Knowledge in Projects Workshop

Summary Description of Workshop

Eventhough organizational knowledge is deemed important and strategic by most organizations it is tacit and around 40% of resides in employee's brains which is lost when they leave the organization. Knowledge management is probably a bigger problem in the world of projects and few organizations have effectively recognized this. Projects are not operations, and what may work well in operations may not do so in projects. Project are vehicles for creating knowledge but are not designed to transfer and share it with other projects. This workshop examines how to take a proactive approach to incorporating knowledge management into projects within an organization, that goes beyond a quick post-mortem and then entering it into a knowledge base.

Many project managers will create new knowledge but are unlikely to transfer or share it with other projects for a variety of reasons that stem from time investments, to the contextual specifics of a project, to seeing little value in doing so, or not being incented.

This workshop augments contemporary best practices in project management with historical case studies to exemplify knowledge within projects, and draws from the Medieval Era (Celtic scribes, Florence Duomo), the Industrial Revolution (English watchmakers, Panama Canal), and the race to the South Pole. These case studies have rarely been associated with knowledge management (and projects) and this is what makes this course so unique. Through these case studies the workshop highlights the importance of knowledge management and why it needs to be considered in projects. You will also see how knowledge was created, transferred or shared between projects and used to create unique solutions that would resolve difficult problems. The workshop follows the project event timelines to better understand the knowledge processes that led to breakthroughs in project solutions.

Through exercises and video samples the workshop attendees, working in groups, will be given a chance to use their skills to analyze core problems within the projects, play out what if scenario, and discuss what made these projects so transformational for the stakeholders and the society who reaped the benefits.

The analysis allows attendees to draw out patterns, techniques, and make comparatives to today’s projects. The workshop also examines the project leaders and their character traits, and the role they played in the project.

The workshop is based on research into the publication The History of Project Management which traces the development of project management, from the ancient world through to the industrial revolutions of the last 300 years. These projects were selected because of their impact on subsequent projects and project management.

Who Should Attend?

Entry/Intermediary level of experience for project managers, project leaders, team leaders and general business professionals.

Learning Objectives

Upon the successful completion of this workshop, attendees will be able to:

• Readily describe project and knowledge management fundamentals based on the set of case studies.
• Encourage and foster knowledge transfer and knowledge sharing between projects in your organization,
• Identify how a PMO can readjust to act as a knowledge broker in support of projects and the community,
• Start the necessary conversations with senior leaders in the organization to support these initiatives.

The Benefits of the Workshop

The workshop analysis is done through the modern lens of project management and provides valuable insights into how these projects were planned and executed. The workshop examines common emergent patterns across the projects, the best practices and techniques used, and then draws out practical project lessons to apply to today’s projects.

The workshop is based on the following publication.

Note: This course conforms to the internationally recognized standards of the Project Management Institute (PMI®). You will receive 8 PDUs (professional development units) upon completion.