PMFORUM Breaking News

Reported by Jouko Vaskimo in Helsinki

Professor Peter WG Morris has been honored with the IPMA Research Achievement Award at the 23^rd IPMA World Congress in Helsinki, Finland. Professor Morris received the award, which is the first of its kind within IPMA, based on his lifetime achievement in project management research, and for his work in establishing 'the management of projects as a discipline and a domain'. Professor Morris accepted the award, and delivered a presentation on The future of project management at the congress research seminar on 16^th June 2009.

Professor Morris (pictured at right) finds the IPMA Research Achievement Award a major honor, and an encouragement for the future. He gave his first IPMA presentation in 1982 and has been a contributor ever since. What is particularly pleasing to him is the recognition in the award of 'the management of projects' as a domain - a broader view of what is involved in developing and delivering projects successfully than the more common heavily execution-driven one. (photo courtesy Jouko Vaskimo)

Mr Miles Shepherd (pictured at left), International Advisor and Correspondent for PMForum in the UK, presented the Laudatio to Professor Morris, his personal friend and colleague of many years. Mr. Shepherd was extremely pleased that IPMA's first award for research contribution has gone to Professor Morris, in recognition of the contribution that Professor Morris has made to establishing project management as a professional field through his research and his work on the UK Body of Knowledge. Mr Shepherd can be contacted at miles.shepherd@msp-ltd.co.uk . (photo courtesy Jouko Vaskimo)

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Professor Morris has been a leader in the application and study of project management. His career has comprised a mixture of executive appointments, consulting, and academic work. Currently Head School and Professor of Construction and Project Management at University College London and Executive Director INDECO (IMC) Ltd., he was previously Professor of Engineering Project Management at UMIST, a Main Board Director of Bovis Ltd., Executive Director of the Major Projects Association, a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, and a consultant with Arthur D. Little and with Booz Allen & Hamilton. He was Chairman of the Association for Project Management from 1993 to 1996.

Professor Morris has led a highly distinguished research career; during his time at Oxford he undertook seminal research into the success and failure of projects and has written numerous academic papers on the subject. His academic research has covered a wide range of issues, including project management epistemology, strategy, design management, knowledge management, competencies, and procurement. He is currently co-editing the Oxford Handbook of Project Management (OUP, 2010)

Professor Morris has shown in his research and his publications (The Anatomy of Major Projects, John Wiley, 1987; The Management of Projects, Thomas Telford, 1984; Translating Corporate Strategy into Project Strategy, PMI, 2004; The Wiley Guide to Managing Projects, Wiley, 2005) that managing the front-end of projects is key to their success; that managing them in relation to their context is also important, as is managing the technical and commercial issues; and that above all, projects begin and end with people. This broader view of what is required to be addressed he terms 'the management of projects' - managing projects as entities for stakeholder success. This perspective underlines the APM Body of Knowledge, research for which he led in 1997 and 2004.

Professor Morris was awarded APM's highest honor, the Sir Monty Finniston Award, for a life-time's achievement in project management in 2008 and was awarded PMI's Research Achievement Award in 2005. His current research work includes an investigation of the management needs for developing, delivering and operating built environment 'systems' over the next 20-30 years. (photo courtesy Miles Shepherd)

Professor Morris can be contacted at PWMorris@ucl.ac.uk.

The theme for the 23^rd IPMA World Congress on Project Management in Helsinki is "Refresh Yourself". The event is aimed at regenerating one's professional career, organization and personal development. The event brings together highly targeted top managers and professionals from all fields in emerging and leading economies. Exclusively designed networking opportunities will connect partners to decision makers, leaders and senior management and all levels of delegates, while helping expand contacts in a "Refreshing" atmosphere. Congress partners participate in a partner exhibition or sponsor specific activities at the Congress. For further information, please navigate to www.refresh09.com.

The local host of the 23^rd IPMA World Congress on Project Management in Helsinki is Project Management Association Finland (PMAF), based in Espoo, Finland. PMAF is the national membership body for Finland in the International Project Management Association (IPMA). The general manager of PMAF is Jyry Louhisto, who is also the project director for the 23rd IPMA World Congress. For further information, please navigate to www.pry.fi/en.

Founded in 1967 and registered in Switzerland, the International Project Management Association (IPMA) is the world's oldest project management Professional organization. IPMA is an international federation of more than 45 national PM societies in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. IPMA's Annual World Congress is one of the largest and most important gatherings of project management authorities and leaders each year. For further information please navigate to www.ipma.ch.