lousy management”.

Bonus Presentation

Don't forget to attend our bonus program worth 1 extra PDU! Alan Plastow present(s) the topic How is the Corporate Approach to Project Management Failing?.
Don't be late!

PDUs

All dinner meetings are worth 1 PDU.  For help claiming PDUs click here.  Don't forget, attend our bonus programs and earn 1 extra PDU.

Directions

All meetings are held at Holiday Inn Express / Crossroads unless otherwise noted. For directions, click here

Agenda

Cost

• $30 – Western Michigan Chapter Member
• $40 – Guest/A Non-member of the Western Michigan Chapter
• $25 – Full-Time Student Guest (Enrolled for 12+ credit hours/semester)
• $5 – Additional for walk-ins

Reservations

Use the Online Reservation Form to register. To cancel your registration, please use our new Cancellation Form.

Important: Reservations and cancellations MUST be received by NOON the Thursday before the event. If you do not cancel before noon on Thursday you will be invoiced for payment of the registration, in full.

2009/2010 Program Schedule

2008/2009 Program Schedule

Cancellation of scheduled dinner meetings due to weather:

If any monthly Chapter Dinner/Program Meetings must be canceled due to weather, the Board will make that determination by noon of the meeting day and post a notice as soon as possible on this page. Make it a practice to check this page if you have any doubts about going to a meeting due to weather conditions.