Project Management: Fast Track to Success

Effective managers now recognize that most operational activities aimed at achieving key team objectives can and should be considered projects and managed accordingly. Typically these projects will range from: complex operational tasks, one-off initiatives such as moving offices or installing a new IT system, to the development of new products and services. However, while many of the traditional project management principles still apply, most tools and techniques need to be adapted and simplified to make them relevant to modern businesses. For those that master these new skills, exciting career opportunities lie ahead that will accelerate functional managers into new areas.

Patrick Harper-Smith is one of the founding directors of Project Leaders International Ltd&;a consulting organization that works with client companies in the areas of training, consulting, and supporting software. He works with clients to establish, expand, and diversify their businesses through the application of strategy, project management processes, and innovation strategies.

Patrick has had a varied international career within the travel, financial services, and consulting industries. At U.S. consulting firm Kepner-Tregoe, he managed and developed highly profitable operations in the Southeast Asian region. He also worked for Jacques Borel, founding and developing their voucher business in Hong Kong. At American Express he was Director of Training for the whole of South-East Asia (600 offices in Asia- Pacific and the marketing of the Corporate Card in ten Asian markets).

Patrick gained an associate degree from Université de Paris and is a program director on the Project Leaders International strategy and innovation and project leaders programs. He is also PRINCE2 qualified.

Simon Derry is also a director of Project Leaders International Ltd. He is a professional consultant with over 15 years&; experience working with leading organizations in a variety of industry sectors and management levels.

Following graduation from the University College of Swansea, Simon attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and then served five years as an officer with the Royal Regiment of Artillery. In 1993 he joined the NHS as directorate manager at Northwick Park Hospital NHS Trust. He then became customer service manager for Psion in 1995, the leading hand-held computing company in the world at the time, where he established the customer services, technical support, and helpdesk operations

In 1998 he joined an international management consultancy and training firm where his remit was the design, development and implementation of service improvement projects with various clients worldwide, including Dell, Sun Microsystems, Siebel, Cisco, and other IT and telecom companies. He has detailed knowledge of the incident management and problem management aspects of the ITIL framework and is PRINCE2 accredited.

Simon also has an MBA from Henley Management College (now Heney Business School), where he focused on project management selection systems and creativity and innovation in the workplace.